Skip to content
Travel Portland logo

The Official Guide to Portland

  • Attractions
    • women dances with large fans outside on a city street surrounded by people in colorful dragon costumesView All Attractions
    • Museums
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • people dining at picnic tables in front of a food cartView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • aerial view of downtown area with buildings and roadways, bridges crossing a river to a smaller set of buildings that expand into the distanceView All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • RegionView All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • Light rail train car driving past people shopping at an outdoor marketView All Plan
    • Portland Maps
    • Portland Visitor Center
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • Accessible Portland
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Safety in Portland
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
Primary Menu 31 Events Near Me content loading animation Search
  • Attractions
    • women dances with large fans outside on a city street surrounded by people in colorful dragon costumesView All Attractions
    • Museums
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • people dining at picnic tables in front of a food cartView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • aerial view of downtown area with buildings and roadways, bridges crossing a river to a smaller set of buildings that expand into the distanceView All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • RegionView All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • Light rail train car driving past people shopping at an outdoor marketView All Plan
    • Portland Maps
    • Portland Visitor Center
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • Accessible Portland
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Safety in Portland
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
A boy stands in a field of tulips with oak trees and people in the background A boy stands in a field of tulips with oak trees and people in the background
i
Wander through fields of blooms at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, located about an hour south of Portland.
Credit: Noël, via Flickr
Culture / Outdoors

Best Spots for Spring Flowers

Admire beautiful blooms at these Portland parks and gardens, and the surrounding area.

Updated June 19, 2023 3 min read

Find your favorite blooms, from roses to rhododendrons and tulips to trilliums, with our guide to where to spot spring flowers in Portland and beyond.

Waterfront Park

If you stroll through downtown Waterfront Park in late March through early April the breathtaking sight of 100 Akebono cherry trees popping with pink and white petals might steal you away for a bloom-backed selfie. The trees were given to Portland by a group from the Japanese Grain Importers Association in 1990.

Visit Waterfront Park

Tryon Creek State Park

One of the region’s earliest blooming native flowers, trilliums area common site in the Pacific Northwest forests. These small, white flowers are abundant in Portland’s only state park, Tryon Creek. So abundant, in fact, that the park hosts an annual Trillium Festival each April. If you miss the festivities, you can still find the flowers yourself and enjoy Tryon’s hiking, biking and horse trails all season long.

Visit Tryon Creek

Portland Picnic Guide

Nothing beats spreading out a picnic blanket on a sunny day, and Portland has no shortage of delicious grab-and-go eats and scenic spots for a feast.

Read More

Forest Park

Trilliums are also found blooming along many trails in Northwest Portland’s Forest Park, which sprawls over more than 5,000 wooded acres (2,023 hectares) and boasts 70 miles (113 km) of paths filled with fascinating flora and fauna.

Visit Forest Park

Hoyt Arboretum

From Forest Park, follow the Beech Trail to Hoyt Arboretum in Washington Park. Home to more than 2,000 species of shrubs and trees, Hoyt has plenty to offer all year-round. Spring highlights include bell-shaped Oregon plum flowers, magnolias, blooming dogwood and cherry blossoms.

FIND MORE CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Japanese and Chinese Gardens

For cherry trees in a more traditional setting, visit the Portland Japanese Garden, heralded as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan itself. And while you’re exploring authentic Asian gardens, don’t miss downtown’s Lan Su Chinese Garden. In spring, fragrant scents of daphne and Edgeworthia enhance this Ming Dynasty-style garden.

Portland Japanese Garden

A haven of meticulously maintained, tranquil beauty, proclaimed one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden offers meandering streams, intimate walkways and an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood.

Read On

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

Visit Southeast Portland’s Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in April or May to catch its collection of rare rhododendrons, azaleas and hybrids in full bloom. The garden boasts 7 idyllic acres (2.8 hectares), including three waterfalls, two picturesque bridges and tranquil Crystal Springs Lake, where nearly 100 species of birds feed and nest. For an extra treat, visit the garden in April for the annual Rhododendron & Daffodil Show & Sale and in May for its annual Mother’s Day Rhododendron Show & Sale.

Visit Crystal Springs

Portland Rose Gardens

No flora-viewing adventure would be complete without the City of Roses’ namesake flowers. Both Peninsula Park in North Portland and the International Rose Test Garden boast thousands of rare and beautiful rose bushes. The flowers typically begin to bud in early April. To catch them at their peak, visit in early June and don’t miss the Grand Floral Parade at the annual Portland Rose Festival!

