The short answer
Portland has a major event most weeks of the year, and October through December is one of the busiest stretches. October 2026: the Portland Greek Festival (October 2-4) and the Portland Marathon (October 4) share the first weekend, the Portland Retro Gaming Expo runs October 9-11 at the Oregon Convention Center, Howloween at the Oregon Zoo runs only October 17, 18, 24 and 25, and the Portland Fermentation Festival is Thursday, October 22. November: the Portland Book Festival runs November 2-8 with its main day on Saturday, November 7, Kumoricon is November 13-15, BrewLights is November 13-14, and ZooLights opens November 20. December: the Christmas Ships sail published routes on selected nights from December 3-20, The Nutcracker runs December 5-24 at Keller Auditorium, and Crafty Wonderland fills the Convention Center December 11-13. The Portland Winter Light Festival is confirmed for February 5-13, 2027, and the Biamp Portland Jazz Festival for March 4-13. The Rose Festival, Pride and TBA have not published 2027 dates yet. One correction to older lists: Portland Nursery is not holding its Apple Tasting Festival in 2026.
Busiest fall weekend
October 2-4, 2026: the Greek Festival, the Portland Marathon and the Portland Night Market all land on the same weekend.
Convention Center run
Retro Gaming Expo (Oct 9-11), Kumoricon (Nov 13-15) and Crafty Wonderland (Dec 11-13) all use the Oregon Convention Center.
Book Festival is a week now
The Portland Book Festival runs November 2-8, 2026; the main festival day, Saturday, November 7, follows a sold-out 2025 edition.
Lights season
ZooLights runs November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and the Christmas Ships sail published routes on selected nights December 3-20.
Not happening this year
Portland Nursery's Apple Tasting Festival is off for 2026, and Saturday Market has cancelled its Festival of the Last Minute; the market's last day is December 19.
Already set for 2027
Waterfront Blues Festival July 2-4, 2027 and Rose City Comic Con September 10-12, 2027 are confirmed by their organizers.
Find events for your visit
Selected events with published dates, not a complete city calendar. Times are local. Check the organizer before booking; listings do not indicate ticket availability.
33 matching events
Oct 18, 2026; Oct 24, 2026 · Oct 25, 2026
Howloween at the Oregon Zoo
Oregon Zoo, Washington Park
9:30am-4:30pm · Best suited to ages 2-10; all are welcome · $5 Treat and Ride Pass plus general zoo admission
Official event pagePlanning details
Costumed daytime activities over two weekends. General zoo admission is required, and to participate in trick-or-treating and receive the included ride you must purchase the $5 Treat and Ride Pass in advance; all tickets must be purchased in advance online.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 18, 2026
Portland Zine Symposium
Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom, Downtown
11am-5pm · All ages · Free
Official event pagePlanning details
A fair of self-published books, comics and art at Portland State University.
Source checked Sep 20, 2026
Oct 18, 2026; Oct 22, 2026 – Oct 25, 2026; Oct 29, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026
ScareGrounds PDX at Oaks Park
Oaks Amusement Park, Sellwood
7:00pm-10:00pm most nights, 7:00pm-11:00pm on Oct 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 · not recommended for children 12 and under (organizer: discretion is advised) · online general admission from $25 to $33 and up by date, rising closer to the date and by time slot; optional VIP Fast Pass (add $25) and All Access (add $75)
Official event pagePlanning details
