Summer in Portland
Portland packs the sunniest season with festivals celebrating the city's music, craft beer, contemporary art and internationally acclaimed culinary scene.
Summer in Portland may be one of the world’s best-kept secrets. Days are long and dry, temperatures are comfortably warm, and the city makes the most of these conditions with outdoor celebrations and exciting things to do running well into September. There’s no better time for hikes, taking a dip in the Willamette River or heading to a nearby farm to pick (and devour) delicious berries. Meanwhile, annual summertime events and festivals include the joyous Portland Pride Parade and Festival in June, the epic Oregon Brewers Festival in July and Pickathon Music Festival in August. Read on for our top picks for things to do, see and experience during a summertime visit to Portland.
Summer Weather
During Portland’s summers, the days are warm (average high 78° F/25° C) with blissfully low humidity. Rain is rare and the evenings are long (the sun doesn’t set until around 9 p.m. in June and July).
What to Pack
If you’re visiting Portland in the summertime, we recommend packing typical warm weather attire (think shorts, t-shirts and open-toed shoes) along with a few layers (like a light jacket) for cooler evenings spent outside.
Favorite Summer Events
Experience the best of summer in Portland at these annual warm-weather events.
Events By Month
Every month of summer in Portland offers its own unique events and experiences.
June Events
Portland's "festival season" warms up every June with the Portland Rose Festival, Portland Pride Parade and Festival, plentiful outdoor concerts and celebrations of craft beer.
July Events
July in Portland is a busy time, with a variety of live music, beer fests and film events to take in.
August Events
Biking across bridges and cheering on soapbox racers are two of many great August events in Portland.
Summer Activities
Make the most of Portland's epic summer season with these local activities.
Make a Splash
Beat the heat like a local by jumping into the nearest river, lake or fountain in Portland.
Swimming Holes Near Portland
Stay cool all summer long at these serene swimming spots, surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest — and all less than an hour away from Portland.
Make a Splash in the Willamette River
The river, which bisects the city into east and west sides, is a virtual aquatic playground, with kayakers, fishers and swimmers enjoying the water.
Portland’s Public Fountains
Cool off with free fun at these kid-friendly fountains in Portland.
Upcoming Summer Events
Enjoy these summertime events and festivals in and near Portland.
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Portland Rose Festival
Portland Rose Festival features multiple parades, waterfront carnival rides, concerts, dragon boat races, fireworks and plenty of roses.
Peacock in the Park
Sequins, boas and a rainbow of talent mark LGBTQ variety show Peacock in the Park’s takeover of Washington Park.
Fleet Week
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…
Portland Rose Society Annual Spring Rose Show
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.
Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
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.
Festival of Balloons
Hot-air balloons take flight mere minutes from downtown Portland every summer.
Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival
Chamber Music Northwest’s annual summer festival combines high-caliber classical music with a laid-back atmosphere.
Waterfront Blues Festival
Every Fourth of July weekend, the Waterfront Blues Festival takes over downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park.
Oregon Country Fair
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…
Rose Cup Races
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.
The Big Float
Every summer since 2011, thousands of people swim and float in the Willamette River for the annual Big Float event.
Portland Zine Symposium
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…
Oregon Brewers Festival
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.
Vanport Jazz Festival
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…
Bridge Pedal
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…
Hood to Coast
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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