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By Jennifer Colton

Go! Magazine

PENDLETON — Lights, holiday music and special guests bring nights to life at Pendleton’s Heritage Station Museum in December.

Although the museum typically closes at 5 p.m., Heritage Station, 108 SW Frazer Ave., will remain open for extended hours during its Heritage Lights celebration the first three Friday and Saturday nights in December: Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18.

During Heritage Lights, free admission to the Artisan Alley with vendors will open at 4 p.m. and admission to the outdoor light exhibits will open at 5 p.m. The last entry to the museum will be at 7 p.m. each event night.

Almost every corner of Heritage Station will be decorated including new decor at the cabin and the transformation of the signal house into Santa’s workshop where visitors can peek in the windows to see the elves at work.

Heritage Station Marketing and Tour Coordinator Shannon Gruenhagen said the barn will look completely different this year.

“This year, we have a reindeer, a backdrop inside. It’s going to be a great spot for kids to stand and get a photo. I’m really excited about it,” she said.

To celebrate the holidays, the museum’s indoor galleries have festive touches from holiday music on the piano to decorations in the post office exhibit.

“We’ve done some small tweaks just to make them more festive but not take away from the exhibits themselves,” Gruenhagen said. “It’s been fun coming up with ideas.”

A barbecue food truck will be on site during the event, and a few special guests — including Santa Claus and The Grinch — will be stopping by on different days.

The vendors and special guests will change based on the weekend. Gruenhagen said the museum’s Facebook event will be updated so visitors know which vendors and which guests will appear each weekend.

Unlike last year, there are no reservations required for Heritage Lights, and the event is free.

Admission to Heritage Station Museum will also be free for the entire month of December, although donations are appreciated.

Gruenhagen said organizers hope events and experiences at Heritage Station will encourage people to become members and visit the museum multiple times a year.

With the return of the Artisan Alley, visitors can also do some local holiday shopping.

“If there are vendors that still want to get into the artisan market, I am taking vendors up until the day before, if I have room,” Gruenhagen said.

Find more information check out the Facebook page or visit www.heritagestationmuseum.org.

Hermiston Festival of Lights

Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, Hermiston

Drive-thru light display open Thursdays through Sundays Nov. 26 -Jan. 2 (closed Dec. 24-25)

A special walk-through “Peppermint Lane” event is scheduled for Dec. 10-11 that will include fire pits, hot cocoa and more.

SAGE Center Light Show

101 Olson Rd NE, Boardman

Light display timed to holiday music on the grounds of the SAGE Center, open 5-10 p.m. Dec. 4-Jan. 2.