Nothing says "2026" like a cowboy prom and a very '80s vampire flick. by Lindsay Costello It's the last week of 2025, and all those other Do This, Do That events are so last year. Here's a fresh roundup to round out your week, inclu ding events featuring complicated comedians, hot vampires, and honky tonk opportunities. Plus, New Year's matcha and a journaling session set you up for self-actualized success in 2026—but before that, there's plenty to do on New Year's Eve. Cue the Peanuts gang singing "Auld Lang Syne"! Monday, December 29 Sunshine Division's Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights If you're the type of person who drives your family and friends around to different neighborhoods trying to find the best holiday light displays, this one's for you. A winter wonderland once again takes over the racetrack with hundreds of lighted set pieces that you can view from the warmth of your car. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Sunshine Division, a local nonprofit that works year-round to provide food and clothing to families in need. See the full photo essay at the Mercury. (Portland International Raceway, 1940 N Victory, varying hours daily through Dec 31, $38-$85, more info, all ages) SHANNON LUBETICH CORBIN SMITH Tuesday, December 30 Josh Gondelman We are big fans of NYC-based comedian Josh Gondelman, whose credits include appearances on Conan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and even the prestigious Portland Mercury’s I, Anonymous Show. But his wit and wisdom can also be experienced through his writing for Showtime’s Desus Mero, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (for which he won FOUR Emmy awards… oooOOOoooh, fancy). That’s why we can heartily recommend spending tonight (and/or New Year’s Eve) with the oh-so-funny, and sharp-witted Gondelman who will kick off 2026 in hilarious style. (Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th, 7:30 pm, $30.99-$40.99; Dec 31, 7 pm 9:30 pm, $49.99-$179.99 and $62.99-$189.99, more info, 21+) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Don't Tell Comedy (@donttellcomedy) Pink Martini New Year’s Eve Celebration Portland's "little orchestra" went on a two-month tour around the world earlier this year and they’ll return to cap off 2025 with two hometown shows. The band's groovy rhythms, layered live performances, and multilingual repertoire never fail to impress, with over a dozen musicians blending classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop with precision and panache. I expect the ensemble to be joined by their usual powerhouse vocalists China Forbes, Storm Large, and Edna Vazquez, and some surprise guests if we're lucky. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $54-$162, more info, all ages) SL Wednesday, December 31 John Mulaney with Fred Armisen Just a couple of complicated comedy guys having complicated comedy thoughts on the eve of this year of our lord 2026—does the "special guest" on this show's billing mean Portlandia star Fred Armisen opens for John Mulaney or that he just sort of stalks behind his former Saturday Night Live co-writer onstage like a lion hunts its prey? Probably the former. There’s no way this show goes until midnight, so I bet you could hee haw to Mulaney's Mister Whatever routine and Armisen's 100 Sound Effects spoofs, then speedwalk to MAX to make the Pioneer Square drone show countdown. (Moda Center, 1 Center, 8 pm, $64-$396, more info, all ages) SUZETTE SMITH New Year's Eve Cowboy Prom: Jenny Don't and the Spurs A New Year’s Eve tradition several years running with deep roots at the Landmark Saloon, Cowboy Prom with Jenny Don’t and the Spurs will ring in 2026 with a whiskey-soaked good time. You can be sure that this boot scootin’ party will be overflowing with bolo ties, pearl snap buttons, and 10-gallon hats. Jenny Don’t and the Spurs’ brand of garage-honky-tonk-country provides the perfect backdrop for a chandelier-swinging celebration. Local rockabilly royalty the Dalharts open. Bust out your boots and get to two-steppin’. (Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth, 9 pm, $62.23, more info, 21+) BRI BREY Thursday, January 1 Diaries, Notes, Sketches: A Film Screening and Journaling Event for the New Year Notably cool 14-year daily video diarist Julie Perini will team up with the analog film programmers Experimental Exposure and art space Stelo for this New Year’s Day program, which pairs 16mm screenings of works by filmmakers Vivienne Dick, Holly Fisher, Isa Hesse-Rabinovich, and Edward Owens with thoughtful journaling prompts. It's a laid-back, yet mind-expanding way to say hey to 2026. (Stelo Arts, 412 NW 8th, 6-9 pm, sliding scale $10-$25, more info, all ages) LC New Year Matcha + Meditation Wellness studio woo-woo reprises its annual tradition of gathering on the first day of the Gregorian calendar to “plant good mental seeds for the year ahead.” After the craziness of the holidays, it’s an opportunity to find some calm and center yourself in community while sipping some grounding matcha (from Matcha Freak and made with oat milk). And don’t sweat it if you find quieting your mind a challenge; inclusivity-minded yoga and meditation instructor Kelsey Hayden guides participants during the one-hour sessions. (woo-woo, 2710 N Interstate, 9:30-10:30 am and 11 am-12 pm, $25, more info) JANEY WONG Friday, January 2 Fifty First Jokes Now that you’ve securely settled into 2026, I know your top resolution will be “Go see more Portland comedy!” And if you’re looking to dip your toe into our incredible comedy scene, here’s a great place to do it. Fifty First Jokes, hosted by the fabulous Jeremiah Coughlan, is exactly what the title implies: Fifty comedians will hop onto the stage, and one by one, tell you a single, brand new joke—their very first of the year. Expect a fast, furious, and particularly funny night of “get to know me” comedy! (Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 pm, $22.20, more info, 21+) WSH Also worth it: Lisa Jarrett: Tenderhead, Portland Art Museum, more infoThe Portland artist and professor in Portland State University’s Art + Social Practice MFA program presents her first solo museum exhibition in Oregon, which looks closely at beauty supply stores as “living archives in Black communities.” Saturday, January 3 Colin Kippen: Domestic Topographies Colin Kippen’s bright sculptures are castings of everyday texture, like the embroidered stitching on a mattress or the quilted pattern of an oven mitt. Referencing domesticity and daily routine, his perspective is a fun way to see the world—what could be trash becomes radiant treasure. Enjoy the eccentricity of a hypercolor Swiffer or a discarded neon food delivery box. (Well Well Projects, 8371 N Interstate #1, Sat-Sun 12-5 pm through Feb 1, free, more info, all ages) BB Also worth it: Welcome to the Black Parade, Crystal Ballroom, more info The always reliable DJ Gregarious and VJ Disorder will be spinning (and projecting music videos featuring) the best of the best pop punk classics (think Green Day, Blink 182, Avril Lavigne, and more) for your dancing pleasure. Sunday, January 4 Oregon Symphony: Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Missing Maestro The spiritual opposite of today’s The Hunger screening is Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Missing Maestro, a musical caper suited to younger symphony-goers. Attendees will follow along as the Great Detective seeks the Oregon Symphony’s “missing maestro,” which will, natch, require solving a number of puzzles and riddles to reach a harmonious conclusion. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 2 pm, $15-$55, more info, all ages) Vamp Jan: The Hunger The hottest and most stylish entry in Tomorrow Theater’s Vamp Jan film programming is, undoubtedly, The Hunger, a film that poses an interesting question: If David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve approached you in sunglasses, wanting to suck your blood, would you say yes? Bauhaus and Iggy Pop set an eerie musical tone, and Susan Sarandon rounds out the film’s distractingly beautiful cast. This is our Twilight. (PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division, 4 pm, $15, more info, R) Also worth it: Start Fresh Fest, Clinton Street Theater, more infoThree short films from locals, known or unknown: Invasion of the FreeBox Monsters by Peter Grey, The OGRE by Justin Boswick, and Armen Zilic presents Carpe Diem. Looking for even more events happening this week? Head on over to EverOut! ...read more read less