May Events
Embrace spring with events celebrating local food, crafts and Latinx culture.
May in Portland brings the return of the Portland Farmers Market to Portland neighborhoods, Crafty Wonderland, the biggest celebration of the city’s makers, and one of the most significant citywide events, the Portland Rose Festival. Explore our round-up of May events, and search our full events calendar to see everything on offer.
Portland Farmers Market
Most of the area’s farmers’ markets open in May. Among the items featured are fresh produce, flowers, seafood, bread, and berries. The year-round flagship farmers market is at Portland State University, but the organization operates more throughout the city. In addition to shopping, the markets can feature chef demonstrations, spontaneous music performances, fresh flowers, coffee, food carts, and more.
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
The largest multicultural festival in Oregon, Portland’s annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta held at Tom McCall Waterfront Park features a wide breadth of live music, dancers from sister city Guadalajara, rides, amateur boxing and an artisan village.
Crafty Wonderland
Find yourself the perfect made-in-Portland souvenir at the city’s biggest arts and crafts market, Crafty Wonderland. This twice-yearly market draws hundreds of vendors and tens of thousands of visitors to the Oregon Convention Center in Northeast Portland. Crafty Wonderland offers accessible booth fees so that emerging artists are equally represented. Many of the makers who got their start in the market have grown into full-time businesses.
UFO Festival
More than 70 years ago, the tiny town of McMinnville was struck with UFO fever when a local family spotted a flying disc from their farm, making national news. Fifty years later, in 1999, the fever descended again with the very first UFO Festival. Today, you can celebrate all things extraterrestrial with other enthusiasts during days full of parades, costume contests, expert speakers and family fun.
Mt. Tabor Art Walk
The Mt. Tabor Art Walk is a Portland tradition. This juried show and sale is a great opportunity to see quality visual art and meet artists in their studios and homes. Diverse media are represented, including photography, painting, ceramics, sculpture, prints, metal arts, glass, jewelry, book arts and mosaics.
Portland Rose Festival
For more than a century, Portland, the City of Roses, has thrown itself a massive party in the form of the Portland Rose Festival. Declared the city’s official festival in 2010, the celebration includes more than 60 events, starting in late May and ending in mid-June. With the festival comes parades, carnival rides, art shows, dragon boat races, fun runs and more.
Oregon Wine Month
Oregon is well known for its delicious wines. Throughout the month of May, wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms open their doors to celebrate the return of spring and kick off the first chapter in the story of the next vintage. Oregon Wine Month brings a wide variety of events including new wine releases, live music and even garden tours.
More To Do In May
Explore more things to do and see in May in Portland.
More May Events 2024
Check out our picks for top things to do in May in Portland.
Bloom Tour
The Bloom Tour is part walking tour and part floral show focusing on supporting some of Portland’s unique shops, restaurants and hotels. Participating retailers are also hosting a wide range of Bloom Tour Specials, so follow the tour map and explore them all. Each of these businesses have been paired with a local floralist and…
Oregon Wine Month
You can celebrate Willamette Valley wine all year round, but especially during Oregon Wine Month, when the entire state joins in commemoration of the beloved industry for the month of May, offering special activities and promotions for the enjoyment of Oregon wine. There are all kinds of specials going on in honor of Oregon Wine Month. Find…
Vanport Mosaic Festival
The Vanport Mosaic's annual exploration of little-known local histories and celebration of the communities' resilience returns in spring 2024 with a rich program of performances, exhibits, tours, screenings, dialogues and gatherings. The events, hosted in various venues in N/NE Portland, are offered to the public free/sliding-scale, thanks to the generous support of our funders and…
Asian Heritage Month
Join Lan Su to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. In partnership with more than 20 local cultural organizations, performers, and artists, explore the history, traditions, and arts that make up the rich cultural tapestry of AANHPI. From May 4th to 31st, Lan Su highlights the stories, the culture, and the…
West End Wednesdays
West End Wednesday exists to ignite new energy and define a common vision for downtown SW Portland. Building relationships with neighbors and business partners is not just organizing a once-a-month event… it is actively creating, together, a neighborhood everyone can love to live, work and play in. West End Wednesdays is the West End's signature celebration…
Portland Farmers Market at Shemanski Park
With its carts and vendors selling delicious meals under a lush green canopy of trees, this downtown farmer’s market at Shemanski Park is a popular lunch spot for good reason. Portland residents and visitors also use this shaded destination to buy locally grown groceries for dinner — or supplies for an alfresco picnic. (Wednesdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.)