Haunted theme park with two main haunted houses plus additional attractions. General admission prices are floor prices that start between $25 and $33 depending on the date and rise closer to the date and by time slot, with optional VIP Fast Pass and All Access add ons. All tickets are sold online in advance and the organizer expects sell-outs. Hours run 7pm to 10pm most nights and 7pm to 11pm on the busiest Friday and Saturday nights. Parking is available on site for $4 per vehicle.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 18, 2026; Oct 24, 2026 · Oct 25, 2026; Oct 31, 2026 · Nov 1, 2026
Spirit of Halloweentown
Downtown St. Helens, St. Helens, Oregon
11:00am-9:00pm · family-friendly per organizer; no age limit published · Free to walk the town; attraction passes from $18.08 including fees online; parking $25 plus fees online or $30 at the event
Official event pagePlanning details
A weekend Halloween festival (Saturdays and Sundays, Sept 26 to Nov 1) in the filming location of the Disney movie Halloweentown, with a haunted house, stage entertainment, a Great Pumpkin Lighting and family activities. It is free to walk the downtown streets and plaza; a paid pass is required for ticketed attractions. St. Helens is about 30 miles northwest of Portland, roughly a 40 minute drive.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 18, 2026 · Oct 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026; Oct 28, 2026 – Nov 2, 2026; Nov 6, 2026 · Nov 7, 2026
The Fear PDX Haunted House
The Fear PDX Haunted House, Northeast Portland
Varies by date, 6:00pm or 7:00pm start, closing between 9:30pm and midnight · not recommended for children under 14 · $32.99, $36.99 or $39.99 depending on date
Official event pagePlanning details
Thirteen haunted attractions in one location, including five featured haunted houses, five scare zones and three bonus mini haunts. Hours vary by date: opens 6pm or 7pm, closes between 9:30pm and midnight. Located at 12219 NE Glisan Street.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 22, 2026
Portland Fermentation Festival
Irving Street Studio at Ecotrust, Pearl District
6-9pm · $15-$20; children 12 and under free
Official event pagePlanning details
Fermented foods and drinks from local makers at 721 NW 9th Avenue.
Source checked Sep 20, 2026
Oct 23, 2026 · Oct 24, 2026; Oct 30, 2026
Bella Organic Farm Haunted Corn Maze
Bella Organic Farm, Sauvie Island
Opens at dark (about 6:30pm to 7:15pm), last entry 10pm · not recommended under 13; 13 and under must be with a paying adult; 5 and under not admitted · $35 to $45 depending on date
Official event pagePlanning details
A nighttime haunted version of Bella Organic Farm's corn maze on Sauvie Island, running Friday and Saturday nights only. Tickets are $35 on Sept 26, Oct 2 and 3; $40 on Oct 9, 16 and 23; $45 on Oct 10, 17, 24 and 30. There is no haunted maze on Halloween night; the last haunted night is October 30, which also features a costume contest.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 24, 2026; Nov 1, 2026
Portland Timbers remaining home matches
Providence Park, Goose Hollow
Oct 17 and 24 at 7:30pm; Nov 1 at 6:30pm
Official event pagePlanning details
Home matches against Colorado on October 17, Charlotte on October 24 and Houston on November 1. The November 1 match is the final home match of the regular season.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 24, 2026; Oct 31, 2026; Nov 7, 2026; Nov 14, 2026; Nov 21, 2026; Nov 28, 2026; Dec 5, 2026; Dec 12, 2026; Dec 19, 2026; Jan 2, 2027; Jan 9, 2027; Jan 16, 2027; Jan 23, 2027; Jan 30, 2027; Feb 6, 2027; Feb 13, 2027; Feb 20, 2027; Feb 27, 2027; Mar 6, 2027; Mar 13, 2027; Mar 20, 2027; Mar 27, 2027
PSU Farmers Market
South Park Blocks at Portland State University, Downtown
8:30am-2pm through Oct; 9am-2pm Nov-Mar · All ages · Free to browse
Official event pagePlanning details
Year-round Saturday market. Hours are 8:30am-2pm through October 2026 and 9am-2pm from November 7 through March 2027. The market is closed December 26, 2026, which is excluded from the dates above.
