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  • 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
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  • Events
  • Search
i
Outfits of all stripes are encouraged at the Division Street Fair.
Culture

Weird

Diverse dining options, unique outdoor experiences and unexpected attractions make Portland one of a kind.

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Outfits of all stripes are encouraged at the Division Street Fair.

In Portland, being dubbed “weird” is never an insult. Locals delight in enjoying the pleasantly unexpected, whether it be watching adults zoom down an extinct volcano in soapbox derby cars, joining in on one of the world’s largest naked bike rides, or crafting deliciously strange new types of doughnuts. Do as locals do and embrace the city’s quirky vibes using our guide to Portland’s weird culture, then check out our events calendar to find even more unique things to do on your next trip to The Rose City.

More Portland Events

Visit our events calendar to discover even more things to do in Portland. Search by date, event type and more.

See All Events

Weird Taste

If you’re in the mood for doughnuts with peculiar flavor combinations, like, say, one topped with Cap’n Crunch Cereal, then make sure to include a visit to Voodoo Doughnut. With multiple locations across the nation, this Portland shop attracts customers with crowd pleasers such as the Maple Bacon Bar and their more adventurous (and hotter) varieties like the Ring of Fire Doughnut — a Devil’s food cake dusted with cinnamon sugar, cayenne pepper and topped with a whole, dried red chili pepper. Open 24 hours a day, almost every day of the year, Voodoo has one-of-a-kind treats for every taste.

A colorful display of donuts.
Voodoo Doughnut has been serving over 100 different kinds of doughnuts since 2003.
Credit: Justin Katigbak

Wyrd Leatherworks and Meadery, set in the basement of a vintage Portland building in the Woodstock neighborhood, is a medieval fantasy-themed mead hall. Made with local honey in their subterranean space, expect to find LARPers and fans of cosplay kicking around this distinctive bar.

With several small bars and a brewery, McMenamins Kennedy School is an unusual place to get an education in hops and barley. Now home to a 57-room hotel, the decommissioned 1915 schoolhouse features a movie theater, and a saltwater soaking pool (they even allow cigar smoking in the “Detention Bar”). And with Portland’s abundance of breweries, there’s no better place to work on your advanced degree in craft beer appreciation.

a man enjoying a warm water, outdoor pool
Relax in the warm soaking pool at McMenamins Kennedy School.
Credit: Ashley Anderson

Serving up original recipes all over town, from the PB&J Fries at Potato Champion to the Bulgogi tacos of Koi Fusion, hundreds of local food carts also help define Portland’s inimitable DNA.

And if you’re still craving something more daring, you might find it at Sushi Mazi, where they’re serving up grasshopper sushi along with other delicious and unique takes on classic Japanese dishes.

Unique Culture in Portland

For a peek into the city's uniqueness, start at these eccentric events and attractions.

movie goers enjoy pizza and beer

Brew ‘N’ View – Movie Theaters That Serve Beer

Portland’s beloved “brew ‘n’ view” movie theaters run the gamut from funky to swanky, serving up all manner of drinks, food and films.

Two opposing roller derby players collide

Rose City Rollers Roller Derby

The all-female, volunteer-run roller derby team battled its way to the top of Portland’s sports fandom, and a world championship, in recent years.

unusual items like taxidermy and framed insects are displayed on shop shelves and walls

Portland’s “Mystic District”: Three Magical Shops in One City Block

Whether you’re curious about crystals, dreaming of divination decks or just seeking sweet-smelling soap, Portland’s Mystic District has the store for you.

stairs leading to underground Portland

Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels

In the late 1850s, a lonely logger might get more than he bargained for at his local tavern. See Portland's historic underbelly on a Shanghai Tunnel tour.

a black and white photo of three men standing in front of a saloon

Haunted Portland

Portland is rife with spooky lore and tales of things that go bump in the night; find them with these mysterious spots and spirited walking tours.

a life-size replica of bigfoot along side a foot print casting in front of a display with information about sightings at the North American Bigfoot Center

Searching for Sasquatch at the North American Bigfoot Center

Compare Bigfoot casts, listen to Sasquatch howls and read harrowing tales about the Pacific Northwest’s favorite hairy hominid at this eccentric museum near Portland.

Weird Outdoor Adventures

Hike your way to the Witch’s Castle in the 5,172-acre Forest Park. As the largest, forested natural area within city limits in the U.S., it is home to more than 100 species of birds and dozens of kinds of mammals. It’s an unparalleled urban wildlife asylum with miles of hiking and biking trails, and epic views of Mt. Hood.

stone building covered in green moss and colorful fall leaves
The Stone House, also known as the Witch’s Castle, is a two-story structure a half-mile hike from the Upper Macleay Parking lot in Forest Park.
Credit: Nick Mendez

Visit (or walk by) the world’s smallest park on your way to people-watch at the much larger waterfront. Initially planted in 1946 by a writer whose street-facing desk overlooked a hole dug up for a pole that was never installed, Mills Ends Park is now officially maintained by the city. There is lore that leprechauns frequent the area, so many passersby will leave offerings, including tiny swimming pools, statues and a Ferris wheel. You never know what you’ll find at this quirky spot.

Check out an abandoned UFO boat located on a clothing-optional beach in Sauvie Island. The fang-shaped vessel was initially built as an apocalyptic-proof floating bunker able to house twelve people. Now heavily graffitied, the chassis shows the remnants of a once functional kitchen and a small living space. Safety precautions should be taken if entering the structure.

5 to try

Only-in-Portland Places

These unique attractions offer a look into Portland's unusual (in a good way!) spirit.

  • Freakybuttrue Peculiarium

    An offbeat emporium that houses displays of Bigfoot and other paranormal denizens of the Northwest and beyond. Nearly everything is for sale, from the sculptures and artwork to scoops of ice cream in the snack shop.

