Portland's "Christmas Street" is back for the holidays

After taking a pandemic hiatus last year, Peacock Lane is back and better than ever!

Photo courtesy of Peacock Lane

Good news Portland - Peacock Lane is back this Christmas!

After a yearlong hiatus due to the pandemic, Portland's "Christmas Street" is returning from December 15 through December 31.

Photo courtesy of Peacock Lane

If you are not familiar with this beloved holiday event, Peacock Lane is an elaborate holiday light display that happens on Peacock Lane, between Southeast Stark and Southeast Belmont. The houses on this strip were all designed in the early to mid-1920s using Tudor and cottage styles, making it look like a Christmas village all year round.

The Peacock Lane Christmas display is one of Portland's oldest traditions, as described on the event's webpage:

Since 1932, each house on this little street located in Southeast Portland has been decorating for Christmas. The houses mostly Tudors are adorned with creative light displays that include nativity scenes, rotating Christmas trees, and stunningly life-like replicas of Santa, Frosty, The Grinch, and a wide variety of colorful characters to bring festive joy to the holiday season for Portlanders.

Photo courtesy of Peacock Lane

Anyone who purchases a house on the street is contractually obligated to participate in the annual Christmas event and the entire neighborhood gets involved.

Visitors have the option to drive or walk through Peacock Lane to view all the displays close up. Christmas music and costumed volunteers add to the festivities. Some offerings will be scaled back this year however due to the ongoing pandemic. Announcers shared this update in a post on the event's Facebook page:

Good news! Peacock Lane will be open for the 2021 holiday light. It's the most wonderful time of the year again, and the residents of Peacock Lane are happy to share that they will be displaying their lights from Dec 15th to December 31st. This year to limit potential COVID exposure to our volunteer-based residents there will be no cocoa booth and no designated pedestrian-only nights. We look forward to seeing you all soon and can't want to hear your cheer and see your joy.

Photo courtesy of Peacock Lane

The Peacock Lane event is fun for the whole family, and the option to drive through makes it completely safe and accessible for anyone in your household. Even better, Peacock Lane is completely free to attend. Commercial activities are also prohibited so no one will be trying to sell you an ornament or ask you to sign a petition while you enjoy the fun.

Pictures don't adequately convey how beautiful and fun these displays are -- you need to see them for yourself. It's worth the drive to Southeast Portland to check out this event.

Photo courtesy of Peacock Lane

Peacock Lane is open nightly from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Be prepared to wait to access the site during high volume times. For more information visit the event's Facebook page here.

What are your favorite memories of Peacock Lane? Share them in the comments below.

#HolidayJoy

Photo courtesy of Peacock Lane