"Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square Illuminates the Holiday Season with Tree Lighting Ceremony"

The 39th annual tree lighting ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland marked the beginning of the holiday season with a festive sing-along led by Pink Martini. Thousands of revelers gathered as a 75-foot Douglas fir tree adorned with 9,500 lights illuminated the square. Amidst the celebration, a group of about 200 demonstrators chanted pro-Palestine slogans. Other holiday events, including an ice skating rink and holiday marketplace, are planned across the city and state.