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.
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…
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.)
First Thursday in the Pearl District
Starting in 1986, First Thursday in the Pearl is a district-wide celebration on the first Thursday of each month. Originally a gathering of art collectors and dealers, the celebration has grown to a monthly event of over ten thousand people, including art enthusiasts, wine aficionados, and scenesters looking to see and be seen. Art galleries in…
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.
Crafty Wonderland Spring Art + Craft Market
Portland’s biannual art and craft fair boasts unique handmade wares from 225+ local vendors.
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Shop for handmade crafts, snack on traditional recipes and enjoy entertainment straight from Guadalajara at this popular Cinco de Mayo festival.
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.
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…
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Portland Derby
The 17th installment of the Portland Derby is back. Celebrating the greatest two minutes in sports, the “Run for the Rose City” is the social event of the spring. A day for fashion, mint juleps, roses, ponies and dancing. Imagine sundresses, big hats and seersucker suits. The Portland Derby organizers are excited to bring The…
Portland Thorns FC
Watch the Thorns play at Providence Park. Established in 2012, the team began to play in 2013 and placed third in its inaugural season and, in the playoffs, won the first NWSL championship. The club won the NWSL Shield in 2016 and a second NWSL Championship in 2017. 2020, they won the Community Shield with the best…
Kodomo no Hi, Children's Day
Kodomo no Hi, also called Children’s Day, is commemorated each year in Japan in early May to celebrate children's growth and good fortune. The festival will feature a range of family-friendly activities. Listen to taiko performances, learn how to make origami koi or frogs, participate in a treasure hunt, and enjoy koinobori or cloth carp streamers displays. Koi symbolize…
Kaliente Drag Brunch
Kharisma brings the heat with Kaliente, the newest Drag Brunch at your Stag PDX. Start your month with a bit of spice every 1st Sunday, with a show that has that extra kick that only Kharisma and her special guest performers can bring. Enjoy all-you-can-eat brunch options served from the buffet with mimosas available -…
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…
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.
Inner City Blues Festival
A Benefit for Health Care for All Oregon – OREGON presents Soul Queens and Blues Kings Healing the Health Care Blues Norman “Boogie Cat” Sylvester and Lenanne Sylvester-Miller bring together some of this region's finest Rhythm & Blues favorites for an amazing night of Soul and Blues.
Hippie Chick Half Marathon
The Hippie Chick half marathon, quarter marathon, 5k and kid's half-mile race return for Mother's Day weekend. This female-focused event is designed to celebrate how amazing women are. Grab your mom, sister, friend, or co-worker and register to run through Oregon's scenic countryside. The run is returning to the birthplace of this great event at Champoeg…
St. Johns Bizarre and Parade
The St. Johns Bizarre is a uniquely crafted celebration that kicks off Portland's summer street fair season. Held annually on the second Saturday in May, the Bizarre brings music, crafts, and food to the crowds who traditionally attended the St. Johns Parade. After the parade, a portion of the business district in St. Johns is…
Unique Markets
Discover the best of Portland's independent designers, artists and emerging brands in a festive indoor setting. Enjoy complimentary refreshments, lounges, photo booths, creative DIY activities, arcade games, music and more while you browse a curated lineup of over 100 up-and-coming small businesses. Shop everything from clothing and accessories to art, jewelry, gourmet treats and home…
Baker's Dozen Coffee Beer & Doughnut Fest
The 8th Annual Baker’s Dozen melds three things Portland does best: coffee, beer, and doughnuts. Each brewer uses beans from a different roaster. Admission includes all thirteen coffee beers, samples of several of the specific coffees, morsels of all thirteen doughnuts, and a souvenir glass. (No extra drink tickets needed/sold). As always, several of the…
Reigning Roses Walk
Rose Haven supporters and guests will unite to stride a beautiful route through NW Portland on Mother's Day at the annual Reigning Roses Walk. Walk with, or in honor of, a special woman in your life – a mother, grandmother, daughter, partner or friend. All proceeds benefit the women and children of Rose Haven. There…
Mother's Day Cruise
Sweep mom off her feet this Mother’s Day with a special brunch cruise. The whole family will enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Willamette River, a delicious Northwest brunch buffet, mimosas or sparkling cider, live piano music and beautiful river views. Make memories that Mom will treasure forever.
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.
Kung Fu Theater
Kung Fu Theater presents the only known 35mm print of this 1977 martial arts classic, 10 BROTHERS OF SHAOLIN A disciple of the Shaolin Temple must escort an overthrown emperor to safety. A wide variety of vicious kung fu villains are out to kill the former emperor, and it's up to five shaolin monks and five…
Slamlandia
Poetry Open Mic and Slam in Portland, Oregon. It is the mission of Slamlandia to provide an open mic and poetry slam that is creative, fun, and welcoming to all literary communities in Portland. They strive towards a safer space for poets to share work, witness others, and participate in the community.
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 our 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…
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…
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…
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 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 April 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…
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…
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 Columbia River Gorge Tour
Jump into a day-long adventure and discover what makes the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area a true gem. Be awed by the majesty of the USA's second tallest waterfall, witness the incredible salmon journey at the Bonneville Dam Complex, catch some windsurfing thrills in the windsurfing capital of the USA, and explore the official…
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….
Private Oregon Coast Brewery Tour
Hop aboard a ride from your swanky Portland hotel and savor the stunning views of Columbia River's bustling ship traffic. The first stop? Two of Astoria's coolest breweries, where you can sip on the finest brews and grab a bite to eat. Fort George Brewery, Astoria Brewing Company, Reach Break Brewing, Buoy Beer Company, Rogue…
Was this page helpful?