  • Portland Insectarium

    You can hold (and learn about) all your favorite creepy crawlies at Portland’s first zoo and museum dedicated entirely to insects and arachnids.

  • Wonderwood Springs

    Created by Portland artist Mike Bennett, this kid-friendly, immersive experience features a walk-through world of magic to explore, including a café serving a fantasy-themed menu with creative twists on classics.

  • Paxton Gate – Mississippi

    This eclectic shop on North Mississippi Avenue deals in exotic plants, taxidermy, animal skulls, curios and mounted insects — basically, everything you need to outfit your home like a Victorian naturalist.

  • Funhouse Lounge

    Comedy, theater, and coulrophobia converge at Funhouse Lounge in Southeast Portland. Voted one of “Portland’s Weirdest Bars” by The Oregonian, enjoy a cocktail in their legendary “clown room” (wall-to-wall creepy clown pictures).

Alternative Entertainment

As for hand-built marvels, Stumptown has more than its share. Constructed by skateboarders without the city’s permission, the Burnside Skatepark is a massive cement mecca for the sport located under the Burnside Bridge’s eastern side. Eventually approved by the local government, the rebellious ramps and half-pipes are community-run and packed with skaters — sometimes even pros like Tony Hawk stop by, too.

The atmosphere is much less competitive at Oaks Amusement Park, where the Northwest’s largest roller rink still features music played on a nostalgic old pipe organ. Since its opening in 1905, the park has provided nearly a century of nonstop kid-friendly games, rides, and memories.

Large audience enjoying a live musical performance at the Crystal Ballroom.
A packed house at the Crystal Ballroom.
Credit: Jason Quigley

And while the renovated Crystal Ballroom is not quite as old, it has an equally remarkable vintage feature: a 90-year-old, mechanical “floating” dance floor that has springs under its surface. The music comes in a bewildering range of styles—folk, jazz, a hundred flavors of indie rock, soul and singer-songwriter. The list of touring bands and locals goes on and on. With its high ceilings, ornate balcony, grand chandeliers, and expansive floor-to-ceiling arched windows, this venue is keeping dancers bouncing around and moving like nowhere else.

If you prefer non-pipe organ music for your roller skating fun, the not-so-secret Secret Roller Disco might be more your scene. This free event happens every Thursday night, rain or shine. Location and times can change depending on the season, so be sure to check their Instagram for the latest. Festive attire is encouraged.

“The Simpsons” Landmarks in Portland

Check out the landmarks that inspired the characters and places in "The Simpsons," created by Portland’s own Matt Groening.

Laugh & Tour

Quirky Events

To understand the bumper stickers and Old Town mural calling to “Keep Portland Weird,” look no further than the weird ways that Portlanders celebrate, from the thousands-strong World Naked Bike Ride, the summer-long Pedalpalooza, to the daredevil antics of the Zoobombers and the Portland Adult Soapbox Derby. Not as weird, but no less distinctive, are the beer festivals held nearly every month (and almost every week in the summer), which include celebrations of specific types of beer, like organic, sour, rye, and fruit.

people dressed as aliens at a parade
Join the parade at the annual McMenamins UFO Festival in McMinnville.
Credit: Kathleen Nyberg

About 40 minutes southwest of Portland, you can find McMinnville’s UFO Festival. The family-friendly UFO Festival includes three days of special events, including live music, expert speaker panels, a colorful parade, a pet alien costume contest, and more.

Weird

Portland’s Weirdest Events

Portland comes by its eclectic reputation honestly. From quirky to downright bizarre, here are some of our favorite "Keep Portland Weird" events.

Get Weird

Upcoming Weird Events

Editor's Pick
BeerQuest Haunted Pub Tour
Ongoing

BeerQuest Haunted Pub Tour

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub $39

Uncover Portland’s dark side on this spine-tingling walking pub tour. In the early 1900s, unsuspecting sailors were often ruthlessly abducted and whisked away through the notorious Shanghai Tunnels. Tour guides will tell you how notorious criminals kidnapped thousands of people and why their ghosts still haunt Portland today. This is Portland’s longest-running ghost tour with…

Editor's Pick
Beer
Guided Tour
History
Editor's Pick
Portland Fermentation Festival
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023

Portland Fermentation Festival

Ecotrust – Natural Capital Center $15 – $30

Stinkfest Queens and Ecotrust present The Annual 2023 Portland Fermentation Festival Come out for the 2023 return of the Portland Fermentation Festival. Joining will be the honorary guest speaker, Kirsten Shockey, co-founder of The Fermentation School and renowned author of several excellent and bestselling fermentation books, including her expert guide, Fermented Vegetables and latest hit,…

Editor's Pick
Food & Drink
Editor's Pick
Portland Oddities and Curiosities Expo
Oct. 21–22, 2023

Portland Oddities and Curiosities Expo

Oregon Convention Center Cost Varies

For lovers of the strange, unusual and bizarre… The Oddities and Curiosities Expo showcases hand-selected vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses from all over the country with all things weird. You’ll find items such as taxidermy, preserved specimens, original artwork, horror/Halloween-inspired pieces, antiques, handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, creepy clothing, odd jewelry, animal skulls/bones, funeral…

Editor's Pick
Exhibition
Shopping
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
Portland Zine Symposium
Oct. 28–29, 2023

Portland Zine Symposium

Smith Ballroom at PSU

The Portland Zine Symposium is an organization that hosts, among other events, a yearly free conference and zine social exploring facets of independent publishing and DIY culture. This event has been held in Portland, Oregon in the summer since 2001 and hosts over 150 tablers from around the world each year, as well as many…

Editor's Pick
Art & Design
Conventions
Shopping

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