Holiday hours may vary—please check venue websites directly for the most up-to-date information.

TriMet will provide free rides on the MAX, buses, and the Portland Streetcar after 8 pm on New Year's Eve.

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FRIDAY

FILM

2001: A Space Odyssey in 70mm Past Event Like List
A strange black monolith transcends time, witnessed by early man and 21st-century scientists alike. Sent on a shrouded mission to uncover the structure's origins, a team of astronauts encounters bizarre issues with a supercomputer. This screening of the Hollywood's own 70mm print of Stanley Kubrick's '68 poetic sci-fi epic may trigger an existential tailspin, but you've got a whole new year to look forward to, so don't sweat the galactic stuff. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $13-$15)

SATURDAY

COMEDY

Kickstand Comedy Presents: Power Hour Improv featuring XXY Past Event Like List
Thirst murderers Liquid Death will serve up free cans of H₂O all night for Kickstand Comedy's Power Hour Improv, in which the audience and the on-stage improvisers will be required to take a sip every minute, on the minute, for the entire show. (Holidays got ya dehydrated? This one's for you.) The lineup includes some "secret, out-of-town special guests," and local drag boy band superstars XXXY will deliver a halftime show for the 2024 gods. LC
(Kickstand Comedy, Ladd's Addition, $15)

Lez Stand Up: Intimates Past Event Like List
Gather 'round, ladies and theydies: Your fave queer comedy show will close out 2023 with a special installment. Super-funny guests Kirsten Kuppenbender, Joe John Sanchez III, and Two Evils co-host Arlo Weierhauser will hit the stage with extended sets, helping you step back from the ledge after a long, long holiday season. On top of being a barrel full of queer chuckles, the show is a great excuse to check out the new-ish Siren Theater space on Mississippi. LC
(Siren Theater, Boise, $15)

FILM

Malcolm X in 70mm Past Event Like List
Denzel Washington electrifies the screen in Spike Lee's '92 biopic Malcolm X. The sweeping film, which Roger Ebert deemed "one of the great screen biographies," tells the story of the legendary Black Nationalist leader with nuance and insight, tracing the course of his life from his early experiences of white supremacy to his conversion to Islam and ground-shaking activist work. This 70mm screening is a worthwhile way to close out 2023. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $13-$15)

PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE

New Queers Eve Eve Past Event Like List
Just like Christmas Eve Eve, New Year's Eve Eve deserves a celebration too. Plus, more days spent celebrating means fewer in the monotonous machine of our lives (I'm fine!!) Hosts Diva Dott and Ann Pyne will ease you into the new year with a queer dance party featuring DJs Lapaushi, Meanmug, and Foto Haus. AV
(Back 2 Earth, King, $5)

SUNDAY

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Bing in the New Year Past Event Like List
We all know of the famous New Year’s ball drop, but what about the lowering of a giant lighted Bing cherry? The Milwaukie Arts Committee is "binging" in 2024 with a community celebration honoring the 1875 cultivation of the cherry in Milwaukie by Chinese nursery foreman Ah Bing. Before the cherry drop, enjoy live music from local bands, a beer and mead garden, and bites from Hearth & Soul Pizza. International Lion Dance will perform just before the main event at 9 pm, synched with the Times Square ball drop for family-friendly bedtimes. SL
(Milwaukie Farmers Market, Milwaukie, free)

Coffin Club New Year's Eve Ball Past Event Like List
Calling all goths! There are plenty of parties to choose from this weekend, but this is the only NYE ball offering darkwave, post-punk, and experimental sounds played loud enough to wake the dead. The bash with include live performances and DJ sets alike with deathrock band Nox Novacula, post-punks NYX Division, and selectors Crankenstein, Barbie Saint, and JQ. AV
(Coffin Club, Buckman, $20-$25)

Irish New Year's Past Event Like List
If you find it a struggle to stay awake 'til midnight or simply can't be bothered to stay up, fast forward eight hours and observe the Irish countdown instead at this neighborhood pub which will offer an afternoon toast and craic that'll have you home by nightfall. JW
(T.C. O'Leary's, Concordia, free)

