The annual tree-lighting ceremony in downtown Portland will kick off the holiday season Friday evening.

The event, which packs Pioneer Courthouse Square with revelers every year, gets underway at 5:30 p.m. and typically features singalongs and appearances by Santa and local politicians. The sudden illumination of the 14,000 lights on the 75-foot-tall Douglas Fir always elicits gasps of delights from the assembled.

Keep in mind that taking a bus, train or streetcar to “Portland’s living room” probably will be a good idea, because starting at 3 p.m., roads between Southwest Alder Street and Southwest Taylor Street and between Southwest 5th Avenue and Southwest Park Avenue will be closed to cars. The roads will re-open after the event ends and the crowd has thinned.

-- Douglas Perry

@douglasmperry

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