Midwinter Revels: Highland Hearth
Set during the holiday season, the production follows a group of workers and their families who unite to fight for a better life while discovering joy through shared traditions. The show features early 20th-century American classics along with folktales and songs from around the world. Audiences watch an intergenerational cast and can join in communal choral singing, traditional rituals, and folk dancing.
What to Expect
Winter solstice celebration with choral singing, folk dancing, and audience participation.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Neighborhood
Downtown Portland
Timed Entry
Yes
Organizer
Portland Revels
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Folk-theater and choral music fans
Vibe
Communal and festive
Energy Level
Low
Photo Friendly
Moderate
Weather Sensitivity
None
Location
Know Before You Go
- Hours: December 11: 7:30pm; December 12: 1:00pm & 7:30pm; December 13: 1:00pm; December 18: 7:30pm; December 19: 1:00pm & 7:30pm; December 20: 1:00pm.
- Accessibility: Select matinee performances include ASL interpretation and audio description.
Tips & Advice
- Tickets go on sale October 12 and early bird tickets are offered, so watch for the on-sale date if you want to grab early bird seats.
- Book the Saturday, December 12 matinee if you need ASL interpretation, or the Sunday, December 13 performance if you need audio description.
- Come ready to move, because the chorus invites the audience to join the Lord of the Dance around the theater at the end of the first act.
- Learn the response before you go: when the cast recites The Shortest Day and says "Welcome Yule," the whole audience answers "Welcome Yule!" together.
- Saturdays, December 12 and 19, each have both a matinee and an evening performance, which gives families more choice when picking a show.
Special Events & Promotions
- ASL-interpreted matinee on Saturday, December 12
- Audio-described performance on Sunday, December 13
- Early bird tickets are offered for the 2026 production
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this year's show about?
The 2026 production is Bread & Roses. At the height of the holiday season, a group of workers and their families learn their wages are being cut and decide together to fight for a better life. As the struggle drags on, they find joy and community through the music and stories of their different traditions.
What kind of music is in the show?
Bread & Roses features early 20th-century American classics alongside songs and folktales from around the world.
Do audience members have to sing or dance?
Only if you want to. The audience is invited to sing and dance with the cast and with one another. At the end of the first act, the chorus and audience join in a serpentine Lord of the Dance that winds around the theater.
How does the show end?
Just before the final audience song, a cast member recites The Shortest Day, a poem by Susan Cooper. It ends with "Welcome Yule," and the whole audience answers "Welcome Yule!" The show then closes with performers and audience singing the Sussex Mummer's Carol together.
Are there ASL or audio-described performances?
Yes. The Saturday, December 12 matinee is ASL interpreted, and the Sunday, December 13 performance is audio described.
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