In Portland, Oregon, Christmas trees have been installed at Pioneer Courthouse Square annually since the public space opened in 1984.

Many have included sing-alongs led by Thomas Lauderdale and other members of Pink Martini, with additional participation by other local music groups.

Among mayors to flip the light switch are Tom Potter, Sam Adams, Charlie Hales, and Ted Wheeler.

According to Capital Press, the trees are at least 75 feet (23 m) tall and have a base diameter of less than 25 inches (2.1 ft) in order to fit into the stand.

The trees are also usually "open grown" (given space for full development of branches and needles) and harvested from within 30 to 40 feet of a road, for hauling purposes.

[3] The 2003 tree was a 75-foot tall Douglas fir that weighed 9,000 pounds and had more than 5,000 lights, the majority of which were purchased by a fundraising initiative with participation by United Way.

[22][23] The 40-year-old, 8,000-pound Douglas fir was harvested from Stimson Lumber's Camp McGregor tree farm near Elsie, in the Northern Oregon Coast Range.

[3][24][25] In 2024, the approximately 35-year-old tree of the same size and type, grown near Gaston, had a base diameter of 17 inches and weighed close to 7,500 pounds.

In 2012, the tree was escorted along Southwest 6th Avenue to the square by "Santa Claus", the Get a Life Marching Band, and Darigold's Farmalicious 1941 tractor.

[27] The tree arrival ceremony in 2015 included a parade with the Beat Goes On Marching Band, an appearance by "Santa Claus", a group of carolers, and free hot chocolate for attendees.

[34] The 2011 ceremony featured a sing-along led by Thomas Lauderdale and Pink Martini, with additional participation by members of the Oregon Symphony and the Pacific Youth Choir.

The light switch was flipped by mayor Sam Adams, city commissioner Nick Fish, "Santa Claus", and Pioneer Courthouse Square president Phil Kalberer.

[13][15][35] During the performance of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (1943) in 2017, Lauderdale encouraged attendees to change the lyric "hang a shining star upon the highest bough" to "until then we'll have to muddle through somehow".