Source checked Sep 20, 2026
Oct 24, 2026
Thrill the World Portland
Location to be announced, Portland
Dance at 3:00pm
Official event pagePlanning details
Portland's 20th annual synchronized Thriller dance, part of a global simultaneous dance event held each year around Halloween. The 2026 site had not been announced as of this check; in 2025 the dance was held at Irving Park's covered basketball court.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 28, 2026
OMSI After Dark: Spirits
OMSI, Central Eastside
6:00pm-10:00pm · 21+ · $50 general admission
Official event pagePlanning details
A 21 and over evening exploring the museum with a Halloween themed spirits tasting, curated vendors and lectures. Valid government issued ID is required for entry.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 31, 2026
Death at Dusk at Lone Fir Cemetery
Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery, Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery
Tours start on the hour from 3:00pm, final tour concludes by 6:00pm · appropriate for all ages
Official event pagePlanning details
A guided historical walking tour through Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery at dusk on Halloween night, exploring stories of Portland's founders and pioneers. The tour has no actors or theatrical performances. Tours start on the hour, with the first tour at 3:00pm and the last concluding around 6:00pm near sunset. Tickets go on sale October 2 and there are no walk up sales.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 31, 2026
PAM CUT at The Whitsell: Night of the Living Dead (Halloween screening)
Portland Art Museum, Whitsell Auditorium, Downtown Portland
2:00pm-4:00pm · $15 ($10 members; $35 with museum admission)
Official event pagePlanning details
The closing screening of the Vintage Spooky classic horror film series (screenings Oct 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31), showing Night of the Living Dead (1968) on Halloween day in the Whitsell Auditorium.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Oct 31, 2026
Woodstock Spooktacular
Woodstock Community Center, Woodstock
3:00pm-6:00pm · all ages · free
Official event pagePlanning details
A free, family friendly Halloween celebration along Woodstock Boulevard and at the Woodstock Community Center, with trunk or treat, games, crafts and a doggy costume contest.
Source checked Sep 23, 2026
Nov 2, 2026 – Nov 8, 2026
Portland Book Festival
South Park Blocks and downtown venues, Downtown
Official event pagePlanning details
A week of literary programming, with the main festival day on Saturday, November 7.
Source checked Sep 20, 2026
Nov 6, 2026 – Nov 8, 2026
Portland Holiday Market
Portland Expo Center, North Portland
Official event pagePlanning details
An indoor holiday shopping weekend at the Expo Center.
Source checked Sep 20, 2026
Nov 13, 2026 · Nov 14, 2026
BrewLights
Oregon Zoo, Washington Park
General 5:30-9:30pm; early entry 4:30pm · 21+ · $65 general; $75 early entry
Official event pagePlanning details
A separate adults-only light and beverage festival. General and early-entry tickets include the displays, a souvenir mug and beverage pours; the ticket is valid as TriMet fare on the event date.
Source checked Sep 20, 2026
Nov 13, 2026 – Nov 15, 2026
Kumoricon
Oregon Convention Center, Lloyd District
Official event pagePlanning details
Three days of anime, panels and cosplay.
Source checked Sep 20, 2026
Nov 20, 2026 – Nov 23, 2026; Nov 27, 2026 – Dec 24, 2026; Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
ZooLights
Oregon Zoo, Washington Park
From 4:30pm · All ages except 21+ on Jan 1-2 · Adults $13-$35; youth $13-$30
Official event pagePlanning details
Outdoor light walk. The enumerated dates preserve the announced closures on November 24-26 and December 25. January 1-2 are 21-and-over; January 3 is the final all-ages night. Most animals are not on view.
Source checked Sep 20, 2026
Nov 26, 2026
Turkey Trot at the Zoo
Oregon Zoo finish, Washington Park
Wave starts from 7:30am
Official event pagePlanning details
Thanksgiving-morning 5K starting on SW Knights Boulevard and finishing inside the zoo. Registration is required.
Source checked Sep 20, 2026
This is the calendar we use ourselves when guests ask what is on. It starts with the whole year in one table, then goes deep on the next three months, then covers what is already announced for 2027. Dates were checked against the organizers' own pages between September 20 and 23, 2026. Where an organizer has not published next year's date, we say so rather than guess from last year. At the end there is a map of where the big events actually happen and which neighborhood to base yourself in for each. Catching a show as well? Our Portland concert guide covers the touring calendar.
Heads up: a few ticket links on this page are affiliate links. Stay Portland may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep this guide free and up to date.
Planning around an event between October and February? Portland in fall and winter explains the rain and daylight by month, how the holiday season runs from the tree lighting to Peacock Lane, and when to book.