The Midnight + The Six's New Years Eve Thrash Past Event Like List
This year, the Midnight is offering two very different vibes with their two-floor NYE extravaganza. Downstairs, you can headbang yourself straight into 2024 with metal bands Glasgholte, Heiress, Lagoon, and Magdalene. Upstairs, DJ Glittery Ghoul will spin a dancey mix of darkwave, new wave, and EBM until the early hours of the morning, pausing for a champagne toast at midnight. AV
(The Midnight PDX + The Sïx, Sunnyside, $13-$15)

New Year's Eve w/Don't Shoot PDX x CASJC x Live Music by Marzz (Melodezzi)
Past Event Like List To benefit the visionary social justice education organization Don't Shoot Portland's upcoming 10th Annual Reclaim MLK March for Human Rights & Dignity Past Event Like List , the Black Gallery will shimmy into 2024 with a family-friendly day of tunes, bites, and free art supplies at the Bank of Expensify. Portland-born rapper Marzz (Melodezzi) will hit the stage at 4 pm, and visitors can support the Reclaim MLK book drive and score invites to Don't Shoot Portland's January 13th printmaking event Past Event Like List . LC
(The Black Gallery, Pearl District, free)

New Year's Eve Skate Party Past Event Like List
Skate into 2024 at this family-friendly New Year's celebration! Get your groove on with a live DJ on and off the rink (in case dancing on skates is a challenge to your coordination like it is for me), and enjoy an optional champagne toast at midnight (if you're born in 2002 or earlier). There will also be party favors, skate specials, and general merriment. Wear what you want—the crowd here ranges from comfortable looks to sparkly party ‘fits. SL
(Oaks Park Skating Rink, Sellwood, $12-$28)

New Year's Eve Sobriety Powwow Past Event Like List
New Year's celebrations can be tricky for those who don't drink, and the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) puts together a sober alternative every year featuring youth activities, drumming, dancing, and a sober countdown. The organizers encourage attendees to bring a drum or dancing shoes and join in! The Sobriety Powwow has moved a little outside the city this time, but we think it's worth the trek (plus, you'll be sober and can make the drive). SL
(Wingspan Event and Conference Center, Hillsboro, free)

No Wallflowers: New Year’s Eve Celebration Past Event Like List
One of Portland’s most standout R&B singers, Zyah Belle AKA Yam Grier, spent two months learning how to DJ so she could DJ her own Birthday party back in October, and in the months since, she’s been popping up as a DJ at spots like buzzy downtown bar Pink Rabbit. Zyah’s birthday event was called No Wallflowers in homage to her upbringing in the Bay Area, where the parties are jumping and the people dance. For New Year’s Eve, Zyah Belle is headlining her second No Wallflowers party, taking over Pink Rabbit’s next door cocktail bar Fools and Horses and tapping DJ and producer Isaiah Sims to assist in providing dance-worthy sounds. The event’s organizers request attendees to use the dance night as an opportunity to dress to impress. And because this rare gem is a FREE NYE party, guests are also encouraged to RSVP and arrive early. Catch the vibe with this promotional video, shot by Riley Brown, which teased the upcoming event. PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR JENNI MOORE
(Fools and Horses, Pearl District, Free with RSVP)

NYE Dance Party with Soul Stew DJs Past Event Like List
If you're familiar with Portland's vintage vinyl nights, then you know that Goodfoot's Soul Stew is one of the best that the city has to offer. And, if your New Year's resolution includes listening to new (to you) music, then why not get started early? For this New Year's Eve shindig, Soul Stew DJs Aquaman, Brad Vachal, and the Soul Mechanic will dig deep in their crates for obscure funk, soul, and disco 45s. AV
(Goodfoot, Kerns, $25)

NYE Party with Constant Debauchery & Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me Past Event Like List
Please disregard the name of the bar, because this NYE concert sounds like A LOT of fun. Depeche Mode cover band Constant Debauchery and Cure tribute Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me will help ring in 1984—oops, I mean 2024—with new wave classics like "I Just Can't Get Enough" and "Just Like Heaven." AV
(No Fun, Buckman, $15)

