Holiday Family Fun in [Merry] McMinnville

Several people dressed in dalmation onesies ride an old fashioned firetruck lit with Christmas lights. — *Santa’s Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony occurs annually the day after Thanksgiving. Photo by Ashley Solis.*

December is a busy time for most families. You can recharge in McMinnville before the real madness hits with fun activities to lift your kids’ spirits and get a little peace. Check out these opportunities to get a little shopping done and have a little fun.

Glide & Gather Winter Market
For the first time, the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce has organized the Glide & Gather Winter Market. Blow off a little steam at the temporary ice skating rink. $10 gets you in and includes skate rental.

Oregon Mutual Insurance Parking Lot
400 NE Baker Street
Nov. 29-Dec. 22, Friday-Sunday, hours vary

Several adults and children are ice skating on a tent covered ice skating rink. The tent is lined with Christmas lights. — *Glide and Gather’s Winter Market is located in McMinnville’s downtown core*. *Photo by Ashley Solis.*

Wings & Waves and Goose Lights
Nothing will wear your kids out more effectively than a day at the water park. Wings & Waves features 4 wild and exciting water slides that originate from the belly of a Boeing 747. There’s a large wave pool, a splash playground, smaller slides for the little ones, and a large jacuzzi. If you’d like to camp out with a private space of your own, special cabanas are available for rent. Grab a snack or meal from the Milky Way Cafe to fend off any hangriness before heading to the hangar next door.

Once you’re done with the water fun, hop the pond to enjoy Goose Lights next door, where you’ll find the aviation museum decorated for the holidays. See the planes lit up in all their holiday glory, and even check out Santa arriving by helicopter on December 14 and 21.

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way
Goose Lights: Dec. 14-29, 5-8pm
Wings & Waves: Friday-Sunday, hours vary

The Spruce Goose airplane is inside of a large museum. Its propellors are decorated with green Christmas lights. A biplane is next to it and is also decorated with green Christmas lights. — *The Spruce Goose always gets the jaws dropping, with or without the holiday lights. Photo courtesy of Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.*

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang & Santa’s Jingle Jam
No one brings on the holiday fun quite like Gallery Theater. This season, they are showing their production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which has been playing to delighted audiences of all ages. Gallery is also offering a new event this year, Santa’s Jingle Jam, where you can enjoy caroling, photo opps, seasonal crafts and a cocoa bar.

Gallery Theater
210 NE Ford
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Friday-Sunday, Nov. 22-December 15, times vary
Santa’s Jingle Jam: Saturday, Dec. 14, 11am

Two children with red hair look off into the distance. One hold a steering wheel. In the background is a man holding a contraption of some kind. — *Never say no to adventures… Photo by Emily Matsuda.*

3rd Annual Metal Arts Gift Show
You’ll find a wide array of metal art at this fundraising show that benefits Yamhill Community Action Partnership. Support regional artists and makers, who will be selling jewelry, yard art, sculpture, armor, knives and more. Also be sure to check out the live demonstrations, food carts and live music. Get in for $5 or 5 cans of food.

Yamhill Valley Heritage Center
11275 SW Durham Lane
Saturday, December 14, 10am-7pm

A smiling and stands behind a display of jewelry. A display sign says MB Sterling Designs. — *Maggie Bowman, of MB Sterling Designs, founded and produces the Metal Arts Gift Show. Photo by James Howe.*

10th Annual McMinnville Holiday Market
Located in downtown McMinnville, the McMinnville Holiday Market has become the premiere market for holiday shopping. With more than 50 vendors, you’re sure to find a little something for everyone, and the thing that really makes this market stand out is the centralized checkout station. Pick up your items from each vendor and rather than paying each one, you take your items to the check out station to pay for everything.

The Bindery
610 NE 4th Street
Friday-Sunday, December 20-22, 10am-6pm

A large tall ceilinged building is decorated with balloons in different shades of green. Many vendor tables are stocked with wares. Many shoppers peruse the vendor booths. — *The McMinnville Holiday Market is always a bustling fun time. Photo courtesy of McMinnville Holiday Market.*

Annual Mac Holiday Market
If you really want to experience life as a local, be sure to check out McMinnville’s community gathering space during their annual holiday market. You’ll find curated gift ideas as well as much of the food and supplies that you need to dress your holiday table. Santa will be there for a special visit from 12-1:30pm.

Mac Market
1140 Alpine Avenue
Saturday, December 21, 12-3pm

A man being a booth with a table lined with bottles of whiskey talks to a man dressed as Santa, who is sampling the whiskey. — *Even Santa took a little time to sample some whiskey at last year’s Mac Holiday Market. Photo courtesy of Mac Market.*

James Howe (she/her), Visit McMinnville staff writer, has lived in McMinnville since 2009. Some of her favorite McMinnville memories include playing the flute in Second Winds Community Band, acting on stage at Gallery Theater, and co-founding Make Music McMinnville.