Portland Events Calendar: Month by Month
Read the table by row: what anchors each month, whether the organizer has confirmed the date, and where we would base ourselves for it. Use the jump links above for the detailed October, November and December sections.
| Month | Anchor events | 2026-27 status | Where to stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | Portland Greek Festival (Oct 2-4), Portland Marathon (Oct 4), Portland Retro Gaming Expo (Oct 9-11), Howloween at the Oregon Zoo (Oct 17-18 and 24-25), Portland Zine Symposium (Oct 17-18), Portland Fermentation Festival (Oct 22) | All confirmed by the organizers | Downtown for the marathon; near the Convention Center for the expo; Northeast for the Greek Festival |
| November 2026 | Timbers vs. Houston (Nov 1, 6:30pm), Portland Book Festival (Nov 2-8), Portland Holiday Market (Nov 6-8), Kumoricon (Nov 13-15), BrewLights (Nov 13-14), ZooLights opens (Nov 20), Turkey Trot at the Zoo (Nov 26), Grotto Festival of Lights opens (Nov 27), Pioneer Courthouse Square tree-lighting ceremony (Nov 27, 5:30 to 6:45pm), Winter Wonderland opens at the raceway (Nov 27) | All listed events confirmed | Downtown or the Pearl for the Book Festival; Northwest for Washington Park |
| December 2026 | Christmas Ships parade nights (Dec 3-20), The Nutcracker (Dec 5-24), Portland Bazaar (Dec 5-6, 12-13, 19-20), Crafty Wonderland (Dec 11-13), Portland Night Market (Dec 3-6 and 18-19), Saturday Market's last day (Dec 19), Winter Wonderland at the raceway (nightly through Dec 31) | Confirmed; Peacock Lane 2026 dates not yet posted | Southeast for the neighborhood lights; downtown for Keller Auditorium and the Square |
| January 2027 | ZooLights final nights (through Jan 3, with 21-and-over nights Jan 1-2); Trail Blazers home games at Moda Center | ZooLights confirmed | Near the Convention Center for Moda Center |
| February 2027 | Portland Winter Light Festival (Feb 5-13, free and citywide) | 2027 dates confirmed by the festival | Downtown or Central Eastside, near the anchor sites |
| March 2027 | Biamp Portland Jazz Festival (Mar 4-13); PSU Farmers Market Saturdays 9am-2pm through March | Jazz Festival dates and PSU winter hours confirmed; Portland Saturday Market has not posted its 2027 season dates | Downtown, walking distance to the waterfront |
| April 2027 | First Thursday Street Gallery returns to NW 13th Avenue (April through October) | Recurring, first Thursday of each month | Pearl District |
| May 2027 | Portland Rose Festival begins (late May into June, running since 1907) | 2027 dates not yet announced | Downtown |
| June 2027 | Rose Festival parades and CityFair; Last Thursday on Alberta street closures begin (June to August) | 2027 dates not yet announced | Downtown; Alberta for Last Thursday |
| July 2027 | Waterfront Blues Festival (Jul 2-4, 2027), Portland Pride, Cathedral Park Jazz Festival | Blues Festival confirmed; Pride and Cathedral Park Jazz 2027 dates not yet posted | Downtown for the waterfront; St. Johns for the jazz festival |
| August 2027 | Peak summer, covered in our summer events guide | 2027 dates not yet announced | Anywhere central |
| September 2027 | Rose City Comic Con (Sep 10-12, 2027), TBA Festival | Comic Con confirmed; TBA 2027 dates not yet posted | Near the Convention Center |
October 2026 Events in Portland
October is the month Portland's calendar turns from outdoor festivals to indoor ones without slowing down. The first weekend is the crowded one: three days of the Greek Festival in Northeast, the marathon through downtown on Sunday, and the Night Market in the Central Eastside on Friday and Saturday. From there it is a convention weekend, a zoo weekend, and the start of the NBA season. Weather-wise, early October is usually still dry enough for the outdoor events; by the last week, plan for rain.
