Are you a kölsch kind of person or a dunkel? All are welcome at Edgefield’s Oktoberfest. | Photo courtesy of McMenamins
To the tune of “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire: You should remember these special dates in September. Next month will bring big fun to the City of Roses — don’t miss these highlights.
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.
Edgefield’s Oktoberfest Sunday, September 21 Prost — don your lederhosen + dirndls for a weekend of delicious beers, pretzels, live music, and a mechanical bull.
Which of these guests will not be attending Rose City Comic Con this year?
A. Edward James Olmos - “Battlestar Galactica”
B. John Rhys-Davies - “The Lord of the Rings”
C. Jack Nicholson - “The Shining”
D. Sean Astin - “The Goonies”
Sunset Dinner Cruise | Thursday, Aug. 28-Monday, Feb. 16 | Times vary | Portland Spirit | $119 | Dine, relax, and take in Portland’s skyline from the water on this two-and-a-half-hour cruise featuring live music and a three-course meal — read: an unforgettable way to spend a summer evening.*
Friday, Aug. 29
Montavilla Jazz Festival | Friday, Aug. 29-Sunday, Aug. 31 | Times vary | Multiple locations | $0+ | Hometown artists like Mae.Sun and Reb & The Good News will take the stage at this three-day, “village-style” fest.
Summer Free for All: “A Goofy Movie” | 7:30 p.m. | Holly Farm Park | Free | This free summer event series is coming to an end soon, so take this chance to kick back and enjoy the family-friendly film outdoors.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Kawaii K-Pop Con 2025 | 12-6 p.m. | The Hotel Zags | Free | K-Pop fans, now’s your moment — this event includes live performances, activities, merch for sale, and more.
Sunday, Aug. 31
Portland Flea | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | The Redd on Salmon | Free | Shop from a curated lineup of 100+ vendors selling clothing, craft goods, art, and more — and don’t miss the food, drinks, and treats at The Lunch Counter.
Late Summer Mini Fest! | 7 p.m. | The Showdown | $12+ | Listen to music and party like it’s the weekend — especially if you don’t have work on Monday.
Monday, Sept. 1
Chehalem Valley Brewery’s 14th Anniversary Party | 12-5 p.m. | Chehalem Valley Brewery, Newberg | Free | Join the brewery in celebrating 14 years with live music, vendors, family-friendly activities, a dunk tank, and a brew, of course.
The Oregon Science Festival returns for its third year
Presented by Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
With electrifying demonstrations, adults will have just as much fun as the kids. | Photo provided by the Oregon Museum of Science and Inudstry
We’re positive this news will cause a reaction.
Oregon Science Week returns Monday, Sept. 8, through Friday, Sept. 12, culminating in the third annual Oregon Science Festival at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14.
Explore five days of exciting STEAM-focused tours, talks, and events across Portland, celebrating the important role science plays in our culture, education, and economy. Then it’s full STEAM ahead for a weekend of hands-on fun at OMSI.
Here’s what’s in store:
Live science demos with OMSI educators and local partners
Workshops, talks, and family-friendly activities celebrating STEAM education
Indie games, reclaimed goods, and local vendors
Food trucks from local restaurants
Festival tickets are available for purchase at the museum on the day of, or ahead of time online to save a few bucks. Heads up: OMSI members get in free. Science Week events are ticketed separately.
After nearly 20 years, UnderU4Men will be closing its doors downtown and moving to a smaller location on Southwest 10th Avenue and Morrison Street. Founder Steven Lien will retire from operating the store, which was purchased by longtime employee Wesley Bateman. (KGW 8)
Festival
Add this to your TBR: Stacey Abrams, Rebecca Yarros, and dozens more authors were just announced as part of Portland Book Festival’s 2025 lineup. Tickets for the fest — which takes place on Saturday, Nov. 8 — start at $5 and are on sale now.
Coming Soon
Old Town’s 135-year-old Paris Theatre will soon have a new life as Can Can Productions. The Seattle-based cabaret and burlesque club will renovate the theatre to house as many as 140 people in time for a November opening. (Oregon Live)
Biz
Portland-based Bold Reuse, which distributes and washes reusable packaging to major venues, just signed a reusable cup program with Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. The program is now the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, and will kick off this Saturday, Aug. 30.
Number
28. That’s how many haunted houses are in Oregon, according to The Scare Factor, though that number may climb if more haunts make their presence known. You can explore the directory to find one near you, but only if you’re brave enough.
Sports
Peaceful Sundays were fun while they lasted, but now it’s time for the NFL to return this Thursday, Sept. 4. Catch up on the Seattle Seahawks with the local experts of Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Quoted
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” That’s how Taylor Swift announced her engagement to Travis Kelce via Instagram. While we raise a glass to the happy couple, consider this Portland’s bid to host what will undoubtedly be the wedding of the century.
Show
Last call, Portland: Save 28% on adult tickets for Northwest Children’s Theater’s 2025-26 season with code YOUTHPRICE25 before this Sunday, Aug. 31. The lineup features favorites like “Pete the Cat” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Snag the deal before it’s gone — you’ll thank us later.*
Seasonal
Sunflower season is in full swing at Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island, where four vibrant fields are set to bloom now through September. Entry is $5 (free for kids under 2), or opt for a $10 season pass and $1 U-cut stems to take home a little sunshine. Plan your visit.*
Job
Are you the one we’re looking for? We’re on the hunt for a sales-driven leader to help us land significant brand partnerships at a national scale as a Sales Executive. From a competitive benefits package to 401k matching, we’re a pretty amazing company to work for. Join our team and apply today.
Finance
The institutional firms that backed Uber and Venmo also invested in Pacaso, whose co-ownership tech revolutionizes the $1.3 trillion vacation home market. Pacaso has earned $110 million+ in gross profit to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. Invest for $2.90/share before the opportunity ends Sept. 18.†‡*
Home
Have a project you’ve been itching to work on? Think: bathroom renovation, upgrading your HVAC system, or maybe a backyard makeover. Wondering how to pay for it? Hint: A HELOC isn’t the only way to access your home’s equity. Enter: Unison.*
Ready to launch ads in your pajamas? Our Self-Service Ad Portal gives you instant access to thousands of engaged readers — click, create, conquer. Got a real estate listing or a local event? Get it seen, stress-free.
Category
Real Estate
What is an Equity Sharing Home Loan?
Presented by Unison
With each mortgage payment, your equity grows — here’s what that can mean for homeowners. | Photo via Pexels
The Word: Equity. It’s the difference between your home’s current market value and what you still owe on your mortgage. Want to make it grow? From making home improvements to simply paying your mortgage each month, you’re building value over time.
You likely already know that you can tap into this equity to help cover expenses, like debt consolidation, education costs, medical bills, or even retirement. Here are a few options:
HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit): Borrow against equity as needed, with flexible access over time and a variable interest rate.
Home Equity Loans: Receive a one-time sum with a fixed interest rate, usually repaid over five to 30 years.
Equity Sharing Home Loans: Offers borrowers a fixed-rate, interest-only loan, with lower monthly payments than a traditional loan. In exchange, you agree to share a portion of your home’s future value appreciation.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Next time you grab a nice, hot pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, send a quiet “thank you” to Jeff Leber.
The famous fall drink from the coffee chain sources its pumpkins from none other than Leber’s Walla Walla Valley farm, just three and a half hours’ drive from Portland.
P.S. — the PSL officially returned earlier this week, but I’m personally eyeing the cardamom sea salt latte from Haven Coffee Co.
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
