How to See the Peacock Lane Holiday Lights in Portland, OR
Peacock Lane is Portland, Oregon’s famous Christmas street. Each December, residents transform these four blocks into a winter wonderland of colors and lights, a tradition that began almost 100 years ago. Each house’s decorations are different. Some go for Christmas classics like nativities, Santas, and reindeer. Others get creative with themes like Home Alone, the Grinch, and Star Wars. Here is everything you need to know about seeing the holiday lights of Peacock Lane.
Know before you go
It’s free to visit Peacock Lane.
Street parking is available nearby. It’s free to park, but finding a spot during the holiday lights can take some searching.
Holiday lights on Peacock Lane run from December 15th through December 31st. The lights are on daily from 6 PM - 11 PM. Don’t get thrown off by Portland’s early winter sunsets. It will be dark well before the lights come on.
December 15th and 16th are pedestrian-only nights. Both cars and pedestrians are welcome on Peacock Lane for the other nights.
Leashed dogs can visit Peacock Lane.
Peacock Lane is very crowded during the holiday lights.
Please stay on the sidewalks. Don’t walk into people’s yards or up their driveways for pictures.
The lights
The tradition of holiday lights on Peacock Lane started in 1932 and has been going strong ever since. I’ve heard the longstanding rumor that residents are required to decorate their properties for the holidays. They aren’t. Everyone volunteers. More remarkably, everyone participates. If you’ve ever tried to make more than two people agree on anything as simple as where to eat for brunch, it’s hard not to be impressed by this solidarity.
The variety of decorating styles on Peacock Lane adds a lot to the fun. The mostly Tudor-style houses have features that seem made for adornment, like gable roofs and bay windows. Some houses are fairly restrained in their light displays. Others shoot for the moon. You’ll see lights of all colors and sizes, life-sized tableaux of Christmas movies, fake snow machines, giant inflatables, and at least one bonfire.
If you get to Peacock Lane early in the night, look for apple cider and hot cocoa starting at 6 PM. They go fast. The drinks are free, with donations appreciated. Proceeds go to charity. Bring a cup if you’d like cider or cocoa while you’re there.
Getting there and parking
Peacock Lane is a four-block residential street between Cesar Chavez Blvd and SE 41st St in Portland, Oregon. Entrances are on SE Stark St and SE Belmont St. You can reach Peacock Lane by car, bus, bike, or on foot.
Bike
If you bike to Peacock Lane, please lock up or walk your bike while you’re there. It’s too crowded to bike down Peacock Lane during the holiday lights.
Bus
Since parking near Peacock Lane is limited and traffic is heavy, the organizers recommend taking the bus if you can. Trimet buses #15 and #75 have stops right next to Peacock Lane.
Parking
Parking near Peacock Lane is on the neighboring residential streets. It’s not metered, but it can be hard to find a spot on the blocks closest to the holiday lights. Avoid the Walgreens parking lot on Belmont St. The store has asked people not to use it unless they are shopping.
Since the #15 and #75 buses don’t go anywhere near my house, I drove. I came around 6 PM and found a spot about a five-minute walk away from Peacock Lane. Parking was tighter when I left around 7 PM, but still not full. Please be sure to stick to legal parking spots without blocking driveways or limiting visibility. Drive slow. A lot of pedestrians will be walking to the lights.
Driving
Driving in the neighborhood around Peacock Lane can be stressful during the holiday lights. Stark St and Cesar Chavez Blvd get backed up. I heard a lot of impatient honking on my walk back to the car. All unnecessary. We’re looking at Christmas lights, after all, not driving a relative to the hospital. Getting there early or late can help avoid the worst of the traffic.
Crowds
There’s no way around it. The crowds at Peacock Lane are BA-NA-NAS. I’ve tried to spare you endless pictures of the backs of people’s heads despite the abundance of material. To give you an idea of the scene, here is the line on Stark St waiting to get to Peacock Lane. In other words, the line to get to the line:
It’s just as busy when you get there, too
I went on a pedestrian-only night, which I thought would mean room to spread out. Nope. The sidewalks were full and often stopped moving completely. The street was almost as full. The direction of travel was random and ever-changing. There are strollers, dogs, long selfie sessions, families splitting up and coming back together, you name it.
I don’t mean to be negative. I’m glad I went. The organizers do a great job, the lights are amazing, and the atmosphere is mostly festive despite the steady crush of humanity. That being said, if I go again, I’ll go later. It’s hard to see the lights through the crowds, and all the jostling gets tiring. It’s also hard to escape the masses. After I left Peacock Lane, I took a parallel street back toward the car to get some space, but I still got stuck behind a long line of people doing the same thing. If you go, embrace the chaos. We’re all in it together.
Tips for avoiding the crowds:
Visit after 9 PM.
Visit after December 25th.
Arriving early can make driving and parking easier, but Peacock Lane will be very crowded when the lights go on at 6 PM.
Have a backup plan for if your group gets separated. A question I overheard on Peacock Lane: “Did anyone lose a kid?”
To walk or to drive
If you visit Peacock Lane after December 16th, you have the choice of walking or driving past the holiday lights. I’ve done both. I wouldn’t say one way is better. The experience is just a little different.
Walking brings you closer to the holiday light displays. The views and photo opportunities are better. You also have more control over your pace. Potential disadvantages are rain, cold, and crowds.
Driving keeps you warm and dry while you see the holiday lights. You also have your personal space while you admire them. Potential disadvantages are obstructed views and traffic. Expect backups on the way to Peacock Lane. Once you’re on the street, you’ll move very slowly and stop often, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It gives you plenty of time to see the lights.
If you drive, turn your headlights off once you’re on Peacock Lane for the best viewing experience. Turn them back on once you leave the street. Be aware that the Portland Police Department might close Peacock Lane to cars if driving conditions become unsafe. If they do, you can still walk down the street.
Enjoy the holiday lights of Peacock Lane!
With love,
Emma
More info
For more details and updates, check out the Peacock Lane website.
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