Wooo-weee. Between the Portland Rose Festival, Pickaton and other festivals, 2025 is already shaping up to be quite the year for Portland.
It’s time to start marking your calendars —here are the events catching our eye this year.
Portland Saturday Market Opening Day
Saturday, March 1
Considered to be the largest continually operating arts and crafts fair in the US, this spectacular bazaar is returning to Tom McCall Waterfront for its 51st year with 150+ vendors. Check it out every Saturday, rain or shine.
Mardi Gras Celebration
Tuesday, March 4
Get ready to catch some beads at this giant, free, and family-friendly parade. Festivities kick off at 7 p.m. with several businesses along the parade route offering special deals on drinks, desserts, and more.
Portland’s Irish Festival
Friday, March 14-Monday, March 17
Cheer for local boxers as they take on Irish fighters, join the Shamrock Run, watch Irish dancing and bagpiping, and imbibe a pint or two at Oregon’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Paddy’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Monday, March 17
From the festival that made the world’s largest Irish coffee in 2023 comes a giant tent full of bagpiping, Irish whiskey, Guinness, Irish dancing, and green-hued fun at Paddy’s Bar and Grill.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
Late March to mid-May
More than 1 million tulips representing 100+ varieties create a 40-acre, multi-color dreamland to explore.
Portland Rose Festival
Friday, May 23-Sunday, June 8
The long-running city tradition bursts into bloom every May; highlights include CityFair, Fleet Week, parades of flower-laden floats, a “queen’s court” of local high school students, and the Milk Carton Boat Race.
Festival of Balloons
Friday, June 20-Saturday, June 22
Every year, Tigard’s Cook Family Park hosts the Festival of Balloons, and even when gusty conditions ground hopes to see the colorful craft in full flight, attendees are still treated to a candlestick glow (igniting the burner without the envelope attached) and some tethered rides. There is also a carnival with live music, absolutely enormous corn dogs, and plenty of vendors.
Waterfront Blues Festival
Friday, July 4-Saturday, July 5
Happiness is sitting by the river taking in shows from a comfy lawnchair. Headliners have yet to be released for this year’s fest, so stay tuned for updates.
Summer Free For All
Thursday, July 10-Saturday, Aug. 30
More than three dozen free events will take place across Portland, ranging from screenings of kids’ classics like “The Sandlot” to arts festivals. Take a look at the full calendar.
Portland Pride Festival & Parade
Saturday, July 19 + Sunday, July 20
Expect a weekend chock-full with exhibitions, vendors, entertainment on multiple stages, and lots and lots of community.
Pickathon Music Festival
Friday, Aug. 1-Monday, Aug. 4
Expect to be introduced to a wide variety of new artists at this “experiential music festival.”
Vanport Jazz Festival
Friday, Aug. 1-Saturday, Aug. 2
This festival is named in honor of Black Oregonians who moved to Portland after being displaced by a flood in 1948. “Discover the legacy” of those early Portland jazz artists with a lineup including Jon B. and Norman Brown.
Hood & Portland To Coast Relay
Friday, Aug. 22-Saturday, Aug. 23
The largest running/walking relay race in the world traverses 196 miles of Oregon, starting at Mount Hood and ending on the coast. The route passes through the heart of Portland, so feel free to do some cheering.
Time-Based Art Festival
Thursday, Sept. 4-Sunday, Sept. 14
This nearly two-week long multidisciplinary arts festival by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art includes art in many forms, ranging from experimental operas to performance lectures.
Rose City Comic Con
Friday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 7
“Stranger Things” star David Harbour is one of just many familiar faces you might see at the biggest pop culture convention in PDX.
Are you a kölsch kind of person or a dunkel? All are welcome at Edgefield’s Oktoberfest.
Photo courtesy of McMenamins
Edgefield’s Oktoberfest
Sunday, September 21
Prost — don your lederhosen + dirndls for a weekend of delicious beers, pretzels, live music, and a mechanical bull.
Portland Cocktail Week
Sunday, Oct. 12-Thursday, Oct. 16
Bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts from all over the world will descend upon Rose City for workshops, classes, tastings, tours, and plain ole boozy fun.
Portland Book Festival
Saturday, Nov. 8
Pay attention, bookworms. This festival comes with appearances from more than 100 authors of all genres. That’s plenty of opportunity to add to your TBR stack.
