October Events
This month, Portland offers harvest festivals, hoops, arts events and haunted houses.
Portland’s spookiest month brings some of the city’s favorite events. Grab your rain boots and head to one of several nearby corn mazes and pumpkin patches, explore Portland’s haunted hot-spots and catch Portland Trail Blazers game. And don’t miss the city’s many celebrations of Halloween and all things scary. Read on for some of our favorite October events and things to do in Portland, or check out our full events calendar to see everything on offer.
Portland Trail Blazers
Watch the 1977 NBA Champion Portland Trail Blazers play at the Moda Center. Blazers fans cheer players on from October to April at the nearby Spirit of 77 and other local sports bars. While at the Moda Center, dig into local food and drink purveyors like Killer Burger, ice cream by Ruby Jewel and Salt & Straw, food cart favorite Tamale Boy and local brews at 10 Barrel Brewing.
Portland Film Festival
Portland has its fair share of film festivals, but Portland Film Festival is one not to miss. The week-long celebration of film that MovieMaker magazine called “one of the coolest film festivals in the world” is jam-packed with networking, workshops, guest speakers, film premieres, financing talks, director Q&As and more.
Fall Arts Scene
Portland's performing arts season comes into full swing in October.
Portland Theater
Portland has a well-established network of venues and theater companies and an increasingly dynamic and diverse small theater scene.
Classical Music in Portland
Portland's opera, symphony and other companies offer an ongoing lineup of inspiring performances, from timeless works to modern interpretations.
Dance in Portland
Portland dance has an inventive spirit that welcomes collaborations and often spills beyond the generally accepted boundaries of “dance.”
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
Watch as people seated in gigantic pumpkins race across a lake during the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. This free, wacky annual event is the only one of its kind on the West Coast.
Haunted Houses
Portland likes its scares as much as any other city, and has the haunted houses to prove it. Some of the biggest annual options include Fright Town at Memorial Coliseum, and the 13th Door and Fear Asylum in nearby towns Beaverton and Milwaukie, respectively.
The Spirit of Halloweentown
The historic town of St. Helens, located 45 minutes from Portland, celebrates The Spirit of Halloweentown all month long with haunted tours, costume contests and more.
Portland Queer Film Festival
The annual Portland Queer Film Festival showcases feature, documentary and short films offering a glimpse into the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and communities in different parts of the world. The festival attracts thousands of filmgoers during its 10-day run at Northwest Portland’s Cinema 21.
Hood River Valley Harvest Fest
The counterpoint to April’s Hood River Valley Blossom Festival, this is your chance to catch the tail end of the fruit-growing process at the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest. The fruit is picked and it’s time to party with music, food, wine and a quilt raffle. One hour and fifteen minutes from downtown Portland.
More October Events
Check out our editor's picks for top things to do in October in Portland.
Portland Flea + Food
The Portland Flea + Food is a monthly market held on the last Sunday of the month in Portland, Oregon. Every market features 80+ local artists, makers, and curators of the best vintage, handmade and locally-sourced goods in town.
Portland Night Market
The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail together for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Come meet some of Portland’s best makers and creators! The Portland Night Market is a bimonthly, free event and open to all ages.
H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival
Join the Hollywood Theatre for its annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival, the world’s most beloved horror actor. Enjoy Lovecraftian and independent films, panel discussions, author readings, art, guest filmmakers and handmade wares.
Portland Greek Festival
The Portland Greek Festival is celebrated as the largest Greek Festival on the west coast with more than 15,000 people attending. This cultural experience features Greek food, music, dance and shopping! The Agora – the Greek marketplace features imported merchandise, clothing, jewelry, icons, flokati rugs and cookbooks. Among the fabulous food, exclusive cooking demonstrations, and…
The Wedge
The Wedge is a Farmers Market-style festival celebrating cheese and everything that goes with it. Sample and purchase local, artisan cheese, specialty foods, beer, wine, and cider. This is a family-friendly event that’s open to all cheese lovers.
Portland Marathon
Taking runners along a loop of Portland along the east and west sides of the city’s Willamette River, the Portland Marathon is an excellent way to see a lot of Portland in one great run. The race starts and finishes at Waterfront Park, crossing four bridges and passing by some of the city’s most iconic…
Portland Film Festival
Portland Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing filmmakers and audiences, and to celebrating the power of a good story. The festival focuses on the people, ideas, technology, skills and artistry behind filmmaking and provides both entertaining and educational opportunities to the public. The festival is anchored with outdoor screenings, offering its filmmakers…
Portland Oddities & Curiosities Expo
For lovers of the strange and unusual, enjoy Portland’s Oddities and Curiosities Expo. This annual event features local and national vendors with items such as: TaxidermyWet and dry preserved specimensAntiquesJewelry made from bones, skulls and insectsOriginal artworkSkulls and bonesCuriosities, and all around creepy, strange and bizarre itemsThere will be sideshow performances and live human suspension…
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a water course.
VegFest
This annual 2-day festival celebrates all things related to plant-based living, with free food samples, health and nutrition speakers, chef demonstrations and more.