Karaoke From Hell
The Northwest's original live karaoke band, Karaoke From Hell, has been rocking Portland for over 25 years and counting. The catalog boasts nearly 700 songs for you to sing, covering every genre from show tunes to skate punk. Catch it every Monday at Dante's and every Thursday at The Spare Room.
Portland Night Market
The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Meet some of Portland's best makers and creators. With almost 200 hundred makers, the Night Market offers food carts, drinks, clothing, lifestyle goods, home goods, body care and art. The Portland…
Portland Rose Festival
Portland Rose Festival features multiple parades, waterfront carnival rides, concerts, races, fireworks and plenty of roses.
Rose Festival CityFair
Considered the "hub" of the annual Portland Rose Festival, CityFair fills Waterfront Park with carnival rides, concerts, food and fireworks for multiple weekends during the festival.
Rose Festival Opening Night and Fireworks
Nothing says celebration quite like fireworks — and the Portland Rose Festival will blast off with an impressive fireworks display choreographed to music. Opening day of the Rose Festival is Friday, May 24, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, starting at 5:00 PM. You are invited to enjoy the carnival rides, food, and activities, with opening…
Darcelle XV’s Weekend Drag Show
Darcelle XV and Company have been entertaining audiences from all walks of life for over 50 years with Las Vegas-style cabaret revues of Glitz, Glamour and Comedy. Stop by when you are in Portland and you will be glad that you did! We have traveled the United States presenting a show that you have to…
Haunted Shanghai Tunnel Tour
Old Town Pizza & Brewing is built directly above Portland's infamous Shanghai tunnels. The same tunnels that were used to house kidnapped sailors during the early 1900s. Book a tour and explore the rich history of Portland, and the legacy of Old Town.
Multnomah County Fair
The Multnomah County Fair will take place at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon. The fair features three full days of family fun, including competitive exhibits, musical and stage performances, a car show, a pioneer village, and small animal activities. In addition, to all the fair activities, visitors can also enjoy the awesome amusement rides…
Farmers Market at Portland State University
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. The Market at PSU is located in Downtown Portland in the South Park Blocks between SW College & Montgomery Streets.
Hollywood Farmers Market
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…
St. Johns Farmers Market
The St. Johns Farmers Market will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday May 4 through November 23, the weekend before Thanksgiving. There will also be a Holiday Market on Saturday, December 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The market is held at the corner of N. Charleston Ave. and N Central St, next to the…
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Portland Flea + Food
The Portland Flea + Food is a gathering place for the creators, curators and collectors held the last weekend of the month from May to October in Portland, Oregon. Every market features 80+ local artists, makers, and curators of the best vintage, handmade and locally sourced goods in town. Saturdays at Ecotrust: 721 NW 9TH AVE Sundays at Nova…
Holi Spring Festival at Topaz Farm
Join a spring harvest celebration and Bollywood and Bhangra dance party in the grass featuring DJ Anjali & the Incredible Kid, Anjali's Gulabi Gang Dancers and Gurpreet Dhillon's PDX Bhangra Dance Troup. The last two years of sold-out Holi Fests were so much fun. This is going to be another great party featuring music, dancing,…
Portland Timbers
Head to Providence Park to watch the Portland Timbers take on their rivals. Cheer with the Timbers' Army at Providence Park and become part of a Portland tradition.
Swan Dive Diva Drag Brunch
Join Portland’s all-star drag queens and burlesque dancers every Saturday and Sunday for a heart-pumping performance complete with acrobatics, live singing, intricate custom-made outfits and sweat-defying artful makeup. Come prepared to tip generously and have a rowdy good time. The ticket price does not include food or alcohol. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the…
Sabertooth
McMenamins, Portland Mercury, X-Ray and doPDX proudly present Sabertooth 2024. With its roots in Portland’s Crystal Ballroom’s psychedelic history, Sabertooth comes to both the Crystal Ballroom for two nights of psychedelic stoner rock.
