Holiday light show at Portland International Raceway will be open from Fri., Nov. 27 through Sat., Jan. 2
The Safeway Winter Wonderland holiday light show opens for the season starting Fri., Nov. 27, from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Portland International Raceway (PIR) and is open nightly through Sat. Jan. 2.
The light show operates as a fundraiser for Sunshine Division’s vital crisis response efforts in an unprecedented year. Title sponsor, Safeway Foundation, and “powered by” sponsor, Advantis Credit Union, provide significant funding for the holiday light show and Sunshine Division’s emergency food distribution efforts again this year.
Sunshine Division’s Executive Director Kyle Camberg says, “Because of COVID-19, our four largest event fundraisers were all canceled this year, creating a significant burden for our nonprofit and many others. At the same time, since April, we created a home delivery program and are now helping 10 times as many households with free emergency food as we did last year during the same time period. This is the highest number of families and individuals we have served in our entire 98-year history.
“Now, as we enter the holiday season, those two realities make the success of Winter Wonderland more important than ever before for Sunshine Division,’’ Camberg added. “Our ability to continue to provide emergency food for thousands, while providing more than 15,000 holiday meals during the months of November and December, make it paramount that we have a successful Winter Wonderland event as this is our largest and only fundraising event for the entire year.”
Winter Wonderland drive through light show hours are:
• Sunday — Thursday, 5–9:30 p.m.
• Friday — Saturday, 4:30 p.m.–10 p.m.
• With special extended hours the week of Christmas, Sun., Dec. 20–Sat., Dec. 26th, from 4:30 p.m.–10 p.m.
More information regarding hours, ticket pricing, COVID-19 safety protocols, and general information can be seen at http://winterwonderlandportland.com/
Purchase advance tickets online at http://winterwonderlandportland.com/tickets/ or for $20 at all Portland-area Albertsons and Safeway stores (starting the week of Thanksgiving) customer service desks until sold out.
Sunshine Division is thankful to continue the tradition of Winter Wonderland amidst such a chaotic year. To ensure a safe holiday experience, as mentioned, several safety protocols have been put in place to protect supporters and employees alike. Most important to note; Winter Wonderland is going cashless and offering online-only ticketing. Discounted tickets can also be purchased at Portland metro Safeway and Albertsons locations at the customer service desk, starting in late November, until tickets are sold out.
Winter Wonderland drive through COVID-19 safety protocols include:
• Social distancing from the comfort of your car.
• No more than 6 people per vehicle allowed.
• No bike/dog walking nights.
• Cashless entry to the racetrack with online-only tickets available for purchase.
• Cashiers in secured booths with minimal interaction and protective plexiglass.
• Required masks when purchasing tickets from the booth and if outside of your car to use the restroom.
• No candy canes and goodie bags will be handed out to cars.
• No concessions at the event this year.
Sunshine Division is unable to accept food donations this year but encourages those who are looking to support their efforts to make an additional donation with their ticket purchase.
Sunshine Division has been committed to making holiday seasons brighter for local families since 1923. Winter Wonderland aligns with that mission by creating a platform to generate community support during a critical time of year. The 2020 show will be managed on behalf of Sunshine Division, with support from the Hood to Coast Race Series staff. This year’s show opens Friday, November 27, 2020 and closes Saturday, January 2, 2021.
About Winter Wonderland
Recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the “Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi”, the 28th annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show at Portland International Raceway is a signature fundraiser for Sunshine Division. Spectators can enjoy the most impressive drive-through light show in the region, viewing two miles of lights and over 250 colorful light set pieces and many fully animated scenes from the comfort and safety of their own vehicle. Over two million visitors have taken the Winter Wonderland journey since its origin.
About Sunshine Division
Since 1923, Sunshine Division has provided free emergency food and clothing to families and individuals in times of crisis. This December marks 98 years that Sunshine Division, Portland Police Bureau members, and volunteers from the community will home deliver holiday food boxes. This year, 2,500 holiday food boxes will be home-delivered to families in need via Sunshine Division’s emergency food delivery program, and a total of 15,000 boxes will be distributed in November and December across the Portland metro area.
Since launching their expanded emergency food delivery program in April, with the help of the Portland Police Bureau and numerous local supporters, Sunshine Division has provided more than 4 million meals to over 150,000 households through their two food pantries, home deliveries, and bulk food distribution network. In addition to the traditional holiday home delivery program, Sunshine Division’s new delivery model will help them meet the need during what they anticipate will be an extraordinarily challenging holiday season for thousands of local families.
For more information, please visit: https://sunshinedivision.org/
