Save the Date: Christmas occasions increase as holiday season approaches

Don’t worry about your art skills, just drink more wine.

Part art hangout, part wine tasting, “Looking At The Life Of Louise Bourgeois” is an opportunity to explore the work of Louise Bourgeois, who’s known for her dark domestic, subconscious sculptures and installations. Leah Jackson, Angst Gallery director and Niche Wine Bar owner, will select wines for the event, which takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at Angst Gallery, 1015 Main St., Vancouver; $40, includes wine and art supplies. 360-553-1014 or www.facebook.com/events/246772602519379.

Watch as the Oregon Zoo is turned into even more of an adventureland than it already is. That’s what happens when ZooLights returns. The zoo, 4001 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland, strings up more than a million lights across the grounds in glowing shapes of hippos, penguins, and snakes. ZooLights is open 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 24 through Jan. 7, except for when the Zoo is closed Dec. 24 and 25, and Jan. 1 through 4; $14.95, $12.95 for seniors, $9.95 for ages 3 to 11; value nights: $9.95, $7.95 for seniors, $4.95 for ages 3 to 11. 503-226-1561 or www.oregonzoo.org/events/zoolights-26.

Sometimes in the Northwest it feels like there’s a beer festival for everything. Maybe that’s because there is a beer festival for everything. Now it’s time to welcome the Holiday Ale Festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 29 and 30, Dec. 1 and 2; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 3. Right in the middle of Pioneer Square, 701 S.W. Sixth Ave., Portland, this beerfest features more than 55 specialty ales crafted specifically for the event. Vancouver brewery Trap Door Brewing and Washougal’s 54?40′ Brewing will have suds set-ups at the event; $35, includes mug, tasting tickets and re-admission for all five days, $10 for designated drivers, 21 and older. 503-223-1613 or holidayale.com.

Trees in Washington have had a rough year, so show them a little love at the Eighth Annual Washougal Festival Of Trees from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at Hathaway Elementary School, 630 24th St., Washougal. This festival showcases decorated Christmas trees created by school and community groups to be silent auctioned to the highest bidder. There is also a silent auction and raffle for festive and valuable gift baskets donated by local businesses, individuals and organizations. Proceeds benefit Washougal schools. There’s a morning breakfast and photos with Santa from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 2; $3 per person. Photos with Santa are $3 each. Free. 503-708-2242 or sites.google.com/site/washougalfestivaltreeswebsite.

Welcome back. After a successful run last year, the Friends of Vancouver Community Library once again present the Art4Art Fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 1; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3. Proceeds benefit art and other programs and activities at the library. This year’s show has doubled in size, going from 150 pieces of art to 300, which are made by amateurs, students and high-priced professionals and will each be sold for $30; free admission at the Vancouver Community Library, 901 C. St., Vancouver. 360-906-5000 or www.fvrl.org/events#/?i=1.

You’ve probably seen the modern Christmas classic “Elf” on TV, but now you can experience it live at the Washburn Performing Arts Center, Washougal High School, 1201 39th St., Washougal. “Elf The Musical Jr.,” presented by Journey Theater Arts Group, follows Buddy, a young orphan, who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is raised as an elf in the North Pole, only to later realize something is amiss, and travel to New York City in search of his biological father. Performances at 2 p.m. Dec. 3, Dec. 9 and Dec. 10, and 7 p.m. Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 8-9. Advance tickets $10-$12; $14-$18 at the door. 360-750-8550 or www.journeytheater.org/shows/elf-the-musical-jr.

Stay in the area, but feel like you’ve been transported to a different country at the Holiday Scanfair, a celebration on Nordic holiday traditions from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The celebration, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3, includes food, arts, crafts and handmade goods, along with traditional music and dance, demonstrations, children’s activities and the opportunity to take a picture with the Finnish Santa or in front of a Viking ship. Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 300 N. Winning Way, Portland; $7, $6 for seniors and students, free for ages 12 and younger, $15 for families. www.scanheritage.org.