

Pioneer Courthouse Square
Known as Portland’s “living room,” this brick-lined park is bustling with activity and events.
Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Pioneer Courthouse Square is affectionately known as the city’s “living room.” Once a grim parking structure, the square is now a thriving urban park and one of the most-visited sites in Oregon, attracting more than 11 million visitors annually. The square’s on-site resources include the TriMet public transit ticket office.
Named after the Pioneer Courthouse (the Pacific Northwest’s oldest federal building) located on the public space’s eastern side, the square began as the Portland Hotel in 1890. In 1950 the hotel became a two-story parking garage, and in 1984 it was reborn as a bustling city park where light rail and buses converge. These days, the square is where workers, visitors and families gather to enjoy the city, catch a ride elsewhere and even enjoy a meal at the food carts parked on the bricks.
Visiting Pioneer Courthouse Square
What is near Pioneer Courthouse Square?
Is there parking nearby?
The square is also one of Portland’s leading outdoor venues, hosting 300 events each year, from large-scale concerts to cultural festivals. In the summer, the Noon Tunes concert series fills the lunch-hour air with free live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on Fridays, Flicks on the Bricks transforms the “living room” into Portland’s biggest movie theater with no-cost, family-friendly fare.
In the summer, the Noon Tunes concert series fills the lunch-hour air with free live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays.




Pioneer Courthouse Square Events
Summer Concert Round-Up
Portlanders' pent-up desire for sun may explain our skill at making the most of summer's long days and warm nights with outdoor concerts.
Summer Events and Activities in Downtown Portland
The city’s sunniest season makes it easy to fill your calendar with summer fun.
Portland Holiday Events
Like an Advent calendar loaded with sugary treats, the days leading up to Christmas in Portland hold an abundance of sweet memories.
But the square hosts more than summertime excitement; every year, the city celebrates the day after Thanksgiving with the lighting of the region’s largest decorated holiday tree and an array of festive events, like the Tuba Christmas Concert and the Holiday Ale Festival, keep the space merry and bright.
Explore Downtown
Things to see a few steps away from Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Portland Art Museum
The largest art museum in Oregon and one of the oldest in the country, the Portland Art Museum is central to the city's cultural district, housing a large and wide-ranging collection of artworks.
Pioneer Place
Downtown Portland's home for big-brand shopping houses the major brands that fashionistas crave, along with an expansive food court and a movie theater.
Portland’s Public Fountains
Cool off with free fun at these kid-friendly fountains in Portland.
At the Square

Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Portland’s Tree Lighting will be live in person at Pioneer Courthouse Square the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 24th. Featuring a joyful sing-along with Portland’s own Thomas Lauderdale from Pink Martini, local musicians and chorale singers, this event is the highlight of the holiday season downtown. Join in the celebration as Santa Claus flips the…

City of Inspiration: A Walking Tour of Downtown Portland
Explore downtown Portland, and learn about the history and culture of one of this country's most talked about cities. During the ~1.5-mile (2.4 km) walk, you will experience famous historical sites, vibrant public squares, hilarious trivia, hidden artwork, innovative parks, magical city-planning concepts, the tiniest park in America, and more. Pick up in front of…

Pink Warrior Zumba Fundraiser
Portland’s annual Pink Warrior event is more than just a dance party and a fundraiser. Hundreds of Zumba instructors and fans from Oregon, Washington, and beyond gather in Pioneer Square to share hope, spread joy, and raise funds for the fight against breast cancer. After a three-year break, it is back and better than ever…

Mondays on the Mall
Portland Mall management partners with Pioneer Courthouse Square and local businesses to bring free events and performances to the transit mall each Monday.

Portland Tent Revival
The Portland Tent Revival is a church meeting to bring hope and healing to the community. There will be gospel music, speakers, food, and activities for children. All are welcome.
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