Queer Horror: Basic Instinct
QUEER HORROR busts out an icepick for BASIC INSTINCT (1992). Hosted by Portland's premier drag clown Carla Rossi, this '90s tribute screening opens with our most unhinged preshow yet — starring Portland drag all-stars and sponsored by Double Mountain Brewery and Cidery. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Sharon Stone in a legendary performance, BASIC…
Half Day Gorge Waterfalls Tour from Portland
Species seen nowhere else in the world, dramatic basalt lava flows nearly a mile deep, and some of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls are a few of the sights that await you on this tour. Experience the grandeur of the Columbia River Gorge, one of the United States’ most photographed National Scenic Areas. We will…
Multnomah Falls & Gorge Waterfalls Tour
Prepare to journey back in time to the birth of the Cascade Mountain Range, where lava and pyroclastic matter oozed and flowed, creating a solid layer of basalt rock that coated Western Oregon. Fast forward to the Pleistocene Ice Age, and witness the epic Lake Missoula Flood, which carved out the majestic Columbia River Gorge,…
Portland City Tour
Get ready to explore the heart and soul of Portland with a half-day City Tour. This isn’t your average tour; you'll be takn on a journey through the city’s charming streets and reveal its laid-back atmosphere. Brace yourself for an amazing tour of Portland’s must-see spots like the International Rose Garden (seasonally), the World…
Sci-Fi Film Festival
For eight weeks this spring, OMSI’s 2024 Sci-Fi Film Festival will showcase over 40 of science fiction’s most memorable films on the Empirical Theater’s giant four-story screen. From genre classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey to more recent favorites like Everything Everywhere All at Once, the festival’s offerings are sure to appeal to science…
Full Day Gorge Waterfalls and Mt. Hood Tour from Portland
Follow the path of an ancient riverbed, carved by the last ice age, past the Bridge of the Gods, and explore the Windsurfing Capital of the World. In the afternoon, traverse Oregon’s fertile fruit valley on the way to the alpine top of a volcano, which boasts a title as the world’s 2nd most summited…
Mt. Hood Loop Tour including Multnomah Falls
Buckle up for an epic journey as you are whisked away from Portland to the spellbinding Mt. Hood. With passionate and well-informed guides leading the way, you’ll have plenty of chances to snap up some breathtaking shots of the majestic landscape and soak up the mesmerizing history of this iconic mountain. Enjoy a full day…
Oregon Coastal Tour
Maximize your beach time while at the Oregon Coast Oregon’s coastline is graced with unforgettable vistas: dramatic cliffs, offshore rocks and sea lions, wide sandy beaches, majestic capes, historic lighthouses, enchanted forests and lovely small beach towns which artists and artisans make their home. Locations we may visit include: Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock, Short Sand…
Portland City Tour & Gorge Waterfalls Combo
Ready for an adventure? Join the ultimate tour of Portland and the Columbia River Gorge. You'll see the must-see sights in Portland and then be whisked away to the stunning Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. Discover the magic of the waterfalls, soak in breathtaking views, and dive into the history of the area’s top attractions….
Waterfalls, Mt Hood, and Wine Tour
Prepare for an adventure of epic proportions as passionate guides take you on a journey to the most stunning sights in the Gorge and Hood River Valley. Brace yourself for a spellbinding history lesson on this magical land while you whisk away to one of the most tantalizing wineries that showcase the mesmerizing Columbia River,…
Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family
Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family brings the latest tyrannosaur discoveries to life, overturning preconceptions about these ferocious predators. The exhibition explores the most feared and revered of all dinosaurs in new and different ways. The exhibition’s real and replica specimens are spectacular in scale and form and reveal some of the most significant discoveries…
Private Elevated Wine Tour Experience
Oregon is home to some of the most beautiful vineyards in the world, not only known for its distinctive pinot noir but many other varietals such as pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling and more. Your experience will take place in the heart of the Willamette Valley, home to renowned, award-winning wineries. Oregon's Willamette Valley has…
Terry Toedtemeier
PDX CONTEMPORARY ART is pleased to present Arches (and apertures), an exhibition of photographs by Terry Toedtemeier. Toedtemeier was an accomplished photographer whose work was deeply informed by his study of the geology of the Northwest.
