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Zak Griffler

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The city comes to life with dozens of free, family-friendly things to do all summer long thanks to Portland Parks and Recreation\'s Summer Free for All program.
Credit: Portland Parks & Recreation
Portland Events / Summer in Portland

Summer Free for All

Enjoy live music, movie screenings and kids’ games in Portland’s public parks.

Canceled
Updated Oct. 23, 2020 3 min read

Zak Griffler

Canceled
This is a recurring event and we’re showing the details from its most recent past occurrence. We’ll update this page with future event info as soon as we get it. Please check back!
When
June 22–Aug. 31, 2020
Days vary
Where
Citywide

Know Before You Go

NOTE: Concerts in the Park, Movies in the Park and the Washington Park Summer Festival are canceled in 2020. 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.

View the Full Calendar

You’re currently viewing a page featuring a selection of events. To find even more things to do in Portland, visit our full calendar, which you can search by date and event type.

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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.

Summer in Portland

In the summertime, Portland pulls out all the stops, with festivals celebrating craft beer, music, contemporary art and the city’s culinary scene.

Read more

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.

Washington Park

Beyond big trees and picnic tables, Washington Park offers a zoo, two museums, gardens and more.

Read more

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?

Events, Film, For Kids, Music, Outdoors, Parks & Gardens

Free Live Music and Comedy in Portland

Discover a new favorite comic or musician at Portland's free concerts and comedy nights, scattered across the city and scheduled throughout the week.

Read more

Summer Events

Enjoy Portland's favorite summertime activities with these local events.

More Events
Editor's Pick
Portland Saturday Market
Ongoing

Portland Saturday Market

Tom McCall Waterfront Park Free

Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.

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Makers
Shopping
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Portland Rose Festival
May 31–June 13, 2021

Portland Rose Festival

Various locations

Portland Rose Festival features multiple parades, waterfront carnival rides, concerts, dragon boat races, fireworks and plenty of roses.

Editor's Pick
Festivals
Spring
Summer
Editor's Pick
Peacock in the Park
Sunday, June 6, 2021

Peacock in the Park

Washington Park

Sequins, boas and a rainbow of talent mark LGBTQ variety show Peacock in the Park’s takeover of Washington Park.

Editor's Pick
Arts
LGBTQ+
Summer
Editor's Pick
Fleet Week
June 9–13, 2021

Fleet Week

Virtual Free

In 2021, Rose Festival Fleet Week will be virtual, with ship tours and stories about members of the sea services shared virtually, on video. Please visit the event website for current information. Since the very beginning of the Rose Festival back in 1907, visiting ships and other fleet-related elements (like submarines) have been making their…

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Portland Rose Festival
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Portland Rose Society Annual Spring Rose Show
June 10–11, 2021

Portland Rose Society Annual Spring Rose Show

Lloyd Center Free

This annual rose show is the nation’s largest and long-running rose show, bringing more than 4,000 blooms to Lloyd Center in Northeast Portland. Explore a huge variety of roses, from the quarter-inch micro-minis to the 8 inch standard blooms.

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Portland Rose Festival
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Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
Ongoing

Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn

McMenamins Edgefield Prices Vary

With acts that have ranged from Al Green to ZZ Top, McMenamins Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn are an annual rite of summer and the hottest ticket in town.

Editor's Pick
Music
Canceled
Festival of Balloons
June 25–27, 2021

Festival of Balloons

Cook Park Prices Vary

Hot-air balloons take flight mere minutes from downtown Portland every summer.

Canceled
Events
Festivals
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival
July 1–25, 2021

Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival

Reed College

Chamber Music Northwest’s annual summer festival combines high-caliber classical music with a laid-back atmosphere.

Editor's Pick
Festivals
Music
Summer
Editor's Pick
Waterfront Blues Festival
July 2–5, 2021

Waterfront Blues Festival

Zidell Yards

Every Fourth of July weekend, the Waterfront Blues Festival takes over downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park.

Editor's Pick
Festivals
Music
Summer
Editor's Pick
Oregon Country Fair
July 9–11, 2021

Oregon Country Fair

Virtual Ticket Prices Vary

Oregon Country Fair will be hosting Fair in the Clouds: A Virtual Event from July 9-11, 2021. Please visit the event website for current information. Delight in the Oregon Coutnry Fair’s world class entertainment, handmade crafts, delectable foods, educational displays and magical surprises at every turn of the path. The Oregon Country Fair is nestled…

Editor's Pick
Festival
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
Rose Cup Races
July 9–11, 2021

Rose Cup Races

Portland International Raceway

Celebrate racing history at Portland International Raceway’s 60th annual Rose Cup Races! Enjoy great racing, pageantry and honoring an iconic family-friendly event in the Pacific Northwest.

Editor's Pick
For Kids
Portland Rose Festival
Sports
Editor's Pick
The Big Float
Saturday, July 10, 2021

The Big Float

Tom McCall Waterfront Park $5-$175

Every summer since 2011, thousands of people swim and float in the Willamette River for the annual Big Float event.

Editor's Pick
For Kids
Outdoors
Summer
Editor's Pick
Portland Zine Symposium
July 24–25, 2021

Portland Zine Symposium

Virtual

The 2021 event will be held virtually; please visit the event website for current information. The Portland Zine Symposium is an organization that hosts, among other events, a yearly free conference and zine social exploring facets of independent publishing and DIY culture. This event has been held in Portland, Oregon every summer since 2001 and…

Editor's Pick
Art & Design
Conventions
Exhibition
Shopping
Canceled
Oregon Brewers Festival
July 28–31, 2021

Oregon Brewers Festival

Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Portland hosts dozens of beer festivals every year, but none compares to the Oregon Brewers Festival. With offerings from 80 craft brewers, the event draws nearly 70,000 attendees to the downtown waterfront every July.

Canceled
Beer
Festivals
Summer
Canceled
Vanport Jazz Festival
Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021

Vanport Jazz Festival

Colwood Golf Course $75-$175

The Vanport Jazz Festival is scheduled to return Aug. 7, 2021. See website for details. The Vanport Jazz Festival honors the city of Vanport and the voices who formed Portland’s jazz community. Near the site of the historic 1948 flood, the event transforms Colwood Golf Course into a cultural revival, welcoming nationally renowned artists and…

Canceled
Cultural Communities
Festival
Music
Canceled
Bridge Pedal
Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021

Bridge Pedal

Multiple locations $35-$70

The Bridge Pedal is scheduled to return Aug. 8, 2021. Please visit the event website for current information. Portland’s annual Bridge Pedal is a community celebration of the city’s iconic bridges and biking culture. Join your friends and neighbors for the one opportunity each year to bike or walk on Portland’s car-free streets and bridges…

Canceled
For Kids
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
Hood to Coast
Aug. 27–28, 2021

Hood to Coast

Timberline Lodge

Hood to Coast is the world’s largest running relay race, stretching 200 miles from the top of Mount Hood to the Pacific Ocean in Seaside. The overnight event culminates in the West Coast’s largest beach party and draws more than 12,000 runners and walkers annually. The race fills up months in advance, but there’s no…

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Health & Wellness
Outdoors

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