Meet reindeer, sip hot cocoa as Riverfront Park gets a little brighter

It’s not quite Donner and Blitzen, but Salem families can meet local reindeer, take a horse and carriage ride or sip on hot cocoa at Riverfront Park this Friday.

The city of Salem is kicking off its holiday lights display in the park at 5 p.m. with a series of free events alongside the lighting. More than 4,000 LED lights are spread around the park, the city said in a news release.

Parkgoers can hear music from Bells of the Cascades, Oregon’s “premier community handbell ensemble,” from 5:30-6:15 p.m. Apogee DJ will play holiday music.

Reindeer from Timberview Farms in Springfield will be on display from 5-8 p.m., and free horse and carriage rides provided by Gypsy Rose Carriage run until 8:30 p.m.

Hot cocoa and cookies will also be served.

The lights will be on display at the park through the evening of Dec. 27.

The holiday lights display in Riverfront Park (City of Salem)

Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.

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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers education, economic development and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade and is a past president of Oregon's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Outside of work, you can often find her gardening or with her nose buried in a book.