When to Visit

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.

Portland’s cycling culture peaks during summer’s multi-week Pedalpalooza, featuring 200+ local-led, themed rides, all open to the public.

Piano Push Play invites local artists to transform old, donated pianos into whimsical works of art which are distributed across the city.

The Rose City Classic Dog Show is one of the largest and most popular dog events in the United States. The all-breed shows feature breed judging, which is also known as conformation. At Rose City Classic, more than 170 AKC breeds compete in conformation to earn championships, Best of Breed and Best in Show. In…

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.

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

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 Lloyd…

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.

Sneaker Week offers fun events for sneaker addicts and footwear newbies alike.

Started in 1986, First Thursday in the Pearl is a district-wide celebration that occurs 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 that includes art enthusiasts, wine aficionados, and scenesters looking to see and be…

My People’s Market showcases local entrepreneurs and makers of color, connecting them with industry professionals and consumers.

A Diverse Marketplace of Multicultural Vendors My People’s Market is back in real life. Join us Friday-Sunday, August 6, 7, and 8 on the North Park Blocks in downtown Portland, for a market experience that only the MPM crew can deliver. Be immersed in the vibrancy Portland has to offer at My People’s Market. Connect…

Obonfest (Obon) is a traditional summertime Japanese (and Japanese-American) festival commemorating one’s ancestors. In their honor, lanterns are hung, Bon Odori (Obon dance) is performed, memorial visits are made and food is offered. Central to Obonfest is Bon Odori (Obon dance). These joyful dances invite the community to celebrate and pay tribute to ancestors and…

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…

Chinese Festival is back. As Oregon reopens the Chinese Festival is returning to Pioneer Courthouse Square. This year celebrate, once again, Chinese culture and community. Coming back are the spectacular performances, delicious Chinese food, music and arts from local artists and more. Come celebrate with a full day of programming suitable for all ages.

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…

The 23rd Annual Elephant Garlic Festival is a three-day festival celebrating, you guessed it, elephant garlic. The family-friendly event includes a parade, 10K run, live music, kids play area, crafts vendors and more. Fun stinks.

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.

The Portland Mercury’s Burger Week returns every August with dozens of restaurants, bars and brewhouses across Portland offering one-of-a-kind burgers for only $6. These special edition burgers are designed especially for the Mercury’s Portland Burger Week and are only available for one week, so dig in while you can. Tips for Portland Burger Week: Be…

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.

Montavilla Jazz Festival (MJF) is a two-day festival that showcases the very best in Portland jazz. While other festivals focus on international acts, legacy heavy hitters, or mainstream jazz, MJF instead supports and strengthens local culture by highlighting emerging and established artists from Portland’s eclectic and vibrant jazz scene. Taking place annually, MJF offers Portlanders…

Portland Beer Week spotlights Portland’s breweries, high-quality brews and vibrant beer culture.

Portland Hip Hop Day was founded in 2015 as a result of a collaborative effort to address concerns and conflicts between the Portland Hip Hop scene and various agencies representing the City of Portland. As the result of continued relationship building and successful annual events between the city and the Hip Hop community, in 2019…

Portland’s Multnomah Village is filled with character – as well as dozens of unique shops, galleries, restaurants, arts and more. Multnomah Days is an annual one-day, open-air, family-friendly street festival with scheduled live musical acts, street entertainers, art and vendor booths as well as food & beverage services via outdoor street dining and food carts.

The Fremont Fest is an annual street fair and festival celebrating the Beaumont Business Community and the Beaumont/Wilshire Neighborhoods. Come enjoy the summer and everything that this wonderful neighborhood has to offer. Head to Portland’s annual Fremont Fest to enjoy a bike and pet parade, shopping specials, vendor booths, live music, kid-friendly games and a…

2021 EVENT POSTPONED TO AUGUST. Northwest Reptile Expos is the largest reptile expo in the Northwest and the longest-running reptile show in Oregon. Come out and see the largest selection of reptile vendors in the Pacific Northwest. Northwest Reptile Expos is the only captive-bred reptile show in America. Our shows feature a venomous reptile display,…

Bring family and friends to enjoy non-stop Italian food, entertainment, dancing, vendors, wine and beer gardens at the annual Festa Italiana. Italian Festival in beautiful Cedarville Park. Featuring Live Italian Music by Mbrascatu and PSU Opera. Italian Food, Beer, WIne, Raffle/Auction and Wall of Wine.

Visit one of Portland’s original “shop local” districts every August for the Hawthorne Street Fair, where you can explore over 200 businesses while enjoying food, beer and activities. Hawthorne: From the Drawbridge to the Volcano.

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…

The Corn Maize, located on Sauvie Island north of Portland, offers visitors eight acres of physical and mental challenges in a cornfield.

Portland Indigenous Marketplace supports indigenous artists and entrepreneurs by providing barrier-free, culturally respectful spaces that encourage cultural resilience and economic sustainability by promoting public education through cultural arts.

Every September, spectators gather to see the world’s largest roost of Vaux’s swifts swarm and spiral into the chimney of a Northwest Portland school.

The Art in the Pearl annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival occurs every year on Labor Day weekend in the Pearl District’s North Park Blocks. The Festival is free and requires no tickets for entry. Art In The Pearl has been named one of the top 10 Arts and Crafts Festivals in the country and…

Every fall since 2018, Portland International Raceway has hosted the celebrated open-wheel racing with the Grand Prix of Portland.

Portland’s premier pop-culture event, Rose City Comic Con is produced locally with a focus on creating a fun and friendly event for everyone. While its primary focus is that of comics, comic creators and the creative process, Rose City Comic Con also provides its attendees with access to gaming, sci-fi, cosplay, anime, fantasy and everything…

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. See the latest health and…

The Belmont Street Fair is one of the largest-attended street fairs in Portland. With food and retail vendors of all kinds, show-stopping performances, and activities for all ages, the Belmont Street Fair is fun for everyone.

Portland’s annual Water Lantern Festival is a beautiful experience where you’ll witness the magic of lanterns as they light up the water at Laurelhurst Park. This family-friendly event includes food trucks, pre-made floating lantern kits, markers, ascavenger hunt and more.

Each June, do good while sipping delicious drinks during Portland’s Negroni Week, when proceeds benefit dozens of charities.

El Grito Fiestas Patrias celebrates the independence of Mexico and other Latin American countries from Spain. As the Mexican President presents the nation’s traditional El Grito in Mexico City, so too will Portland commemorates Mexico’s independence at the Moda Center/Rose Quarter Commons. Join in the most important holiday celebrated by the Hispanic community in Oregon….

The historic town of St. Helens, located 45 minutes from Portland, celebrates Halloween all month long with haunted tours, costume contests and more.

Every May, thousands of visitors flock to the city’s famous UFO Festival, featuring four days of parades, costume contests and expert speakers.

GeekCraft Expo is a curated craft market specializing in handmade, “geek”-themed crafts of all kinds; clothing, accessories, toys, home decoration, furniture, art . . . if it’s geeky and made by hand, it can be found at a GeekCraft Expo. Cosplay is highly encouraged and admission is free (you just need to pre-register).

Portland Queer Film Festival returns every fall with an annual showcase of narrative and documentary films from around the world.

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. Join more than 20 cheesemakers and 40 specialty food and beverage producers from Oregon and beyond at…

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…

For two weekends every October, Portland Open Studios invites visitors to explore the houses and offices of artists across the city.

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…

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…

This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a watercourse.