Portland‘s annual tree-lighting ceremony drew thousands to Pioneer Courthouse Square on Friday night, and a wave of criticism online, after city leaders avoided calling the 75-foot Douglas fir a “Christmas tree,” with one speaker using the platform to lead a “Free Palestine” chant.
The event, now in its 41st year, was promoted across the city and Pioneer Courthouse Square social media accounts simply as “Portland’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.” The event’s advertisements did not include the word “Christmas.”
The evening opened with a woman from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs welcoming the crowd on Native American Heritage Day. She introduced two younger tribal members, who also referred to the gathering as “the tree lighting,” before turning the microphone over to another woman.
Draped in a Palestinian flag, she quickly shifted into a more political message.
Free Palestine protestors disrupted the CHRISTMAS Tree lighting in downtown Portland over the weekend further proving Portland can’t ever have nice things without far-left radicals ruining it – even at a family friendly event.
It’s time the people of Oregon and Portland FREE… pic.twitter.com/LNWyXpTILj
— David Medina
(@davidmedinapdx) December 1, 2025
“This is the perfect time to bring this up. There are a lot of genocides going on,” she said. “Can I get a ‘Free, free Palestine?’” Some attendees echoed the chant. She later performed “Strong Woman Song,” an intertribal song, with two children and another woman, saying it “felt appropriate since we’re representing our matriarchs up here.”
Despite avoiding the word “Christmas” in the program and promotional materials, the event featured many traditional symbols of the holiday season. Santa Claus posed for photos, and families joined in a sing-along of well-known carols, including “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Deck the Halls.”
“The City of Portland and local media outlets are calling this ‘The Tree’ because they despise Christians like me and many of you so much they can’t bring themselves to say the word ‘Christmas,’” independent journalist David Medina posted.
Community outlet PDX Real said its reporters heard concerns from attendees that the program veered into political activism.
Thousands came to the Christmas tree lighting — and many told me parts of the program felt like political messaging that was out of place and inappropriate for a family event.
Why are our public traditions being pulled into ideology and virtue signaling instead of serving the… pic.twitter.com/gUKTH8f8Bx
— PDX Real (@PDXReal1) November 30, 2025
“Thousands came to the Christmas tree lighting — and many told me parts of the program felt like political messaging that was out of place and inappropriate for a family event,” the outlet wrote. “Portland deserves events that unite us, not moments that push someone’s narrative.”
Another commenter added, “It’s a Christmas tree, it’s always been a Christmas tree, and it will always be a Christmas tree.”
Some participants, however, told local outlets that they were simply excited to take part in one of the city’s most popular holiday traditions.
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Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s office dismissed the idea that the city was downplaying Christmas, saying, “Mayor Wilson was delighted to join Portland’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting alongside Christmas carolers and holiday festivities. That said, framing it otherwise feels like quite the reach.”
The ceremony unfolded without incident and drew thousands to downtown Portland, continuing a long-running tradition.