| Weekend | What's on | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2-4 | Portland Greek Festival (Fri-Sun); Portland Night Market (Fri-Sat, 4-11pm); Portland Thorns home match (Sat, Oct 3); Portland Marathon (Sun, Oct 4) | Holy Trinity Cathedral, NE 32nd and Glisan; 100 SE Alder; Providence Park; downtown |
| Oct 9-11 | Portland Retro Gaming Expo (Fri-Sun); Hood River Valley Harvest Fest (day trip, Fri-Sun) | Oregon Convention Center; Hood River waterfront |
| Oct 17-18 | Howloween opens (Oct 17-18 and 24-25); Portland Zine Symposium (Sat-Sun, free); West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta (Sun, Oct 18); Portland Timbers home match (Sat, Oct 17) | Oregon Zoo; PSU Smith Ballroom; Tualatin Commons; Providence Park |
| Oct 21-25 | Trail Blazers home opener (Wed, Oct 21); Portland Fermentation Festival (Thu, Oct 22); Howloween's final weekend; Timbers home match (Sat, Oct 24) | Moda Center; Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Ave; Oregon Zoo; Providence Park |
| Oct 30-Nov 1 | Halloween weekend; Sauvie Island pumpkin patches and the corn maze run daily through October; Portland Book Festival week begins Monday, November 2 | Sauvie Island; downtown |
Portland Greek Festival
NortheastFri-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-7pmOctober 2, 3 and 4, 2026 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3131 NE Glisan St. Three days of food, pastry, music and dancing on the same weekend as the marathon.
Sunday, October 4, 2026. Check the organizer's course and road-closure map before booking; a downtown base means a walk to the start rather than a drive around closures. Compare Portland stays for the full race weekend.
October 9-11, 2026 at the Oregon Convention Center. A locally run celebration of console, computer and arcade gaming with a large free-play arcade. Find stays near the Oregon Convention Center.
Howloween at the Oregon Zoo
$5 Treat and Ride Pass plus general zoo admission9:30am-4:30pmOctober 17, 18, 24 and 25, 2026, 9:30am to 4:30pm. General zoo admission is required, and to participate in trick-or-treating and receive the included ride you must purchase the $5 Treat and Ride Pass in advance; it covers three trick-or-treat zones and a carousel or train ride. All tickets must be purchased in advance online. The Squishing of the Squash is October 17 at 1pm.
Portland Zine Symposium
Free11am-5pmOctober 17-18, 2026, 11am to 5pm at PSU's Smith Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway. A free, all-ages fair of self-published books, comics and art.
Portland Fermentation Festival
Pearl District$15-$20Thu 6-9pmThursday, October 22, 2026, 6 to 9pm at Ecotrust's Irving Street Studio, 721 NW 9th Ave in the Pearl. Kimchi, kraut, kombucha and stranger things from local makers. Admission is $15 to $20; children 12 and under are free.
October 9-11, 2026 at the Hood River Event Site, about an hour east of Portland in the Gorge. Apples, pears, pies and crafts on the waterfront. Friday 1-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm; $10 general admission, children under 12 free. See our day trips guide for the drive.
If you came here for the Portland Nursery Apple Tasting Festival: the nursery's own page says it will not be hosting the festival this year. It is selling Hood River apples and pears at the SE Stark Street store instead. For a harvest weekend, the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest (October 9-11) is the closest substitute, and the Hood River Fruit Loop is at peak apple season all month.
Insider Tip
Pick your base by the event. For the Retro Gaming Expo, Kumoricon or Crafty Wonderland, start with stays near the Convention Center. For the Greek Festival, compare Northeast Portland homes and check the walk to NE 32nd and Glisan. For a longer visit spanning several events, compare short-term rentals. Availability and prices depend on your dates.
November 2026 Events in Portland
November opens with the Timbers hosting Houston at 6:30pm on Sunday the 1st, followed by a week of books and two Convention Center weekends. BrewLights is a separate 21-and-over zoo event on the 13th and 14th; ZooLights opens on the 20th. The Thanksgiving-morning Turkey Trot is on the 26th, and the Grotto's Festival of Lights and the first Christmas Ships outing are on the 27th. Pioneer Courthouse Square holds its tree-lighting ceremony that same Friday, 5:30 to 6:45pm, a community sing-along with Santa flipping the switch; the Square's event page lists no ticket price. Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway opens that night too and runs nightly through December 31.
