January Events

As you walk around the zoo, you’ll see a dazzling display of more than 1.5 million lights and experience the zoo in a whole new way. In addition to visiting elephants, mountain goats and other wildlife, you can ride the popular lighted train and carousel, and enjoy hot drinks and local food carts. Photos with…

From children’s classics to modern-day mysteries, this year’s Pittock Mansion Christmas explores the wonderful world of books. Experience the literary visions of local decorators as they transform the Mansion’s rooms into magical storybook settings.

Recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the “Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi”, the 26th annual Winter Wonderland will grab your attention with glimmers and glows around every corner. Since 1993, a journey through Winter Wonderland has become a holiday tradition for many families, friends, and social organizations to celebrate the spirit of…

OMSI offers a Guided Tech Tour on the second and fourth Sunday of every month. This special tour guided by an actual submarine veteran is for those who would like to learn more about the technical workings of the Blueback. The maximum tour size is eight people, so plan ahead and reserve your spot. Tech…

The Northwest’s two favorite brews are in the spotlight again for the seventh NW Coffee Beer Invitational. Twenty talented brewers and beverage makers were asked to create freshly made beer with locally roasted coffee. With the emphasis on flavors and an ABV requirement of 7% or less, this event promises inspired combinations. Entries will be…

See Portland’s newest theater and dance works every January at Portland’s Fertile Ground Festival.

Laura Fritz combines an immersive installation and video-based work for her contribution to the APEX exhibition series. Working closely with the architectural space that APEX inhabits, Fritz has created a site-specific installation that responds to various points of corners, walls and the floor, taking signals from furniture that allude to tables, cabinets or other ergonomic…

Being Present: Revisiting, Somewhat Unfaithfully, Portland’s Most Experimental Art Experiment, PCVA From 1972 to 1987, the Portland Center for the Visual Arts (PCVA) was a major force in the Pacific Northwest, introducing progressive forms of contemporary art from around the country to Portland audiences. Temporary site-specific installations by major, mostly New York-based sculptors, announced its…

At the International Exposition of 1900 in Paris, American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois put together “The American Negro Exhibit,” a remarkable collection of more than 300 photographs of African-American men and women, homes, churches, businesses and universities. These photographs were paired with a series of charts and graphs designed by…

Retiring Curator of Asian Art Maribeth Graybill presents her personal favorites from among more than 600 Japanese prints acquired during her tenure at the Museum. The exhibition includes works by leading masters of the 18th and 19th centuries, chosen for their exceptional condition; warrior prints, a genre previously neglected in the collection; and prints by…

Exquisite Creatures, an artistic experience that unravels humanity’s intimate relationship with the natural world, makes its Oregon debut at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on Oct. 5, 2019. Artist, naturalist and New York Times bestselling author Christopher Marley reveals the obscure beauty in nature through his three-dimensional work with animal, mineral and…

In the years leading up to World War II, racial segregation and discrimination were part of daily life for many in the United States. For most African Americans, even the most basic rights and services were fragmented or denied altogether. To be black was to know the limits of freedom — excluded from the opportunity,…

Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal … is the first major survey of the work of one of America’s most important conceptual artists. Throughout his career, Hank Willis Thomas (American, born 1976) has fearlessly addressed racism, inequality and bias in bold, skillfully crafted works. Through photographs, sculpture, video, audience-activated digital animation and collaborative public…

Isaka Shamsud-Din: Rock of Ages is an intimate exhibition celebrating the Portland artist’s masterful paintings, rich in a narrative combining personal stories and folklore. Shamsud-Din’s paintings also celebrate and honor individuals by capturing portraits. Tightly composed and with a vibrancy of color, the works invite viewers to be among these individuals and warm settings. The…

Leonard Bernstein at 100 celebrates the life and work of Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), the great Jewish American composer and conductor who dedicated his life to making classical music a vibrant part of American culture. The exhibition features photographs, personal items, papers, scores, correspondence, costumes, furniture and audio and video recordings. A vocal booth gives visitors…

Norma Bassett Hall was born in Halsey, Oregon, in 1888. Just 18 years later, she entered the School of the Portland Art Association in its first year and by 1929, she had achieved national recognition for her art. Yet, with her local roots and strong ties to Oregon art, her work has never been the…

