If lacing up your shoes is how you get your kicks, then Portland’s sixth annual Sneaker Week (Thurs., Aug. 4-Wed., Aug. 10) is the place to be. Undoubtedly, the footwear festival fits the city well, considering the industry giants that call it home .
For co-founders Herbert Beauclere and Megan Davis, it goes many steps beyond what you put on your feet — it’s about the why, the how, and each person’s story. This year’s theme is “neXposure,” a push to elevate future designers, entrepreneurs, and influencers by connecting them with working professionals. At its sole, it’s a celebration of the sneakerhead community and culture.
Single-day tickets are available for $30, or you can pick-and-choose what to attend. So whether you’re new to the game or actually running out of closet room, here’s a sneak peek at the upcoming events.
🎨 Art | Thurs., Aug. 4 | Various locations
Start things with a Hightop Happy Hour at Doug Fir Lounge before heading across the street to Jupiter NEXT for The Kick Off Party , where you can mix and mingle with creatives, learn tips and tricks of the trade, and express your own style.
✍️ Design | Fri., Aug. 5 | Various locations
Network at Sunshine Noodles , then witness the behind-the-scenes ideation and innovation at The Design Combine, an innovative gathering hosted by the Bodecker Foundation .
🎺 Music | Sat., Aug. 6 | Various locations
Spend the day at Albina’s Best Music Festival , a multi-disciplinary talent contest and exploration of sonic branding, beat-making, poetry, and choreography centered in Portland’s historically Black neighborhood .
🏀 Sport | Sun., Aug. 7 | Various locations
Athletics and the outdoors are on full display, as are the people + products pushing the boundaries of physical limitations by thinking outside the box; highlights include a barber battle and “Black x Asian AF,” a community conversation organized by Woke PDX .
🎥 Media | Mon., Aug. 8 | Alberta Abbey, 126 NE Alberta St.
Explore the words + visuals that shape the narrative of sneaker culture from journalists, videographers, and social media and marketing creators. Then grab some popcorn (or a craft cocktail) for the night’s premiere, “Kick Flicks ,” an exhibition for aspiring filmmakers who love to document shoes as they are meant to be — in motion.
💡 Tech | Tues., Aug. 10 | Pearl West, 1455 NW Irving St.
Join a panel discussion about how leaders are blazing a trail toward the future of footwear, including the state of NFTs, plus digital and virtual footwear design.
🔬 Science | Wed., Aug. 11 | OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave.
Take a look at the industry through the STEM lens, and wrap up the entertainment on an eco-conscious note at The Sustainability Soiree
.