Portland Book Festival
DowntownNovember 2-8, 2026, with the main festival day on Saturday, November 7 in the South Park Blocks and the theaters and venues around them. Literary Arts expanded the event to a full week after the 2025 Saturday sold out; check the organizer for the 2026 pass schedule.
November 6-8, 2026 at the Portland Expo Center in North Portland. An early holiday shopping weekend under one roof at the Expo Center.
November 13-15, 2026 at the Oregon Convention Center. Three days of anime, panels and cosplay. Find stays near the Convention Center and compare the event dates directly.
ZooLights
$13-$35From 4:30pm nightlyZooLights runs November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, opening nightly at 4:30pm and closed November 24-26 and December 25. Adult tickets range from $13 to $35 and youth tickets from $13 to $30 depending on the night; January 1 and 2 are 21-and-over nights. A ZooLights ticket is valid as TriMet fare on the admission date.
BrewLights
$65 general; $75 early entryGeneral 5:30-9:30pm; early entry 4:30pmNovember 13 and 14, 2026 at the Oregon Zoo, for ages 21 and over. General entry is $65 at 5:30pm; $75 early-entry tickets admit at 4:30pm. Both ticket types include the light displays, a souvenir mug and beverage pours, and the ticket is valid as TriMet fare on the event date.
Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26, 2026. The Oregon Road Runners Club's 5K starts on SW Knights Blvd at 7:30am in waves and finishes inside the zoo. Register ahead.
Opens November 27, 2026 at The Grotto in Northeast Portland. Lights through the gardens and a season of choral concerts; the full 2026 schedule and closing date had not been posted when we checked.
Insider Tip
For Thanksgiving week, the confirmed sequence is the Turkey Trot on Thursday and the Grotto's opening plus the Christmas Ships' first outing on Friday. Pioneer Courthouse Square's tree-lighting ceremony is that Friday evening as well, 5:30 to 6:45pm.
December 2026 Events in Portland
Photo: Steve Morgan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
December is lights season. The confirmed dates below cover the river parade, the ballet, the maker markets, Holiday Brew Fest at Pioneer Courthouse Square on December 11 and 12, and the Holiday Express on weekends from November 27 to December 27, plus December 21 to 23. Winter Wonderland at the raceway runs nightly from November 27 to December 31, with tickets not yet on sale when we checked on September 23. Peacock Lane had not published 2026 dates when we checked; we will update this section as it posts, and our fall and winter guide goes deeper on the holiday season itself.
Parade nights run December 3-20, 2026 after a first outing at Vancouver's tree lighting on November 27. The Columbia and Willamette fleets sail on published routes on different nights, and the season ends with a combined fleet finale at Cathedral Park under the St. Johns Bridge on Sunday, December 20, 5 to 7pm. Free to watch from any riverbank on the route; check which stretch is lit on which night.
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker runs December 5-24, 2026 at Keller Auditorium downtown. A sensory-friendly Storybook Nutcracker plays December 23.
Portland Bazaar
NorthwestFreeThree weekends, December 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20, 2026, at 1715 NW 17th Ave in the Northwest industrial district, with a preview hour from 10am on Saturday, December 5. Free entry, all ages.
Crafty Wonderland Holiday Market
Fri 5-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pmDecember 11-13, 2026 in Hall D of the Oregon Convention Center: a First Pick Party on Friday 5 to 9pm, then general admission Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm. Over 250 booths of handmade goods.
Portland Night Market (holiday editions)
SoutheastFree4-11pmDecember 3-6 and December 18-19, 2026, 4 to 11pm at 100 SE Alder St in the Central Eastside. Food, drinks, music and local makers in a warehouse and its lot. Free, all ages.
