St Johns Winter Beer Fest
The sixth annual celebration of winter beer, (the best beer), featuring 20 different winter brews, including stouts, porters, IPAs and more. 3oz. pours are $1, glasses are $10, and food from Urban German and Ash Woodfired Pizza.
Dec 9-11, noon, The Central Hotel, $20

Books & Beer
Fairly often a live reading here in Portland will also feature some beer, because it's Portland and our whole thing is adding beer to stuff that doesn't usually include it. In keeping with that tradition, local publishers and authors come together with local brewers for an evening of readings and drinkings, featuring Jeff Alworth, Brian Yaeger, Jon Abernathy, Matt Wagner, and more.
Dec 4, 2 pm, N.W.I.P.A., free

Portland Brewing's Ugly Sweater Party
It's time to break the fuzzy fugliness out of your closet and use it as a full-body bib to catch any spare drops of Portland Brewing deliciousness that might miss your mouth as you enjoy live music, raffles, and a drunken Santa! And if you donate a clean coat or jacket, you'll get a free six-pack in return.
Dec 6, 5 pm, Portland Brewing Company

The Dandy's Christmas Dinner and a Show
A Christmas tradition, featuring one of its best known bands taking over Edgefield's Blackberry Hall to basically do whatever the hell they want, which includes a five-course dinner with wine pairings, and silent film screenings scored live by the Dandys themselves.
7 pm, Edgefield, $150

Night of 1000 Latkes
Okay, right up front: It might not actually be 1000 latkes, but still, Tavern Books is going to offer up a whole lotta latke for you to enjoy, and some delicious beer with which to wash it down. Why? Why not? It's latkes and beer! Get in on this!
Dec 8, 6:30 pm, Tavern Books

Humbug Lager Fest
Celebrate the Winter season with a lager beer fest featuring lagers from Occidental and other great breweries from Portland and beyond. Admission gets you a logo taster glass along with six tokens for samples. Samples are 4oz each. Bring a can of a non-perishable food item to receive one extra token with your initial purchase of glass and tokens.
Dec 10, noon, Occidental Brewing Co., $10

Cocktail Wonderland
New Deal transforms their tasting room into a cocktail wonderland, featuring demo stations, gift sets, local mixers, barware and other drink-making accessories. $10 gets you a flight with complimentary offerings from Tails & Trotters and Annie's pies, and if you bring a non-perishable food item with you, you'll get a free taste from the house line of spirits.
Dec 10, noon, New Deal Distillery

Bûche de Noël Pastry Chef Competition
Featuring some of Portland's most celebrated chefs pitting their uniquely baked and decorated cakes against each other, with guests getting to sample the goods and declare the victor!
Dec 11, 4 pm, The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel, $10

Bluehour Santa Brunch
Some places let you sit on (or near) Santa and ask him for stuff. Only Bluehour is letting you break bread with the man (or whatever he is) for a special three-course brunch, with a choice of main courses including smoked salmon toast, crab Benedict, bacon and sweet potato hash, and more.
Dec 11, 10am, Bluehour, $30

Parallel Holiday Feast Pop-Up
Joey and Stacey Gibson of Woodsman Tavern host this pop-up at Roman Candle, featuring a three-course holiday meal that comes with three different paired drinks. Tickets include food, beverage, and gratuity.
Dec 12, 6 pm, Roman Candle Baking Co., $50

Barfly's Xmas Xtravaganza
Not every Christmas needs to be a well-mannered, daintily sweatered party. Christmas can be kind of a sloppy mess sometimes, and that shit is fun, too. Enter this annual shindig, featuring a table full of Northwest Bierhaus Jerky and chalices of Stella Artois, with Jen Lane personally DJing the event and getting some help from local legend Elvis on the microphone.
Dec 12, 7 pm, Hawthorne Theatre, free

The Belgian Beer Book
Author Luc De Reaedemaeker signs copies of his travel guide for adventurous drinkers looking to tour the best beer spots in Belgium, as well as diving into the secrets behind making Belgian style beers.
Dec 14, 5 pm, Belmont Station

The Abyss Release and Brunch
When it comes to Deschutes Brewery beers, it gets none more black than the Abyss, and this year's limited release includes a special brunch menu, featuring Abyss-infused cinnamon rolls, biscuits and gravy, steak and eggs, Benedicts in multiple styles, and more, as well as sampler trays of previous year's dark and frothy offerings.
Dec 16, 11 am, Deschutes Brewery & Public House

Ciderfest
East Burn hosts a holiday cider celebration that doubles as a benefit for Toys for Tots. 15 of the regions most progressive cideries will be on hand representing their products until the cider runs dry. The $10 admission will net you 5 tasting tickets to get your sampling journey started right out the gate.
Dec 16, 4 pm, East Burn, $10

Fiesta Navideña
Featuring great food, delicious drinks, a posada, pinatas, offerings from Mercado vendors (including new businesses Haitian Cookshack Cafe and Carniceria Kaah), a holiday gift shop, and a photo booth, all underscored by live music all weekend long.
Dec 17-18, noon, Portland Mercado, free, all ages

Reverend Nat's Holiday Night Market
Why Christmas shop sober when you can Christmas shop with cider? This fundraiser for PICA features locally made goods from vendors including Rockriver, Leeloo Soap, Elysium Jewelry, and more.
Dec 22, 4 pm, Rev. Nat's Cidery & Taproom

Christmas Eve Dinner
23Hoyt owner Bruce Carey personally decorates the dining area to provide the proper ambience for this multi-course Christmas Eve dinner, with a special children's menu for the kids under 12.
Dec 24, 4 pm, $50, all ages

Don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!