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…
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.
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…
UFO Festival
Every May, thousands of visitors flock to the city’s famous UFO Festival, featuring four days of parades, costume contests and expert speakers.
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…
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…
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…
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, photography, glass, jewelry, book arts and mosaics. The Mt. Tabor Art Walk…
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
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…
East Portland Sunday Parkways
Celebrate National Bike Month and open streets during the East Portland Sunday Parkways event presented by Kaiser Permanente. The East Portland 3.3-mile down-and-back route will feature Gateway Discovery Park, Ventura Park, and Lincoln Park. Start anywhere on the route and bike, walk, or roll as you explore the neighborhood greenways and other infrastructure, parks, and…
Portland Sunday Parkways
Sunday Parkways Presented by Kaiser Permanente, promotes healthy, active living through a series of free events opening the city's largest public space – its streets – to walk, bike, roll, and discover active transportation.
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…
Rockwood Market Hall Music Series
Each month, on a late Sunday afternoon, the Rockwood Market Hall hosts a local artist to perform for community members who enjoy their food while listening to live music in a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. With various cuisine options, the Rockwood Market Hall is a great place to enjoy dinner with family and friends. See you…
Come Thru: Black & Indigenous Market
Come Thru Market is an incubator market centering on Black and Indigenous Farmers, Makers, and Friends. Come Thru supports BIPOC growers in taking their small business dreams to the farmers’ market environment. It’s a vibe – Come Thru and get what you need.
Gay Skate
Roll out with your friends and loved ones to the monthly Gay Skate Session, held the 1st and 3rd Monday night of the month. Everyone is welcome at this all-ages event at this all-ages event. Admission tickets allow the Oaks Park Roller Rink access for the selected Gay Skate Session date/time. Includes standard skate rental.
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.
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.)
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…
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…
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.
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…
Reach the Beach | Cycle for Air
Reach the Beach, Oregon, will celebrate its 34th anniversary in 2024. Their mission, to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, is still in hyper-drive. The dollars riders are raising are making a difference at this critical time. The route starts on Sauvie Island and ends in the heart of Astoria at…
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…
Throughlines: Connections in the Collection
Throughlines embraces wonder and curiosity, bringing together artworks from across the Museum’s collections to explore the range of artistic innovation. From diverse geographies, cultures, and time periods, artists have consistently created images, objects, and experiences that ask us to consider ourselves and the world from different perspectives. Visitors will encounter playful groupings that reveal how artists…
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…
Full Day Oregon Coast Tour from Portland
With over 300 miles (482 km) of public coastline, Oregon’s beaches are sure to amaze with their dramatic offshore rock formations and reborn beach towns. This tour will travel along one of the most picturesque driving routes in the country, U.S. HWY 101. Spend the day exploring breathtaking beaches, trekking along sandy shores, and viewing…
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…
Walk MS: Portland
Walk MS 2024 includes a powerful new experience where you’ll witness how your support changes the lives of people with MS and gets us closer to the ultimate goal: a cure. Whether you live with MS, love someone who does, or are a part of the wider community, you can proudly display your role in…
Because of Bill: William Sumio Naito’s Legacy in Portland
Because of Bill: William Sumio Naito’s Legacy in Portland at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon offers visitors an in-depth look at all that Bill Naito built in Portland and the personal motivations that drove his success. Bill Naito was a force of nature whose infinite imagination, unbridled determination and limitless persistence transformed Portland during…
Damascus Open Studios
Meet local artists as you tour working art studios around beautiful Damascus, Oregon. Learn about their inspiration and process in a variety of mediums including clay, wood, paint, glass, jewelry, metal and more. Many studios have guest artists and demos all weekend long. Art will be on display for people to admire and purchase.
Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks
Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is a groundbreaking new exhibition that features nearly 60 futuristic footwear designs pushing the boundaries of what art can be. Featuring an incredible mix of fashion, design, gaming, new media, architecture, and material arts as well as sustainable and collaborative practices, the exhibition features work by designers as diverse…
Harper Voit and Approachment Collaborative Tasting
Head to the Salon for pre-Memorial weekend for a collaborative tasting event with Drew Voit and Jessica West. Taste Harper Voit wines and Approachment wines with two of the valley's most dynamic winemakers at this special event, paired with creatively curated bites.
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.
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