Portland in the News: Snake Yoga, A Big Birthday, Winter Light Festival & More | January 22, 2026

Want to work on Snake Pose (Sarpasana) at your next yoga class? How about with a real, live snake?

The Oregon Zoo’s newest baby elephant turns one on February 1st and you can celebrate with mini-elephant ears and Portland Fire merch.

And if an adorable elephant isn’t enough to cure your winter blahs, the Portland Winter Light Festival returns next month to illuminate our city streets.

Here’s a roundup of the goings-on in Portland this week:

• Street Roots: Meet the Portland librarian who helped secure a settlement for descendants of displaced Portlanders
• AUSL: Professional softball added to Portland hub of women’s sports
• OPB: When Portland’s MLK Jr. Blvd. got its name
• OregonLive: Snake yoga is officially a thing
• Eater: Portland’s James Beard Awards semi-finalists
• OregonLive: Award-winning pitmaster to bring signature barbecue to Portland
• OPB: Portland Fire to tip of May 9. Who’ll be on the team is a big unknown
• KOIN: A positively Portland birthday at the Oregon Zoo
• KATU: Let there be light: Portland Winter Light Festival to illuminate city streets