Spring Color Around the Region

Camassia Natural Area

Bursting with color in late April and early May, the Camassia Natural Area in West Linn was carved out thousands of years ago by the great floods, but it’s a natural work of art that’s stood the test of time. A 16-mile (26 km) drive south of downtown Portland, the 26-acre (11 ha) preserve can get muddy in the springtime — but from its trails, you’ll see more than 300 different plant species and plenty of familiar birds flocking overhead (a view worth risking a little dirt on your shoes).

Nearby Cities

In search for the best spring blooms? Look around these nearby cities.

Nearby
aerial view of deep blue river water at falls on the edge of a verdant cityscape

Oregon City

The final wagon stop on the Oregon trail, Oregon City welcomes visitors with food, drink, museums and outdoor activities.

beer flight on an ourdoor patio table

Lake Oswego

Whether you’re hitting the links, shopping designer consignment or sipping drinks on a shore-side patio, you’ll enjoy the tranquility Lake Oswego affords.

floating homes and house boats on the water

St. Helens

St. Helens pairs outdoor experiences with antique shops and Twilight souvenirs.

Cooper Mountain Nature Park

About 10 miles (16 km) west of Portland, Beaverton’s Cooper Mountain Nature Park features 3.5 miles (6 km) of gravel trails — excellent footing from which to explore the 231 acres (93 ha) of prairies and woodlands. The trails also offer views of the Chehalem Mountains and Tualatin Valley, showing off Oregon’s natural splendor with bursts of wildflowers all around.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

A 45-minute journey south of Portland delivers you to Woodburn’s Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, home to 40 acres of colorful tulips. The annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival returns every spring, offering wine tasting, wagon rides, children’s activities, a food court and a marketplace with freshly picked tulips and bulbs for fall planting.

Visit Wooden Shoe Tulips
Outdoors, Parks & Gardens, Region, Spring

Spring Flowers

View gorgeous blooms at these local parks and gardens.

Go To Parks & Gardens
tall bridge with circular bracing above a pond with ducks amid a forested park

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

Round out your floral explorations of the Rose City with a visit to Southeast Portland’s lush Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. The park boasts more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas, with blooms from late February -June.

A woman holds a camera to her eyes in a traditional Chinese garden with a pond, pavilion and trees.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

This year-round wonder houses an authentic Ming Dynasty-style garden built by Suzhou artisans, offering a peaceful escape in Portland's historic Chinatown.

people look at koi in pond at garden

Portland Japanese Garden

A haven of meticulously maintained, tranquil beauty, proclaimed one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden offers meandering streams, intimate walkways and an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood.

women pose in front of a wall of white roses

Peninsula Park & Rose Garden

Discover outdoor fun for the whole family — plus thousands of blooms — at Oregon’s oldest public rose garden.

people visiting a blooming Rose Garden in Washington Park

Portland International Rose Test Garden

The oldest official continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States, the Portland International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park features more than 10,000 roses, great views of the skyline and the Cascades.

a tractor sits among rows of blooming tulips on a farm

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Colorful fields reminiscent of Holland burst with acres of tulips in full bloom at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn.

sunrise through trees with grassy field on waterfront park

Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Hugging the Willamette River in downtown Portland, this once bustling highway now offers a strollable, bikeable and dog-walkable public park with historical and cultural monuments, and kid-friendly fun.

The International Rose Garden in Washington Park contains thousands of different types of roses and offers great city views.

Washington Park

Beyond picnics and verdant strolls, Washington Park offers up a zoo, two museums, a spectacular rose garden, an arboretum, one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the world, all lined by one of the largest urban forests, Forest Park.

three cyclists ride on a muddy gravel path in Forest Park

Forest Park

Escape the city without leaving Portland; with 70 miles of trails within Portland city limits, 5,156-acre Forest Park is a popular escape for runners, equestrians and hikers alike and supporting more than 112 bird and 62 mammal species.

Wildflowers in the Portland Region

Feast your eyes on the many wildflower patches around the region for natural beauties you won't find anyplace else.

Read more

Upcoming Outdoor Events

Enjoy the great outdoors at these upcoming events in Portland.

Go To Events
Editor's Pick
Piano Push Play
Ongoing

Piano Push Play

Citywide

Piano Push Play invites local artists to transform old, donated pianos into whimsical works of art which are distributed across the city.

Editor's Pick
Events
Music
Summer
Weird
Editor's Pick
The Corn Maize at the Pumpkin Patch
Sept. 2–Oct. 31, 2023

The Corn Maize at the Pumpkin Patch

Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patch $8 – $10

The Corn Maize, located on Sauvie Island north of Portland, offers visitors eight acres of physical and mental challenges in a cornfield.

