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Summer Free for All
Enjoy live music, movie screenings and kids’ games in Portland’s public parks.
Zak Griffler
Know Before You Go
NOTE: Concerts in the Park, Movies in the Park and the Washington Park Summer Festival are canceled in 2021. Portland Parks & Recreation will still provide Free Lunch + Play programs this year. See the latest health and safety guidelines related to COVID-19 on the Portland Parks & Recreation website.
Portland parks offer plenty of free fun any time of year, but Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer Free for All program ups the ante, offering over 400 free events from June to August. The entertainment at parks across the city includes free movie screenings, concerts and Zumba classes.
Take a look at their website to start planning your summer of free fun today. Here are some highlights to expect.
Know Before You Go
To slow the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, effective Aug. 27, a statewide mask mandate is in place. Oregonians and visitors ages 5 and up are required to wear face coverings in all public indoor settings, as well as crowded outdoor public spaces where physical distancing is not possible, regardless of vaccination status. This rule does not apply to individuals actively eating or drinking.
Additionally, some event organizers and venues may require proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID test, for admission. Other events may be canceled, postponed or held virtually. Please check individual event websites for the most up-to-date information.
Movies in the Park
Launched in 2007, Movies in the Park consists of over 40 free screenings hosted at green spaces across Portland. The evenings begin with pre-movie performances by local musicians and free popcorn for attendees. Closed captioning, sign language interpreters and FM loop amplifiers are available for all events (request 10 business days in advance). Make sure to bring a jacket or extra blanket in case it gets chilly. Previous film selections have ranged from classics like The Sandlot to animated treats like Coco and Moana.
Concerts in the Park
Know Before You Go
Note: The usual ban on alcoholic beverages in parks is waived only during Concerts in the Park events, so feel free to stock your picnic basket with a bottle of Oregon Pinot.
For over a century, local musicians of all genres and traditions have been entertaining crowds in Portland parks every summer. Listen to diverse beats — like improvisational African jazz or Celtic folk-rock — and enjoy a bite from local food vendors like Po’Shines Café De La Soul and Pip’s Original Doughnuts as you jam out with other community members. Throughout the summer, dozens of concerts attract tens of thousands of concertgoers, so be sure to arrive early and bring a comfy seat of your choice. Check their website for more information.
Washington Park Summer Festival
For those looking to enjoy a musical experience on a bigger scale, time your visit to catch the performances at the Washington Park Summer Festival. In August, the Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater hosts an array of acts, including multicultural music, opera, flamenco and African dance. Parking is usually limited, so consider taking MAX light rail.
Free Open Play Swimming and Rock Climbing
If you’re looking to beat the heat or get fit in the fresh air, the Summer Free For All includes free open swimming at a number of community pools as well as free outdoor fitness classes, like Zumba and Tai Chi. (Note: fitness classes are free, but you must register online first to participate.)
Whether you’re looking to take in the local arts and culture or get active in the sunshine with the whole family, the Portland Summer Free For All has something for everyone. To plan your summertime fun in the Rose City, check out Portland Parks & Recreation’s website for more information. Who says the best things in life aren’t free?
Summer Events
Enjoy Portland's favorite summertime activities with these local events.
Parkrose Marketplace
The Parkrose Marketplace is an event aimed at giving more support and visibility to local small businesses and artists while providing a safe social event to connect with your neighbors, shop with great home-based vendors, and enjoy local food, coffee, arts & crafts. The Marketplace has over 60 vendors offering art, crafts, clothing, jewelry, culinary…
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Top Down: Rooftop Cinema
The Cinema Unbound Summer Movie Series, running July, August, and September 2021, welcomes guests to safely gather and experience the power that truly radical and entertaining cinematic storytelling can bring. Unbound from the traditional movie theater setting, Cinema Unbound is creating new venues throughout the city starting with the Open-Air Rooftop Cinema at the Oregon…
Woodstock Farmers Market
The popular Woodstock Farmers Market features fresh produce, baked goods, fresh juices, sweets, cheese, meat and more from 30+ vendors, along with artisan-made products like jewelry, ceramics and art.
Rosemaling For Beginners
Rosemaling is Norway’s traditional decorative folk painting that was used to decorate wooden items commonly used in daily life, such as ale bowls, stools, and chairs. Using stylized techniques made up of fantasy flowers, scrollwork and fine line work, and flowing patterns give rosemaling its unique feel. In this beginner-level class, you will learn about…
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 al fresco picnic. (Wednesdays…
Last Thursday Art Walk on Alberta
This boisterous street fair attracts independent artists, performers, local bands, troupes of acrobats, buskers, makers and more to celebrate their art on Northeast Alberta Street. Held year-round, the event is biggest from June through August, when the street is closed to traffic during the festivities from 15th Avenue to 30th Avenue.
CityFair
EVENT ON HIATUS IN 2021 AND EXPECTED TO RETURN IN 2022. Please visit the event website for current information. 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 Starlight Parade
EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL 2022. Please visit the event website for current information. For more than 40 years, Portland’s Starlight Parade has offered funky, eclectic fun for everyone. From traditional marching bands and flood-lit floats, to glow-in-the-dark umbrellas and unique hand-built entries, you’ll see the best of Portland’s diverse community groups (and surrounding Northwest region) together…
Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade
EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL 2022. Please visit the event website for current information. A cherished highlight of the Portland Rose Festival, this popular procession is more than a spectacular floral-filled parade; it’s a beloved annual tradition. For more than 100 years, Portland families, visitors and community groups have been making memories at the Rose Festival Grand…
St. Paul Rodeo
“The Nation’s Greatest Fourth of July Rodeo” will return for the 84th year with the promise of top rodeo action, family fun and patriotism. Six rodeo performances, sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, will feature the top rodeo cowboys and livestock in the World. Also featuring a Wild West Art Show, Tack Room Saloon,…
Portland Craft Beer Festival
2021 event has been canceled. The festival will return in 2022 at the following July dates. The Portland Craft Beer Festival brings a huge outdoor party to the Fields Neighborhood Park, along with a huge selection of local beers, ciders and wine, originating from Portland, Oregon breweries. Only beers, plus ciders and wine, crafted within…
Harefest
The annual Harefest music festival in Canby presents the Northwest’s best tribute bands performing on three stages over two days. The Harefest experience has been described by many attendees and performers as “adult summer camp” not only for the fun-loving, good-natured attendees but also because of its rustic location and tent camping around the festival…
The Big Float
Every summer since 2011, thousands of people swim and float in the Willamette River for the annual Big Float event.
Portland Fashion Week
Portland Fashion Week, the Sundance™ of Fashion Weeks, is the 3rd oldest fashion week series in the United States, TIME ™ Magazine’s “BEST Indie Fashion Week in the USA since 2012, and the only carbon-negative fashion week in the world as outlined by The Huffington Post. From top-of-the-line eco-chic fashion experiences to our support for…
Alicia Keys Live At Moda Center
Multi-Platinum songstress Alicia Keys is bringing her brand new ‘Alicia’ tour to Portland on Aug 31, 2022. Alicia Augello Cook, known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter. A classically-trained pianist, Keys began composing songs by age 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Columbia Records.
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