This week I’m taking you with me to Portland’s Winter Light Festival 2026, a February tradition that runs for two weekends—and I’m telling you right up front, the art here is unbelievable. I start out early at the “Light Block,” one of the three big anchor areas, before the crowds really roll in (and yes, it’s raining, so that may thin things out a bit). I walk you around while folks are still setting up—DJs getting ready for the silent disco (headphones and three stations), artists prepping installations, and even some quirky fun like “flying cotton candy.” Then I hop on Portland’s MAX (mass transit) and head downtown to the other anchor spots—Pioneer Courthouse Square and the World Trade Center—where the festival really turns the city into a glowing outdoor gallery. If you think this is just a bunch of Christmas lights, you’re really mistaken. Artists come from all over the world to build these displays, and it’s different every year. This is the 11th year, and I’ve made it to four of them—enough to say confidently: it’s worth the trip if you like art, night walks, and a little winter magic.