Quarterworld NYE Extravaganza 2024
For those that prefer to flip and bump their way into the new year, this bash at old-school pinball hangout Quarterworld promises all the arcade gaming you desire, plus drink specials, music by DJ Jason Wann, and a "new and improved" midnight balloon drop. Come dressed in your finest neon garb to kick off 2024 with a bright start.
(Quarterworld, Sunnyside, $10-$50)

The Reser Presents: Kid’s New Year’s Eve Past Event Like List
For those celebrating the new year with a smaller, bedtime-restrained person, the Reser's got your back. Their kid-focused New Year's Eve celebrations kick off promptly at 11 am with musical performances by Arietta Ward and Mo Phillips, traditional West African grooves by Sebe Kan Youth African Dance, and activities and prize drawings. (I don't want to overexcite you, but your kiddo could win a PlayStation 5, which sorta-kinda means you could win a PlayStation 5.) The Portland Trailblazers’ own DJ O.G.ONE will emcee, and local food vendors will hawk treats throughout the afternoon. LC
(Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton, $10-$20)

LIVE MUSIC

Reptaliens Past Event Like List
Behold! An end-of-year closer show from high-concept music project Reptaliens inside Revolution Hall’s smaller burger-bar-adjacent venue, Show Bar. Those new to Reptaliens can start with their most recent full-length, Multiverse, which represented a more down-to-earth, guitar-rock approach than their previously synth-powered sound. Fans will hope for the group to also bust out material from the more surreal, sci-fi, conspiracy-influenced corners of their catalog. Their 2020 EP Wrestling paired moody songs with invigorating beats on “Listening,” and “Do You Know?” And that’s just the vibe to pump up these dreary winter nights, and welcome in January’s cold-but-curiously-seasonable reputation. Offering sturdy support to the NYE bill is Portland’s psych and hard pop band Aan, who will slay irresistible bangers like recently released single “Black Hole.” While Rev Hall’s roof deck is typically closed between November and March, the team sometimes opens it up on nice weather nights, so cross your fingers for clear skies! Maybe we’ll get a chance to ring in the New Year with that banger view of the city skyline. PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR JENNI MOORE
(Show Bar, Buckman, $20)

The Macks + Forty Feet Tall NYE Bash Past Event Like List
Local five-piece the Macks pull inspiration from Jimi Hendrix and the Doors for their timeless blues-infused garage rock. Join them for this high-energy New Year's Eve show alongside the post-punk troupe Forty Feet Tall. Plus, you can ditch the hangover-inducing champagne this year—the Lollipop Shoppe is known for its New Orleans-inspired cocktails like vieux carrés, hurricanes, and Sazeracs. AV
(Lollipop Shoppe, Buckman, $12-$15)

MONDAY

FILM

Snowed-In Double Feature Past Event Like List
In John Carpenter's The Thing, a plucky bunch of puffer coat-wearing research scientists help shelter a strange sled dog in remote Antarctica, then slowly learn that the pooch isn't all that he seems. The frosty classic horror stars a young Kurt Russell battling it out against—ya guessed it—a cold-hearted, shape-shifting alien. You can revel in The Thing's bone-chilling special effects (screened in 35mm) while toasty and warm in your theater seat during the Hollywood's "snowed-in" double feature. It also includes a 70mm screening of the "roadshow release" of Tarantino's post-Civil War thriller The Hateful Eight, complete with an overture and intermission. (What better way to welcome the new year than with an Ennio Morricone score?) LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $15)

SPORTS & RECREATION

Willamette River Polar Plunge Past Event Like List
Nothing jump-starts the new year like an icy plunge in the Willamette! West Linn Parks & Rec will have energizing music pumping and a warm fire going, as well as sweet treats. There will be kid, adult, and group costume contests, so dress in your icy best! The event is free, but donations of warm winter coats, scarves, and gloves are encouraged. SL
(Willamette Park, West Linn, free)

