Winter Staycation
Bringing the warmth of community to Portland's coldest months.
Reimagine Portland × Portland Bureau of Transportation
2026
Brand Identity, Campaign Design, Print & Collateral, Digital Advertising, Web Design, Newsletter Design, Social Content
The sequel
After the success of the inaugural Staycation weekend, Reimagine Portland and the Portland Bureau of Transportation extended the idea into Portland's first Winter Staycation. A citywide effort to bring energy downtown during the coldest months. The campaign was built around the Portland Winter Light Festival, the city's annual celebration of illuminated art and live performance, and expanded outward to include games, theatre, concerts, dining, and local retail across two weekends in February.
Winter edition
Same spirit, new season
Creatively, we built on the mid-century, postcard-inspired look from the summer campaign, introducing a cooler palette inspired by the glow of the Light Festival itself: deep navy skies, icy cyan light, and soft lavender. The signature wavy frames carried over, now dressed for winter. Copy stayed playful and seasonal, leaning into the idea that Portland doesn't hibernate.
Yes, another postcard
Goodies for the locals
Built to be shared
The winter campaign kept the same scroll-stopping energy from summer, now layered with seasonal hooks and a bolder palette. Playful copy like "Lift Your Spirits" paired with the signature wavy frames gave every post an instantly recognizable look.
portland_staycation Your city. Your winter. Your staycation. ❄️
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Online presence
The winter campaign site carried the same postcard warmth into a new season. A dedicated website guided visitors through events, dining, shopping, and entertainment across both weekends, while the digital ad campaign kept the energy visible across Willamette Week's platform.
Portland doesn't hibernate
Winter Staycation became a two-weekend event spanning February 6-8 and 13-15, 2026, timed to the Portland Winter Light Festival's 11th annual run. The campaign drove foot traffic downtown through partnerships with dozens of local restaurants, shops, galleries, and venues. The Local's Pass connected visitors to experiences across the city, turning a traditionally quiet season into one that felt alive.