The days are shorter and the city's holiday calendar is set, which in Happy Valley means planning season has officially begun. This year's lineup has real anchors: a tree lighting at City Hall, a military band concert at the high school, and the farmers market's two-day holiday market in neighboring Clackamas. Here are the confirmed dates, times, and venues so you can put the good stuff on the calendar early.
Tree lighting, Sunday, December 6, at City Hall
The centerpiece returns on Sunday, December 6, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the Happy Valley City Hall parking lot at 16000 SE Misty Drive. The city's official calendar describes an evening of live entertainment and seasonal treats with the tree lighting as the main event; in recent years Santa has arrived around 4:30 and the tree has gone bright at 5:00, so arriving early is rewarded. It is free and family-friendly, the kind of evening where you run into half the neighborhood. Confirm details as the date nears on the city's tree lighting page .
Christmas in Clackamas, same afternoon, at Nelson High
Earlier that same Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 PM, the free "Christmas in Clackamas: A Holiday Celebration" concert features the 234th Army Band at Adrienne C. Nelson High School in Happy Valley. It makes for a tidy local doubleheader: the concert in the afternoon, then the walk over to City Hall as the evening lights go up. The 234th is a regular, well-loved presence at community events across Clackamas County, and tickets are managed through the event's own listings closer to the date.
The Procrastinators Holiday Market, December 19 and 20
For gifts, the farmers market's signature winter tradition fills Clackamas High School at 14486 SE 122nd Avenue on Saturday, December 19, and Sunday, December 20, for its 15th annual Procrastinators Holiday Market. Organizers describe more than 350 local vendors across the two days, with live music, food, and Santa on site. It is the definitive one-stop local shopping weekend of the season, run by the same team behind the Saturday market, and we covered the market's full fall schedule in an earlier post. Full details live on the Sunnyside Farmers Markets site .
Light Up the Valley returns for the season
Beyond the dated events, the city has confirmed that Light Up the Valley, the community-wide holiday light celebration, will return for the 2026 season. The concept is simple and charming: residents and businesses across Happy Valley decorate homes, yards, and balconies, and the whole city effectively becomes a driving tour. The city's Light Up the Valley page is where the official participation window and any maps will be posted as the season approaches.
Plan the season with the calendar
We keep all of this, plus the weekly and recurring gatherings, updated on our Community Calendar , and our fall events roundup covers what is still ahead this side of Thanksgiving. If you are house-hunting, December is also a quietly useful time to tour: neighborhoods show their true winter character, and holiday-lit streets make the evening rounds memorable. Browse what is on the market and see for yourself.
The takeaway
December 6 is the keystone date, with the army band at 2:00 PM and the tree lighting at 4:00, and December 19 and 20 handle the rest of your list at the Procrastinators Holiday Market. The calendar is confirmed, the venues are set, and the only thing missing is you putting it all on the fridge.