MULTI-DAY

FILM

The Boy and The Heron (Subbed and Dubbed Screenings) Past Event Like List
Over the last 30 years, Studio Ghibli has become legendary for its lush visuals, emotional and affecting storytelling, and poetic, intelligent approach to nature and the more-than-human world. One of its central figures is (duh) cofounder Hayao Miyazaki, who has made some of the studio's most revered flicks (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki'sDelivery Service among them). He's also the most endearingly idiosyncratic director, like, maybe ever, and has announced, then broken, his retirement a total of four times. Never change, Miyazaki!! Anyway, if you're a Ghibli fan, you probably know all of this and are already jazzed for his first feature film in 10 years, The Boy and The Heron. It's a hand-drawn, semi-autobiographical fantasy that seems likely to fall in line with all of the reasons you love him already. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $10-$12, Friday-Monday)

FOOD & DRINK

BB-POP Breakfast Burrito Pop-Up Past Event Like List
The self-proclaimed "lovechild of a speakeasy and a dive bar" The Uncanny will sling tortilla-wrapped bundles of savory goodness at their new breakfast burrito pop-up. Look forward to hangover-slaying combos like the "Easy BB" (French-style soft scrambled eggs, hash browns, queso, jack cheese, spiced beans, pickled red onions and jalapeños, crema, and pico de gallo) and the "Cali Vegan BB" (scrambled tofu, French fries, house-made vegan chorizo, vegan cheese, guac, spiced beans, pickled red onions and jalapeños, vegan sour cream, and pico de gallo), along with Proud Mary coffee and crushable brunch cocktails like "The Cat's Meow" (cocoa cachaça, blackstrap rum, espresso liqueur, tahini orgeat, coffee, and vegan whipped cream). If for some reason burritos aren't your thing, you can also get the same fillings heaped in a bowl. JB
(The Uncanny, Boise, Saturday-Sunday)

PERFORMANCE

Nutcracker Cracked Family Show Past Event Like List
Set to the music of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, the Portland Puppet Museum will present its idiosyncratic rendition of the magical Christmas tale again this year using over 84 "transforming rod puppets." The 45-minute show is short enough to keep even the wiggliest kid enchanted, and afterward, they can scope out the hundreds of puppets on site. LC
(Portland Puppet Museum, Sellwood-Moreland, $15, Saturday-Sunday)

VISUAL ART

A Sense of Place: the Art of George Tsutakawa Past Event Like List
One of George Tsutakawa's gargantuan fountains once graced the Lloyd Center, and they still stand at the Seattle Public Library's downtown branch and the Memorial Gates of Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum. Seattle-born but educated in Japan, the sculptor's public works blend Pacific Northwestern and Japanese aesthetic sensibilities; they also seem to draw inspiration from Abstract Expressionism, feeling both ambitious and personally expressive. Tsutakawa, who passed in '97, created over 70 bronze fountain sculptures in the US, Japan, and Canada, and his artistic process was complex, spanning a wide variety of mediums like sumi ink and woodblock printing. (I highly recommend looking him up on YouTube and watching a documentary or two.) A Sense of Place: The Art of George Tsutakawa is the first Oregon exhibition of his work. LC
(Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Old Town-Chinatown, $0-$8, Friday-Sunday; closing)

Converge 45 Contemporary Arts Biennial Past Event Like List
The free, citywide art exhibition Converge 45 is in full swing, with artists showcased across over 15 venues in Portland, including college campuses, the Portland Japanese Garden, and Pioneer Square. The biennial's theme, Social Forms: Art as Global Citizenship, takes on topics of Amazon deforestation, indigeneity, citizenship, and immigration, and aims to amplify the voices and experiences of people of color, so you're bound to find a cause you can get behind. LC
(Various locations, free, Friday-Sunday; closing)

Elefant Medium Past Event Like List
Jeffry Mitchel's solo exhibition concludes the year's programming at this Portland staple gallery. Furniture pieces made of ceramic and wood feature, alongside prints in wonderful hand-crafted frames. The lightheartedness of Mitchel’s work—which is often characterized by whimsical florals and animals—is adeptly timed as we enter the holiday season. PORTLAND MERCURY CONTRIBUTOR ASHLEY GIFFORD PETERSON
(PDX CONTEMPORARY ART, Slabtown, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)