In the rich tradition of portraiture reflected in Northwest art, there is an exemplary range of individuals and styles of depiction. For this exhibition, the artist Storm Tharp was invited to help select works from the collection through his keen eyes as a fellow portraitist. As he combed through the collection, some themes in portraiture…

Presented in conjunction with Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal…, on view in the Main Building, Question Bridge: Black Males is a project of Cause Collective, a long-term project-based collaboration between Thomas and a team of artists, designers and ethnographers who create innovative forms of public art that spark cross-cultural conversations. Question Bridge: Black…

For generations, the All American Toy Company has captured the interest of children and adults alike. Beginning in 1947 with its first release of the Timber Toter, a logging truck, the company’s lineup included a series of vehicles that represented expanding industries in Oregon, including dump trucks used in construction, cattle liners that transported the…

The artistic poster first flourished in the United States in the 1890s. Initially following design trends pioneered in Europe, American artists soon created their own unique style. Magazines were among the first to adopt this new form of advertising, employing outstanding designers such as Will Bradley, Edward Penfield and Maxfield Parrish to advertise periodicals including…

During the early 20th century, Pictorialist photographer Anne Brigman regularly hiked and camped in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, photographing the rugged landscape with her 4×5-inch view camera. She later recalled, “I slowly found my power with the camera among the junipers and tamarack pines of the high, storm-swept altitudes.” Toughened to Wind and Sun…

What we think of today as Portland covers a broad swath of land on both sides of the Willamette River. In the late 19th century, that same area contained several mostly independent communities, including Albina, St. Johns, Sellwood—and East Portland, a small city on the eastern shore of the river roughly bounded by Division Street…

On May 10, 1869, two railroads-built with haste, hope and aspiration—joined in a lonely desert of northern Utah, at a place called Promontory. On that day, dignitaries from both companies—the Central Pacific, which had built from California, and the Union Pacific, which had built from the east—gave speeches and installed ceremonial last spikes. To mark…

Loosely translated, the Inuktitut word Akunnittinni means “between us.” This exhibition chronicles a visual dialogue between an Inuk grandmother, mother, and daughter – Pitseolak Ashoona, Napachie Pootoogook, and Annie Pootoogook. Their work provide a personal and cultural history of three generations of Inuit women and sardonic references to pop culture that now infuses everyday life…

Looptworks uses only what already exists to create new functional products (including upcycled bags, apparel and accessories). Looptworks is committed to upcycling and closed loop solutions. Its intent is to reduce and eliminate waste in its industry headed to the landfill. Participate and witness the Looptworks upcycling production and circular economy firsthand. Tour Schedule &…

Get creative! Radius Art offers opportunities for both the beginning and the experienced artist to learn the basics or build on their current skills. Learn ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, leatherworking, fabric dying and more.

This tour is a great way to experience Portland’s beer scene on foot, and great for small groups or families traveling with kids. Check out the history and culture of popular areas in Portland by foot. You choose the neighborhood, and we’ll show you around to three breweries. Walking tours provide a great overview of…

The smash hit, Tony Award-winning Matilda the Musical is about to spark a revolt on the Northwest Children’s Theater (NWCT) stage. An inspiring, heart-breaking, captivating masterpiece, Matilda revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and a girl who won’t let being “little” stop her from putting an unjust world right. Based on…

It’s hard to beat the Pacific Northwest when it comes to beer. This tour will introduce you to the ingredients, history and culture that makes the craft beer scene in the Pacific Northwest admired worldwide. Brewvana will start with the education first and introduce you to the ingredients in beer and how they’ve contributed to…

Join your friends, relatives and Pix for a formal (but fun!) holiday tea. From December 14 through the New Year, Pix is offering daily tea services at 2 and 3:30 p.m. The menu includes a pot of tea from Townshend’s Tea House and a selection of 14 sweet and savory bite-sized treats … think French…

The driver covers all tasting fees with charcuterie plates ($150 value for full day, $90 value for half day). Experience the best of Willamette Valley wine country on an all-inclusive, guided wine-tasting tour from Portland. Be chauffeured in a luxury SUV with a small group of fellow wine lovers and spend a half day or…

ZooZoo’s glowing bug eyes, insomniac hippos, arrogant anteaters, introverted frogs, magical polar bears, acrobatic worms, self-touting accordions and tricky penguins fill the stage with wonder, awe and humor. Good for three years old and above.