The market's last day of the 2026 season is Saturday, December 19. Its usual Festival of the Last Minute, the extra daily run in the week before Christmas, is not happening this year.
Peacock Lane
SoutheastA resident-run display on four blocks between SE Cesar Chavez and SE 41st. The 2026 dates, hours, admission and pedestrian-only nights were not posted when checked. In 2025 it was free and ran December 15-31, 6 to 11pm, with pedestrian-only nights December 19-20; do not assume that schedule repeats.
A drive-through light show at Portland International Raceway, open nightly November 27 to December 31, 2026. Drive-through nights skip November 29 to December 1, when the track hosts Bike the Lights (November 29) and the Lights & Leashes dog walks (November 30 and December 1), 4:15 to 9:30pm. Tickets were not yet on sale when checked.
Holiday trains from the rail heritage center in the Central Eastside. The 2026 season runs November 27 to December 27, weekends plus December 21 to 23, with tickets on sale.
Winter Events: January and February 2027
January is a quieter month. ZooLights runs through January 3, with 21-and-over nights on January 1 and 2 and a final all-ages night on January 3; the Trail Blazers are at home at Moda Center. February belongs to the free Portland Winter Light Festival. The organizer has confirmed the 2027 theme, In Other Words, dates of February 5-13, and anchor sites at the World Trade Center, Pioneer Courthouse Square and the Electric Blocks; the 2027 nightly program and hours are still to come. The Biamp Portland Jazz Festival follows March 4-13, 2027, as confirmed by PDX Jazz's dated homepage graphic.
Spring Events: March to May 2027
Spring is when the outdoor calendar restarts, but not every 2027 schedule is ready. Portland Saturday Market's posted schedule runs every Saturday only through December 19, 2026; it has not announced its 2027 opening or final day, so do not plan a March visit around an assumed reopening. The Portland Farmers Market at PSU is year-round and has published winter hours of 9am to 2pm every Saturday from November 7, 2026 through March 2027, with a closure on December 26, 2026. PDX Jazz has confirmed the Biamp Portland Jazz Festival for March 4-13, 2027. The Portland Rose Festival foundation had published only 2026 dates when we checked, so its 2027 calendar remains unconfirmed.
Summer and Early Fall Events: June to September 2027
Summer is peak season and our summer events guide covers it week by week. The dates already set for 2027: the Waterfront Blues Festival returns to Tom McCall Waterfront Park July 2-4, 2027, and Rose City Comic Con returns to the Oregon Convention Center September 10-12, 2027. The Blues Festival has not yet published a 2027 stage count or fireworks program. Not yet announced for 2027: Portland Pride (the 2026 festival was July 18-19 with the parade on Sunday), the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival (2026 ran July 17-19, free, under the St. Johns Bridge) and PICA's TBA Festival (TBA:26 was September 9-13). Last Thursday on Alberta closes Alberta Street to traffic in June, July and August.
Waterfront Blues Festival
DowntownJuly 2-4, 2027 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The organizer has announced the dates; the 2027 stage count and any fireworks programming have not been published.
September 10-12, 2027 at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Comics, gaming, anime and cosplay across three days; one of the largest conventions Portland hosts. Find stays near the Oregon Convention Center.
Photo: Bill Reynolds, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Free, three days each July beneath the St. Johns Bridge in North Portland; the 2026 festival ran July 17-19. The Jazz Society of Oregon posts each year's dates on its site.
Every Month, All Year
Some of the best things on Portland's calendar are not annual at all. They happen every month or every weekend, and they are the reason a quiet week here is never actually quiet.
First Thursday in the Pearl District
Pearl DistrictFreeThe first Thursday of every month, galleries around the Pearl open late with free admission. From April through October the Urban Art Network adds the outdoor Street Gallery on NW 13th Avenue in the Pearl (GPS address 701 NW 13th Ave, info booth at NW 13th and Irving), 5 to 9pm.
Last Thursday on Alberta
AlbertaFreeThe last Thursday of every month on NE Alberta Street. Galleries host openings year-round; in June, July and August the street closes to traffic for vendors, performers and music. Always free and all ages.
