Kick start your holiday season. Bundle up, bring out your umbrellas and cameras for the fun and colourful Milwaukie Umbrella Parade and Tree Lighting Celebration this December 3rd.

The Parade

The event will commence at 3:30 p.m. with a parade of decorated umbrellas through downtown Milwaukie and ending with the lighting of the tree at City Hall. Santa Claus will be waiting for kids at City Hall. Spectators will be treated to cookies and hot cocoa while enjoying the thousands of dazzling lights that illuminate the city’s conifer.

Best Decorated Umbrella Awards

Put on your creative hat for a chance to win awards in three decorated umbrella categories, namely: Most Creative, Most Festive and Most “Milwaukie”. Each category includes prizes for both adults and children. Judging begins at 3:30 p.m. at the Adams Street Connector, next to the Main St. light rail platform.

Milwaukie – Dogwood City of the West

A suburb of Portland, the city of Milwaukie was named after Milwaukee in Wisconsin by Lot Whitcomb – the city founder and one of the early settlers in the Clackamas County. Nestled on the shores of the Willamette River, Milwaukie was at one time reported to be home to the oldest and largest Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) tree in the world, thus the nickname, “Dogwood City of the West”. The city boost the longest operating Sunday Farmers’ Market in Oregon.

Birthplace of Bing Cherries

Did you know those sweet, succulent, dark-red Bing cherries we enjoy in the summer originated from Milwaukie? Bing is a cultivar of the wild cherry, Prunus avium. It was developed in 1875 by Oregon horticulturist Seth Lewelling and his Chinese orchard foreman, Ah Bing, for whom the variety is named after.

To celebrate the holiday tradition, Bob’s Red Mill has donated cookies for everyone to enjoy. A visit to the famous mill is a must on any Milwaukie itinerary. Read Why Bob Moore, the Founder gave away his multi-million dollar company to his employees.

For a list of things to do before you travel, Click Checklist.

An easy way to get from Portland to Milwaukie is by train. Trimet, the Oregon mass transit authority recently launched the MAX Orange light rail service which connects Milwaukie to Portland City Center. The half hour rail ride allows visitors to also make stops at Portland State University and SE Portland. More information on how to get to Milwaukie is available at the travel links listed below.

Links:

Travel Oregon
Mt Hood Territory

Photo Credit:   City of Milwaukie, Oregon