Discover some of Portland’s most celebrated micro-roasters and specialty cafes in the upscale Pearl District and Northwest Portland’s Alphabet District. Cobblestone streets and converted warehouses hint at the neighborhood’s industrial past, but innovative roasters and award-winning baristas define the culinary future of this iconic district. On this three-hour walking tour, you’ll visit 4-5 cafes as…

Using rare and seldom-seen objects like Chinese opera costumes as well as theatrical sets, bilingual text, audiovisual media and interactive visitor stations, Beyond the Gate tells a sprawling transnational story of contact and trade between China and the West, focusing on Portland’s Old (1850-1905) and New (1905-1950) Chinatowns. Beyond the Gate was originally created as…

Enjoy free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 5 – 8 p.m.

On the First Thursday of the month from 5-8 p.m, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education participates in the city-wide First Thursday Gallery Walk. During the First Thursday hours, the museum is open and free to the public.

Enjoy a slow looking tour experience and object-focused meditation. This public tour invites people to relax, rejuvenate, energize and be calm. Using focused breathing and simple poses, the museum encourages visitors to meditate in the galleries twice a month on the first and third Thursdays.

Explore the museum with a docent skilled in bringing art to life. Public tours depart from the Park Avenue entrance.

Uncover Portland’s dark side on this spine-tingling walking tour and hear firsthand accounts of paranormal encounters – all while sampling six local beers. The Old Town District in downtown Portland, Oregon is lined with beautiful historic buildings and cobblestone streets. Lively with restaurants and nightlife today, 100 years ago Old Town was home to many…

A comedy open mic hosted by Eddie Churnetski and Benton Crider. 18+ until 8 p.m., 21+ after 8 p.m. If you are under 21 and would like to go up early, please message the Trash Amp Productions Facebook page.

On the east side of the Willamette River, nestled among converted warehouses and quirky neighborhoods, you’ll find the pioneering micro-roasters that sparked the third wave coffee revolution. This three-hour walking tour introduces you to award-winning baristas crafting some of the world’s finest coffee drinks. Taste top-notch espresso, cold brew variations and as an added bonus,…

Zymurgy is the study of fermentation, and Portland is all about some fermented beverages. Taste some cider, beer and spirits on this tour of some of Portland’s tastiest craft beverages. Learn about the ingredients, process and culture of each of these. Cider is a gluten-free alternative that has been gaining popularity in this region, and…

Every Friday evening, the Portland Art Museum (PAM) invites you to play, to have a different Museum experience—a little bit more relaxed, more interactive and more social experience. Admission is just $5 after 5 p.m. Here’s what PAM has in store: Beer, wine, and food at Art Pub in the Museum Grounds Cafe. Occasional special…

January 3-January 31, 2020 The ever-popular ARTmart returns for its sixth year. The Arts Council of Lake Oswego (ACLO) offers the community an excellent opportunity to clean out your art collection and collectibles, along with finding some new treasures during the month of January. 2020 ARTmart will be accepting donations now through January 14, 2020,…

Come one, come all and join up for First Friday at Portland Craft Bar! Each First Friday of the month, the Portland Craft Bar will select a small art or craft to do in the studio and open for free to all people, all ages. Check the Bar’s website or its Facebook or Instagram feeds…

The Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University will be open every Saturday, year round. April through October hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. November through March hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Although Seattle comes in first when it comes to coffee culture, Portland has learned a lot from its neighbors and comes in close second. Brewvana has an obsession with donuts and although they might drive you by Voodoo Donuts to see the line, they’ll head to the locals’ favorite for your donut fix. After getting…

Join up for a beer fueled walking tour and see what it takes to make award-winning beer in the Northwest. During the tour, BeerQuest provides behind-the-scene access at an award-winning brewery to see how beer is made and sample the ingredients used in the brewing process. You’ll sample a total of 11 beers from three…

The combination of beer and whiskey is a match made in heaven. Beer and whiskey are surprisingly similar in ingredients and process. In fact, you have to make beer to make whiskey! You’ll start at a brewery first to learn about the ingredients and brewing process for beer and taste a variety of styles. Next,…

Learn how to effortlessly make delicious cocktails at home for you and your friends with this hands-on cocktail class. In this introductory class, each participant will learn how to make up to five different delicious cocktails from ingredients found in most kitchens.