Portland Saturday Market
DowntownFree to browseEvery Saturday, March through December 19 in 2026, at 2 SW Naito Parkway on the waterfront. Running since 1974 and recognized as an Oregon Heritage Tradition; everything sold is handmade by the vendors.
Portland Night Market
SoutheastFreeSelect Friday and Saturday nights, 4 to 11pm, at 100 SE Alder St. Next dates: October 2-3, then December 3-6 and December 18-19.
Portland Timbers (MLS)
Providence Park, February through November. Remaining 2026 home matches are October 17 against Colorado, October 24 against Charlotte, and Sunday, November 1 against Houston at 6:30pm. Decision Day is away at Austin on November 7.
Portland Thorns (NWSL)
Providence Park through the fall. The Thorns' final 2026 home match is Friday, October 23 against North Carolina before Decision Day away on November 1. Providence Park on a Thorns night is one of the loudest rooms in women's soccer.
Live music runs deep all year, with touring and local acts most nights. The concert guide tracks the big tours; these three rooms are worth checking whatever week you visit.
Crystal Ballroom
Downtown
1332 W Burnside, downtown. Vaulted ceilings, chandeliers and the famous floating dance floor.
Revolution Hall
Southeast
1300 SE Stark St. A 1906 school building turned concert hall in 2015, with a roof deck bar.
Mississippi Studios
North
3939 N Mississippi Ave. A musician-run room with a bar next door; small enough that every show feels close.
Where to Stay for Portland Events
Most of the calendar above happens in six spots, and the right neighborhood depends on which one. Downtown and the South Park Blocks host the Book Festival, the marathon start, the Square and Keller Auditorium; stay downtown or in the Pearl and walk. The Lloyd District's Convention Center and Moda Center take the conventions and the Blazers; the stays near the Convention Center page filters for that. The Greek Festival and Alberta are Northeast. The Night Market, Peacock Lane and Oaks Park are Southeast. Washington Park, with the zoo, Pittock Mansion and the Turkey Trot, is easiest from Northwest. And the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival is a North Portland weekend under the St. Johns Bridge.
| Event | Venue | Stay nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Portland Greek Festival (Oct 2-4) | Holy Trinity Cathedral, NE 32nd and Glisan | Northeast Portland |
| Portland Marathon (Oct 4) | Downtown start and finish | Downtown or Pearl District |
| Retro Gaming Expo, Kumoricon, Crafty Wonderland, Rose City Comic Con | Oregon Convention Center | Near the Convention Center |
| Trail Blazers home games (from Oct 21) | Moda Center | Near the Convention Center |
| Portland Book Festival (Nov 2-8) | South Park Blocks and downtown venues | Downtown or Pearl District |
| ZooLights, Howloween, Turkey Trot | Oregon Zoo, Washington Park | Northwest Portland |
| The Nutcracker (Dec 5-24) | Keller Auditorium | Downtown |
| Portland Night Market, Holiday Express | Central Eastside | Southeast Portland |
| Peacock Lane (2026 dates unannounced) | SE Peacock Lane, off Stark and Belmont | Southeast Portland |
| Portland Bazaar (December weekends) | 1715 NW 17th Ave | Northwest Portland or Pearl District |
| Waterfront Blues Festival (Jul 2-4, 2027) | Tom McCall Waterfront Park | Downtown |
| Cathedral Park Jazz Festival (July) | Cathedral Park, St. Johns | North Portland |
Where to stay nearby
Stay on the Convention Center side of the river
Northeast Portland homes put the Oregon Convention Center, Moda Center and the Greek Festival within a short ride, with downtown a few MAX stops away.
Insider Tip
Travelling as a group for a convention or festival weekend? A large-group vacation rental gives you a shared living space to regroup between events, and one address for everyone instead of a scatter of hotel rooms.
Insider Tip
Building a trip around an event? Start with a ready-made itinerary and shift the dates: our Portland weekend itinerary (the city's greatest hits in two nights) or the Portland food itinerary (coffee, food carts, James Beard kitchens). Each has a map, real places, and matching rentals.
