Each February, the Portland Winter Light Festival fills the city with illuminated art installations and lively events.

Credit: James A.M. Crawford

February Events

Portland warms up winter with these exciting February events.

Each February, the Portland Winter Light Festival fills the city with illuminated art installations and lively events.

Credit: James A.M. Crawford

The arrival of February heralds some of Portland’s favorite annual activities, including celebrations of Black History Month, luminescent festivals of light, a city-wide dumpling eruption and one of the world’s largest tango festivals (to name just a few). The weather is cold — with cloudy skies, rain showers and the occasional snow flurry — but Portland stays lively. Read on for some of the best things to do in Portland in February, or search the events calendar to see everything on offer.

February Events FAQs

What’s the weather like in Portland in February?

February in Portland is cold — though not too cold — with an average daily low of 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 C) and a high of 51 degrees Fahrenheit (11 C). Cloudy skies and rain showers are common, with a little over an inch of snow for the month on average (though significant snowfall is rare).

Does it snow in February in Portland?

A little! Portland averages 1.4 inches (3.6 cm) of February snowfall — heavy snow within city limits is uncommon.

Can I still get outdoors?

Absolutely — Portland’s natural beauty is always worth exploring, and the winter months are no exception. Just be sure to layer up, wear a warm jacket, pack some waterproof footwear, and don’t forget your hat and gloves. (If you’d rather stay inside, there are plenty of indoor activities too, including options for kids.)

What is February known for nationally?

February is a unique month, being both the shortest month of the year and the only one with a variable length, with leap days occurring every four years. It’s known for the month-long observance of Black History Month, and for containing Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day and Groundhog Day, among other holidays.

Celebrating Black History Month

Trail Blazers: Celebration of Black History

Join the Portland Trail Blazers for their annual Celebration of Black History, honoring Portland’s Black and African American community. The event consists of many amazing performances and multiple fundraising efforts. Even if you miss the Celebration of Black History event, February is a great time to catch a Trail Blazers game — toss on your freshest fit, head to the Moda Center and cheer on Rip City’s finest with Portlanders and visitors alike.

Streamers rain down over a basketball court and thousands of fans — Trail Blazers fans love celebrating wins at the Moda Center.

Cascade Festival of African Films

Billed as America’s longest-running nonprofit African film festival, Portland’s free Cascade Festival of African Films has celebrated African achievements and hopes for the future since 1991. Through its roster of films, the month-long festival aims to share stories of Africa as told by actual Africans rather than the Western-made narratives that Americans typically see. Watch films from countries like Morocco, Senegal, Zambia, Cameroon and Tunisia at various locations around Portland, including the Hollywood Theatre, the PCC Campus and the Tomorrow Theater.

Northwest Black Comedy Festival

Laugh along with some of Portland’s funniest Black comics at the Northwest Black Comedy Festival. This annual festival features live storytelling, LGBTQ+ performers, new and upcoming comedians, as well as headliners from around the country. You’ll enjoy multiple nights of side-splitting comedy at Curious Comedy Theater and other venues.

Festivals of Light

Portland Winter Light Festival

For a few nights each year, the Portland Winter Light Festival transforms the City of Roses into a city of lights. Designed to bring light to the wintry darkness, this free festival returns every February with imaginative works that combine light and technology to create interactive experiences.

a person walks through a light installation containing long strands of lights hanging from a panel overhead — Founded in 2016, the Portland Winter Light Festival is a free multiday event that features imaginative works that combine light and technology — explore these unique interactive experiences in multiple locations around the city every February.

Lunar New Year

Celebrate the Lunar New Year in Portland at several spots around town. Lan Su Chinese Garden invites guests to participate in Lunar New Year Lantern Viewing Evenings with traditional music, lanterns and performances. At Washington Square Mall, you can celebrate the occasion with exciting performances and traditional arts and crafts.

Arts & Music

ValenTango

Founded in 1997, Portland’s legendary dance event, ValenTango, is the largest and longest-running tango festival in North America. It is filled with thrilling milongas, live orchestras, DJ sets and world-class instruction from some of tango’s best professional dancers. This event offers ample opportunities for people of all abilities to hone their tango skills in a fun, welcoming environment.

A man and woman dancing tango — Portland has one of the top tango communities outside of Buenos Aires, as celebrated at events like ValenTango.

Mardi Gras

Grab your beads, head to the Mississippi neighborhood and dance in the street at the Portland Mardi Gras Parade. This free, family-friendly event invites everyone to dress up and join the Carnival celebration. There is also a kids’ costume contest before the parade starts. For adult-themed revelry, the Mardi Gras Ball keeps the celebration going well into the night.

Food & Drink

Dumpling Week

One of February’s tastiest traditions since 2015, Dumpling Week sees the city overrun with dough-wrapped delights. Numerous restaurants all across Portland (40-plus at last count) offer special deals and inventive dumpling creations — like buffalo shrimp siu mai and patatas bravas vareniki — that you won’t find anywhere else, or at any other time of the year.

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Zwickelmania

Hosted by the Oregon Brewers Guild each February, Zwickelmania is a statewide tasting event with more than 120 breweries across Oregon — and more than 50 in the Portland metropolitan area — opening their doors and offering free tastings, food pairings, educational talks and more. Brewer-led discussions and tours give visitors a unique backstage pass to some of the world’s best craft breweries.

Events, Winter

train station surrounded by snow-covered streets and shrubs

Winter in Portland

No matter if the weather’s wonderful or frightful, find the best things to do during winter in Portland, Oregon, from ice skating to spas to cozy fireplaces.

a crowd mingles under a fire display and a lighted purple sculpture

Portland Winter Light Festival

Brighten your February with a visit to Portland’s annual Winter Lights Festival, where you’ll find glowing sculptures, twinkling lights, lively events and more.

Biamp Portland Jazz Festival

The Portland Jazz Festival returns every February with a stellar series of concerts and events celebrating Black History Month.

Black Portland

Explore Portland’s rich Black roots through historic and artful experiences, delicious eats, and boundary-breaking local businesses.

large lotus shaped lanterns sit in the water with people gazing over a koi pond in a traditional Chinese garden

Lunar New Year Celebrations in Portland

Portland's Asian communities celebrate the Lunar New Year with traditional dances, lantern ceremonies and stunning performances.

a towering waterfall behind a stone bridge surrounded by snow and ice

Winter Hikes in and Near Portland

Oregon is the perfect place for outdoor adventure, any time of year — explore our selection of all-weather paths and hikes in and near Portland.

holiday tree lit up in a large city square

December Events

Popular December events in Portland include annual traditions like light displays, festive train rides, holiday shopping and cheering on your favorite teams.

a person views the water at Lan Su Chinese Garden

January Events

From folk music festivals to cosplay geek-outs to animal shows and more, Portland kicks off the year with an eclectic assortment of events.

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February Events