Water Media Juried Show
The Gallery at OSA is pleased to announce the Spring Water Media Juried Show. This exhibition invites submissions in all types of water-soluble media, such as watercolor, gouache, acrylic, chalk pastel, etc. Whether your watercolors drip and flow or you dry brush acrylic paint, this is work created in water-based media. Open to any and…
Alberta Street Gallery: The Paper Invitational
Paper Takes Center Stage: Annual Paper Invitational at Alberta Street Gallery. Immerse yourself in the world of paper art at the Alberta Street Gallery's Annual Paper Invitational. Curated by resident paper artists David Friedman and Kim Nickens, this exhibition showcases the incredible versatility of a familiar material. David Friedman, a founding member of Portland Open…
Froelick Gallery: Japanese Artists Exhibition
Froelick Gallery is proud to welcome back Seiichi Hiroshima with a solo exhibition. Seiichi Hiroshima is a master printmaker, Moon & Dog Press co-owner, and print artist living and working in Tokyo, Japan. Hiroshima primarily uses the color mezzotint process, an extremely difficult technique he has perfected. He scratches plates with a rocker and then burnishes…
Froelick Gallery: V. Maldonado "ojo de aguila"
Froelick Gallery is pleased to present V. Maldonado’s recent body of work titled ojo de aguila (eagle's eye). Their unique aerial perspective and commitment to creative healing are at the core of V. Maldonado’s studio practice. The artist has journeyed through deep reflections and past experiences, often looking back in order to run toward the future. What…
Long Story Short: BFA/MFA Showcase
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University presents Long Story Short: 2024 BFA/MFA Showcase, an exhibition of work by the 2024 graduates of the Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Art Practices programs (Studio Practice and Art + Social Practice) and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Practice in the Schnitzer…
In Concert on Downtown’s Transit Mall
Picture this: A serene mid-day in Portland, the sun gently casting its warmth over Pioneer Square. As you sit down for lunch, the air is filled with the melodic strains of live music. It's Concerts on Downtown’s Transit Mall, an oasis of sound amidst the bustling city. Let the music serenade you as you savor…
Film Screening "Entre Nos"
Join Familias en Acción and filmmaker, author, and organizer Paola Mendoza for an unforgettable evening. You'll have the chance to watch a special screening of Paola's award-winning film "Entre Nos" and meet the artist behind the film. Be in the community and be a part of the movement. "Entre Nos" is inspired by a true story…
Bard Bingo at Wonderwood Springs
Bard Bingo at Portland Artist Mike Bennett's Wonderwood Springs is a lively bingo event hosted by a traveling bard's musical musings. Held every Tuesday night, this event features four exciting rounds with cards priced at $5 each. It's cash-only, offering chances to win various prizes such as original artwork, stickers, gift cards, lawn signs,…
BeerQuest Haunted Pub Tour
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…
Encore: A Festival of Staged Readings
Artists Repertory Theatre is coming home. Join one of the decades with ART Encore: A Festival of Staged Readings each night. The journey begins with a Replay: An 80s Flashback, a trip through ART’s origin story with some founding artists. Then, journey through each of the subsequent decades, starting with the gripping Keely & Du (1994/95 Season), Speech &…
Gol Trivia Bowl
Fun trivia with host Luke. Enjoy a classic Portland bar for a fun night of trivia. Gol is a Portland Timbers-centric bar for the fútbol enthusiast, showing the MLS, Champions League and international soccer matches. Located in inner-SE Portland, a unique soccer bar with a European feel and Portland's home to the World Cup.
OMSI Science Pub: Measuring the Taste of Beer
Measuring the Taste of Beer dives into the science of assessing beer quality by examining it through the lens of the drinker. Explore the main beer ingredients and how the science behind those ingredients play a role in the sensory experience of the final product. This easy-to-follow talk uncaps the secrets behind what makes a…
Portland's Funniest Person Competition
Join Helium Comedy Club for the Preliminary Rounds of the 2024 Portland's Funniest Person Competition. Preliminary Round winners are determined by audience vote, so come on out and help us crown this year's champ. The contest continues with the Semifinals from August 6th – 18th and the Final on August 25th.
Trivia Tuesday at White Owl Social Club
Join the fun. Untapped Trivia is free to play every Tuesday at White Owl Social Club. Four rounds of trivia is more than just your typical pub/bar trivia. Voted “Best Trivia” in Portland, Oregon. Topics and themes are different each week. Follow @untappedtrivia on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter for specific weekly themes and hints for the night at White…
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