Your calendar may tell you that Christmas is four months away, but that’s not too soon to register for a yuletide ride on the historic Willamette Shore Trolley. This 45-minute ride, that leaves from the Willamette Shore Trolley station on State Street, entertains guests with holiday lights, sweet treats, carols, and a visit from a very special guest from the North Pole.

This holiday tradition takes place over the weekend of December 11-13 with 16 rides scheduled at. At the time of this posting, 11 of those were already full so if it sounds like something you’d like to include in your holiday festivities, be sure to register today! Tickets are $25 for passengers 13 and older; $20 under 13.

Another popular holiday tradition that fills up quickly is the horse drawn wagon rides through downtown Lake Oswego before Thanksgiving. This year those take place on Saturday, November 21 from Millennium Plaza Park and last about 20 minutes. Reservations are required for rides on the hour (9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.) and those have already been taken. So mark it on your calendar for next year to buy those tickets the first day that registration opens up for Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation activities. (This year that date was August 1). Luckily for the rest of us, rides on the half hour are available on a first come, first serve basis and tickets are available for purchase onsite. $15 adults; $10 youth (ages0-12).

Your calendar may say Christmas is still four months away, but it’s not too early to reserve your spot on one of Lake Oswego’s most beloved holiday traditions: a yuletide ride aboard the historic Willamette Shore Trolley.

This festive 45-minute ride departs from the Willamette Shore Trolley station on State Street and treats passengers to holiday lights, sweet treats, Christmas carols, and even a visit from a very special guest from the North Pole.

This year’s holiday rides take place December 11-13, with 16 departures scheduled throughout the weekend. At the time of this writing, 11 of those rides were already sold out, so if you’d like to add this experience to your holiday celebrations, don’t wait to register. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under.

Another holiday favorite that fills up quickly is the annual horse-drawn wagon ride through downtown Lake Oswego. This year’s rides will take place on Saturday, November 21, departing from Millennium Plaza Park and lasting approximately 20 minutes.

Reservations are required for rides departing on the hour (9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m.), and those tickets have already been claimed. Consider it a friendly reminder to mark your calendar for next year and purchase tickets as soon as registration opens through Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation. This year, registration began on August 1.

The good news? Rides departing on the half-hour are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and tickets can be purchased on-site. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and younger.

More good news? The Annual Tree Lighting Festival rings in the holiday season the day after Thanksgiving and is free and doesn’t require registration. Festivities include music, holiday marketplace, letters to Santa, sweet treats, photos with the big guy in red and more! This year’s celebration takes place on Friday, November 27 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Millennium Plaza Park.

The moral of the story though? In Lake Oswego, it’s never too early to start planning for Christmas.

It’s also never too early to start looking for a good Lake Oswego Realtor. With over 35 years’ experience living here and helping others buy and sell homes, we’d love to put our experience to work for you. Please reach out and see how we can help you.

Kevin Costello kevin.costello@cascadehasson.com 503.939.9801

Riley Costello riley.costello@cascadehasson.com 971.322.6205