Editor's Pick
Attractions
Fall
For Kids
Halloween
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
Dahlia Festival
Aug. 2–Sept. 30, 2023

Dahlia Festival

Swan Island Dahlias Free

Celebrate the season of DAHLIAS. A Rainbow of Color. Stroll through almost 40 acres and a beautiful display garden of stunning dahlias featuring over 370 varieties. The beautiful fields are open from August to September each year, closed on Monday and Tuesday. Pick out and order your favorite dahlias for Spring delivery and planting. Purchase…

Editor's Pick
Outdoors
Shopping
Editor's Pick
Kenton Farmers Market
Ongoing

Kenton Farmers Market

Kenton Neighborhood

The Kenton Farmers Market is located in the heart of the historic Kenton neighborhood in North Portland. Founded in 2012, the market’s live music and the festive street-fair atmosphere thrive in this growing business district. Proximity to a MAX station and easy access for bicyclists and those on foot make this market a lively and…

Editor's Pick
Outdoors
Shopping
Editor's Pick
Chapman Swift Watch
Sept. 1–30, 2023

Chapman Swift Watch

Chapman Elementary School Free

Every September, spectators gather to see the world’s largest roost of Vaux’s swifts swarm and spiral into the chimney of a Northwest Portland school.

Editor's Pick
Attractions
Events
Fall
Outdoors
Weird
Editor's Pick
O- Tsukimi, The Moonviewing Festival
Sept. 28–30, 2023

O- Tsukimi, The Moonviewing Festival

Portland Japanese Garden $65

Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese, is the custom of gazing at the full moon and enjoying its sacred beauty. Portland Japanese Garden schedules this beloved annual tradition to coincide with the harvest moon from September to early October. During Moonviewing, people gather to appreciate the moon’s beauty and pray for good fortune and an abundant…

Editor's Pick
Cultural Communities
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
O-Tsukimi Moon Viewing Festival
Sept. 28–30, 2023

O-Tsukimi Moon Viewing Festival

Portland Japanese Garden $50 – $65

Moonviewing, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese, is the custom of gazing at the full moon and enjoying its sacred beauty. Portland Japanese Garden schedules this beloved annual tradition to coincide with the harvest moon from September to early October. During Moonviewing, people gather to appreciate the moon’s beauty and pray for good fortune and an abundant…

Editor's Pick
Cultural Communities
Exhibition
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
Ongoing

Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn

McMenamins Edgefield Prices Vary

With acts that have ranged from Al Green to ZZ Top, McMenamins Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn are an annual rite of summer and the hottest ticket in town.

Editor's Pick
Events
Music
Summer
Editor's Pick
Hollywood Farmers Market
Ongoing

Hollywood Farmers Market

Hollywood Farmers Market Free

Year-round on Saturdays, the Hollywood Farmers Markets hosts 50+ vendors, bringing you the best of the region’s agricultural bounty. In addition to amazingly fresh, local food, you’ll find live music, children’s activities, and fun events throughout the season. April through September, every Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM,October and November, every Saturday 9 AM to…

Editor's Pick
Food & Drink
Outdoors
Shopping
Editor's Pick
Rocky Butte Farmers Market
Ongoing

Rocky Butte Farmers Market

Mannahouse Church parking lot at the base of Rocky Butte Free

Rocky Butte Farmers Market, an iconic urban neighborhood market featuring affordable locally grown foods and artisan products, weekly children's activities, live entertainment, and a dog-friendly, energetic block party vibe, is back for the 2023 Season. The market's goal is to lower barriers to market participation for beginning and under-represented vendors and to strengthen connections within…

Editor's Pick
Food & Drink
Outdoors
Shopping
Editor's Pick
Dogtoberfest
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023

Dogtoberfest

Lucky Lab Brew Pub

Celebrate the fall with a day full of pampering and dog-friendly activities at the annual Dogtoberfest – Portland’s pet-friendliest Oktoberfest party and biggest dog wash. Enjoy music, food, beer–including a special brew made just for DoveLewis–and pet-loving vendors, all while your pup receives a wash and nail trim. Donations and proceeds from the event go…

Editor's Pick
Beer
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
Portland Marathon
Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023

Portland Marathon

Tom McCall Waterfront Park Cost Varies

The fast and beautiful Portland Marathon presented by OHSU Health is the best way to experience the Rose City. With four epic bridge crossings, a downtown start and finish, and a tour through some of the most iconic landmarks and neighborhoods in town, the Portland Marathon, presented by OHSU Health, offers the most unique race…

Editor's Pick
Outdoors
Sports
Editor's Pick
Lents International Farmers Market
Ongoing

