HERMISTON, PENDLETON — Light displays are bright and shining in Eastern Oregon this year.

Hermiston

The Festival of Lights has a new name, expanded offerings and even more lights this year.

Dubbed “The North Pole of Eastern Oregon,” Hermiston’s Land of Lights offers the Festival of Lights and more at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center.

“We’ve done a big expansion to the project,” EOTEC General Manager Al Davis said. “We’re really trying to put ourselves on the map and be a destination for the holiday season.”

The Festival of Lights started in the 1990s as a walk-through event at the former Umatilla County Fairgrounds. The festival moved to EOTEC in 2020 and has continued to grow. Davis said the expansion this year is because of partnerships and sponsors, including Amazon Web Services, Good Shepherd Healthcare System and Roger’s Toyota.

This year, the event features the Land of Lights Drive-thru around the west side of the grounds and a walk-through Candy Cane Village near the Farm-City Arena on the east side with bonfires, hot cocoa and candy canes for children.

“We’ve added the walking section this year, and one of the things that we’ve seen is that it becomes a multigenerational activity. We see grandma and mom or dad and grandkids all walking. It’s a great way to spend an evening,” Davis said.

Through a partnership with the City of Umatilla, the Land of Lights is also offering ice skating this year. Davis said Umatilla was not able to set up its ice rink this year because of construction, so they partnered with Hermiston to bring it to EOTEC. Visitors can skate in the ice rink at Candy Cane Village from 4-8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays. The cost is $5 for children and $7 for adults, including skate rental.

Davis recommends visiting more than once because it’s difficult to see everything the first time.

“Come multiple nights and you’re going to find something you didn’t see before because there are a lot of lights out there,” he said.

Land of Lights is open 5-9 p.m. on weekends through Jan. 4. There is no admission cost, but they do accept donations.

Pendleton

In Pendleton, Heritage Lights has also expanded at Heritage Station Museum. The walk-through event features lights across the entire museum grounds as well as an artisan market inside the museum.

In addition to the light displays and vendor booths, visitors will be able to shop at the gift shop and may meet both Santa Claus and The Grinch as they walk the grounds.

Heritage Lights runs from 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 20-21.

Road trip

The Four Rivers Cultural Center and Museum Light Show is up and running at Four Rivers Cultural Center, 676 SW 5th Ave. in Ontario.

This free event sets Christmas lights to holiday music through the station 93.5 FM. Visitors can event vote for the next song to play at https://4rcc.com/christmas-light-show/.

The FCCC Christmas Light Show runs from 5:30 to midnight every day until Jan. 1.