WINTER HOLIDAYS

The Benson Hotel 2023 Gingerbread Masterpiece Past Event Like List
The Benson has unveiled its 2023 Gingerbread Masterpiece: a giant replica of Neuschwanstein Castle, the German architectural feat that Walt Disney modeled Sleeping Beauty's castle after, both at Disneyland and in the film. Going on 52 years, this holiday tradition takes hours of work for bakers and decorators to complete, especially since every part of the creation is edible, from 150 pounds of handmade gingerbread to 50 pounds of marzipan and buckets upon buckets of royal icing. SL
(The Benson Hotel, Downtown, free, Friday-Saturday)

Christmas Festival of Lights 2023 Past Event Like List
Don your hat and gloves, gather your loved ones, and get excited for one of Portland's favorite holiday traditions. The Festival of Lights transforms the Grotto into a magical place where twinkling lights and joyful songs guide your way. The plaza tent will host puppet shows at the beginning of every hour, followed by the Grotto Carolers and their merry tunes. Don't miss the Chapel of Mary's "cathedral-like acoustics" with nightly performances from local choirs. SL
(The Grotto, Sumner, $5-$18, Friday-Saturday)

Creatures of Christmas Past Event Like List
Mysterious creatures from Nordic lore will stop by Nordic Northwest this holiday season, including the 13 Icelandic Yule Lads (don't worry, they were banned from tormenting children in 1746), a Swedish Yule goat (cute and tied to ancient Pagan festivals), Danish and Norwegian nisse (gnome-like dudes with conical caps), and the Finnish Santa, Joulupukki, who looks a lot like the American one these days. While you're there, don't miss Ole Bolle, Thomas Dambo's own mythical creature (a giant troll made of recycled materials). LC
(Nordic Northwest, Metzger, free, Friday-Monday)

Light Up St. Johns! Ugly Sweater Holiday Events Past Event Like List
Hot chocolate, cookies, and gaudy sweaters abound in St. Johns this year, where you can drop by this weekend for the tail end of an ugly sweater photo contest and a scavenger hunt, plus lots of decorated windows throughout the district. Don your own hideous sweater for photo ops and pop into local businesses like Final Form PDX, Revolutions Bookshop, Vinyl Resting Place, and Weird Sisters to check some names off your shopping list with unexpected gifts. LC
(St. Johns Business District , St. Johns, free, Friday-Monday)

Peacock Lane Past Event Like List
Portland's very own "Christmas street" is back at it this year with its charming Tudor homes decked out in lights and garland, running now through New Year's Eve. If you choose to explore the lights by foot, bundle up and don't forget to stop by the free cocoa and cider booth for extra warmth. You can also enjoy the decorations from inside your car, just be sure to drive slowly to take it all in and ensure everyone (inside and outside of cars) is safe! Can you spot all the iconic characters? We hear the Grinch is on the loose. SL
(Peacock Lane, Sunnyside, free, Friday-Sunday)

Santa Clones Past Event Like List
Are you ready for a Santa scavenger hunt? Local artist Chris Willis has once again hidden an army of over 400 miniature Santa statues at a secret location. This annual "Santa Clones" tradition started in 2011, and you can head over to Willis's Instagram to solve the clues and find the jolly display lit from 4 to 11 pm daily through January 1. If you discover the location, keep it a secret so others can experience a little surprise and delight, too. SL
(Secret location, free, Friday-Monday)

Woodsy Winter Village and Ice Rink Past Event Like List
A new ice skating rink and marketplace is popping up at the west end of the Morrison Bridge this holiday season! Ice skating will be open every day through January 28, costing $20 for adults and $12 for kids under 12, including skate rental. Pro tip: spend at least $20 at a central city business (peep the map to see what qualifies), bring your receipt, and get a $5 discount on your skate ticket. If you need a little help on the ice, you can pay an extra $10 for an unreasonably cute skate aid named Bobby the Seal. The marketplace will feature local vendors, food trucks, warm beverages, and a "cozy lounge" with board games and warming pods. SL
(Morrison Bridgehead, Downtown, Friday-Monday)