Lents International Farmers Market

Lents International Farmers Market Free

Lents International Farmers Market opens on Sunday, June 4, 2023, and is open every Sunday through November 19, 2023. The Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) is the only one in Portland with an intentional international focus. LIFM provides fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate produce to the diverse community of Lents neighbors. Founded in 2006 by…

Editor's Pick
Cultural Communities
Food & Drink
Outdoors
Shopping
Editor's Pick
Hood River Hops Fest
Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023

Hood River Hops Fest

The Columbia Lot $10 – $35

The Hood River Hops Fest returns for its 19th year, celebrating the fresh-hopped beers of this beloved region. Awarded silver medal for best beer festival from the Willamette Week, Oregon Beer Awards, the Hood River Hops Fest is an annual celebration of beer’s bitter friend, freshly harvested hops. World-renowned hop-growing regions surround Hood River County,…

Editor's Pick
Beer
Food & Drink
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
Hood River Valley Harvest Fest
Oct. 13–15, 2023

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest

Hood River Event Site $0 – $20

The valley’s best farms and orchards bring their bounty to Hood River Harvest Fest with stands full of produce, giant displays of apples, pears, squash, raw honey, beautiful flowers, local plants, herbs, and more. Stock up for the season with basketfuls this autumn’s harvest. The artists and makers you will find at Hood River Harvest…

Editor's Pick
Festival
Food & Drink
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
Matsutake Hunting at the Oregon Coast
Oct. 21–22, 2023

Matsutake Hunting at the Oregon Coast

Japanese American Museum of Oregon $50

Join fellow Friends of JAMO on a field trip to hunt and gather matsutake mushrooms on the Oregon Coast. Trip Details: Meet at Adobe Resort in Yachats on Saturday, October 21, 9:00 a.m.The event fee covers orientation, guided mushroom collecting in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Participants are responsible…

Editor's Pick
Cultural Communities
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta

Lake of the Commons Free

This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a watercourse.

Editor's Pick
Events
Fall
For Kids
Halloween
Weird
Editor's Pick
Run Like Hell Half Marathon
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023

Run Like Hell Half Marathon

Milwaukie Elks Lodge Cost Varies

Join in for this fun, family-friendly, Halloween-themed event on Saturday, October 28. Dress in costume and join in for a Half, 10k, or 5k run/walk. 2023 theme: Saturday Night Live. Come dressed as your favorite character from the iconic tv show. This event is fun for the whole family, with live music, a costume contest,…

Editor's Pick
Outdoors
Sports
Editor's Pick
Howloween
Oct. 28–29, 2023

Howloween

Oregon Zoo Free with admission

The zoo provides a fun and safe setting for this Halloween tradition, where costumed trick-or-treaters learn about healthy habitats for wildlife with engaging activities throughout the zoo. Complimentary treat bags are available for participants. In keeping with the zoo's mission, all the treats come from companies that are committed to using deforestation-free palm oil. Bring…

Editor's Pick
Festival
For Kids
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
Silverton Christmas Market
Nov. 17–Dec. 31, 2023

Silverton Christmas Market

The Oregon Garden $0 – $20

Join an awe-inspiring light display and market at the Oregon Garden Resort. This annual event offers a joyous and magical holiday experience for all ages. Stroll along immersive paths draped in more than one million lights. Explore the authentic German Christmas Market for gifts from artisan vendors and imported German nutcrackers, smokers and ornaments. Visit…

Editor's Pick
Outdoors
Shopping
Editor's Pick
Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, Nov. 24, 2023

Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

Pioneer Courthouse Square Free

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…

Editor's Pick
Outdoors

Was this page helpful?

Visitor Information

visitorinfo@travelportland.com
1-888-503-3291 (toll free)
503-427-1372
Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Portland Visitor Center

1132 SW Harvey Milk St #104,
Portland, OR 97205

Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

guide cover with images of sights around Portland; the white stag sign, the Tilikum Crossing, and food.

Map & Guide

Pocket-sized brochure guide and map.

Get the guide

Screenshot of hand holding mobile phone with Near Me Now Map on the screen

Near Me Now App

An app to explore the best of Portland.




Newsletter Signup

Get your guide to Portland's events, attractions and news.

Follow Us

  • TikTok
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Information For

Local Businesses
Media
Meeting Planners
Travel Industry Professionals
Event Organizers

Brought to you by

Travel Portland Logo

We are a promoter and steward of this evolving city and its progressive values, which have the power to transform the travelers who visit us.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Español
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • 日本語
  • 汉语
  • 漢語
  • 한국어
Copyright © 2023 Travel Portland
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Copyright Policy
Visit The USA Logo