Regional Events

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival – March-April
This month-long festival showcases more than 40 acres of tulips and daffodils in bloom at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Ore. Weekend events include food, wine, pony rides for the kids, and, of course, tulip viewing. Forty-five minutes from downtown Portland. www.woodenshoe.com

Hood River Valley Blossom Festival – April
A drive through the stunning Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area leads visitors to more than 15,000 acres (6,070 hectares) of fruit trees in full bloom. Although the festival is headquartered near the town of Hood River, Ore., additional celebrations occur along the state’s 35-mile (56-kilometer) Fruit Loop driving tour route. One hour from downtown Portland.  www.hoodriver.org or www.hoodriverfruitloop.com

UFO Festival – May
The festival, held in the Willamette Valley town of McMinnville, honors the famous 1950 Trent UFO sighting at a farm in the area. Two photographs of the craft were published in Life magazine. The annual UFO Festival is chock-full of close encounters both silly and serious, with UFO expert presentations alongside costume parades, contests and parties. www.ufofest.com

Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country – May
Along with the event following Thanksgiving, this weekend marks the only time many smaller Willamette Valley wineries are open to the public. More than 100 vineyards, large and small, participate, offering tastings, barrel samples, tours and special offers. www.willamettewines.com/events/memorial-weekend

Festival of Balloons – June
See more than 30 hot air balloons up close at Tigard’s Cook Park, located 20 minutes from downtown Portland. Get up early to watch the balloons launch; after dark, the balloons’ burners are ignited for “Night Glow.” The three-day festival also features a car show, barbecue cook-off, carnival, live music and food and craft vendors.  www.tigardballoon.org

Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts – June
This event features art demonstrations, an art show and juried craft show with 120 booths, wine, beer, food and entertainment. Twenty minutes from downtown Portland. www.lakewood-center.org

International Pinot Noir Celebration – July
More than 60 Pinot noir winemakers from around the world show up for this event in McMinnville, Ore., located in the heart of the Oregon wine country. This limited-attendance event (small numbers give attendees more one-on-one time with the vintners) features three days of seminars, tastings, tours and fabulous food paired with, naturally, Pinot noir. Forty-five minutes from downtown Portland. www.ipnc.org

Elephant Garlic Festival – August
Fun stinks! In a good way, that is. Plenty of garlic-enhanced food is on hand for this festival, which also features a parade, arts and crafts, and music. Festival takes place in North Plains, Ore., about 35 minutes from downtown Portland. www.funstinks.com

Mt. Hood Jazz Festival – August
Gresham’s Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, held the first weekend of August, has attracted top musicians from around the world for more than 25 years. Held in historic downtown Gresham, 30 minutes east of downtown Portland, the festival spans two days and features performances on an outdoor stage and at nearby restaurants.  www.mthoodjazz.org

Pickathon Roots Music Festival – August
For 10 years, the Pickathon Indie-Roots Music Festival has celebrated the music of Americana. Held at the historic Pendarvis Farm 20 minutes southeast of Portland, this three-day sustainable festival features alt-country, folk, bluegrass, rockabilly, jug bands and more on five stages. And attendees are encouraged to bring their own instruments to play in a variety of workshops and jam sessions. www.pickathon.com

Tualatin Crawfish Festival – August
Good family fun can be found at the Tualatin Crawfish Festival, the nation’s oldest crawfish celebration (much to the chagrin of one Louisiana resident, who in 1976 placed a voodoo curse — unsuccessfully — on the event). Twenty-five minutes from downtown Portland.  www.tualatincrawfishfestival.com

Portland Pirate Festival – September
Featuring music, dance, performers, historical displays and, of course, grub and grog, this festival invades the historic waterfront of St. Helens on Labor Day Weekend. www.portlandpiratefestival.com

Scappoose Sauerkraut Festival – September
Staged in Heritage Park, next door to the Steinfeld Pickle (and sauerkraut) factory in the Columbia County town of Scappoose, this one-day festival will help you get your fill of fermented cabbage. Thirty minutes from downtown Portland. www.scappoosecommunity.org

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest – October
For those who attended the Hood River Valley Blossom Festival in April, here’s your chance to catch the tail end of the fruit-growing process. The fruit is picked and it’s time to party with music, food, wine and a quilt raffle. One hour from downtown Portland.  www.hoodriver.org or www.hoodriverfruitloop.com

Wine Country Thanksgiving – November
More than 150 Willamette Valley wineries throw open their doors during the holiday weekend, including many small operations that aren’t normally accessible. The whole winemaking community gets into the holiday spirit, with special offerings like deals on new releases and barrel-tasting opportunities. www.willamettewines.com/events/thanksgiving-weekend