Portland and Area Activities Planner - July 11-18, 2025

HAREFEST
July 17–19
The annual Harefest music festival in Canby presents the Northwest’s best tribute bands performing on three stages over two days. The Harefest experience has been described by many attendees and performers as an “adult summer camp,” not only for the fun-loving, good-natured attendees but also because of its rustic location and tent camping around the festival site.

24 outstanding bands on three stages, delicious foods, onsite camping, and a giant party of rock n’ roll revelers. `

ROSE CUP RACES
July 12–13
Friends of PIR (FOPIR) is proud to present the Rose Cup Races. The summer racing season heats up, celebrating 64 years of tradition and high-speed racing at Portland International Raceway. (PIR). Auto enthusiasts and their friends and family will enjoy five different race groups, car corrals, vendor and sponsor booths, food booths and more. Each event admission includes free access to the paddock and grandstand event seating.

Presented by Friends of PIR, the Rose Cup Races was the first major event held at PIR in 1961.

ROSE CITY CIGAR AND SOUL FESTIVAL
July 10–13
This 4-day celebration is not just about cigars and music— it’s about Community, Culture, and Connection. Immerse yourself in an unforgettable weekend where you’ll engage with fellow cigar enthusiasts, celebrate the rich heritage of soul music, and experience the vibrant culture of the Rose City.

With scenic venues, live music, vendors, educational sessions, and networking opportunities, this festival is a true celebration of the community that brings us all together.

• Thu 7/10 – VIP and Gold Pkg Meet and Greet at The 1905
• Fri 7/11  – Soul ‘En Blanc All White Party at Courtyard Portland North
• Sat 7/12 Rose Smoke Soiree Mardi Gras Party at Jackie’s PDX
• Sun 7/13 – VIP Only Smoke and Sole Sneaker Brunch at Kaya PDX

ZOO NIGHTS
June 20–Aug. 22
Nothing says summer in Portland like a warm evening outdoors with good food and live entertainment. On several evenings throughout the summer, the Oregon Zoo hosts Zoo Nights filled with local music, food carts, activities for all ages and the chance to get to know some of the animals active during twilight hours.

Zoo Nights occur from mid-June through mid-August, with live music on the lawn at 6:30 p.m. and activities from 5:30 p.m. Guests will also find tasty food and snacks — plus the ever-popular elephant ears and a selection of local beer and wine for adults.

Zoo Nights is a special event and is not included with regular daytime admission. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.

HAGG LAKE TRIATHLON AND TRAIL FESTIVAL
July 12-13
Come race at the 44th Annual Hagg Lake Triathlon and Trail Festival, one of the oldest and most gorgeous Triathlon courses in the nation. Now offering a Paddle Triathlon and an Off-Road Triathlon, Half Marathon Trail Run and 5K Trail Run. The Triathlon and Duathlon is a World Qualifier event.

The modern sport of triathlon had its modest beginnings with an event held in Mission Bay in San Diego, CA on September 25, 1974. There were 46 athletes that day. Seven years later, Hagg Lake Triathlon became one of six stops on the Bud Light Triathlon Series Tour drawing about 500 athletes, with Dave Scott coming out on top. Today, as one of the nation’s oldest and longest running triathlon events, Hagg Lake enters its 44th year and it continues to draw upwards of 700+ athletes. Its popularity is rooted in the rich tradition and the exceptional venue, which is one of the most scenic in the country. The Hagg Lake course offers a true test of this terrific sport with its rolling hills on both the bike and run leg portions of the event. Make the Hagg Lake Triathlon and Trail Festival one of your summer stops and compete on the course that has seen many of the greats in the sport of triathlon.

ORIGINAL PRACTICE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
June 20–Aug 31
OPS Fest brings no-cost repertory Shakespeare to parks and venues all over the Portland Metro area. The company uses the original practice techniques of Elizabethan England: limited rehearsal, scrolls in hand, audience interaction, and an onstage prompter.

In Shakespeare’s Era, the audience knew the actors had not rehearsed and that the only context each had of the play was their own role on a scroll. The play was as fresh to the actors as it was to the audience.

In the Original Practice Shakespeare Company, you’ll NEVER see the same cast do the same play in the same way. Because Shakespeare should be a little dangerous.

PEDALPALOOZA BIKE FESTIVAL
Ongoing
Whether you’re a cycling fanatic, an occasional cruiser or just a lover of fun events, Pedalpalooza  — aka Bike Summer — has something for you. Held all over Portland, this bike- and fun-focused festival celebrates summer’s arrival with over 100 rides throughout town.

Inspired by the success of Bikesummer, a traveling event Portland hosted in 2002, Pedalpalooza (also known as Bike Summer) has entertained bike enthusiasts since 2003. While local bike-fun organization Shift runs the festival’s site and helps with planning, anyone can create and lead a ride.  

CHAMBER MUSIC NORTHWEST'S SUMMER FESTIVAL
June 23-July 27
Chamber Music Northwest (CMNW) manages an unusual combination: classical music played by musicians of the highest caliber in an informal, intimate setting. Since 1971, chamber musicians have flocked to Southeast Portland’s Reed College to play the great classic repertoire with their friends. Music fans share picnics and wine on the campus lawn before heading indoors to hear the sublime music.

Returning annually, the festival is one of Portland’s rites of summer. The festival returns from June 23 – July 28, and the theme for 2024 is The Beethoven Effect, which illuminates how Beethoven’s genius sparked ever-emerging ripple effects in the music world. This summer spotlights well-loved and new music inspired by Beethoven’s revolutionary foundations and explores where today’s chamber music has grown. View their festival concert guide for a full lineup of events.

MISSISSIPPI STREET FAIR
July 12
Bustling North Mississippi Avenue closes down for a day of food, vendors, music and fun at Portland’s largest street fair, Mississippi Street Fair.

This year, the fair will have the following: 

• Three Music Stages
• Kids Zone
• Hundreds Of Vendors
• Shopping and Dining

THE WINTER'S TALE
June 27–July 20
Oregon Adventure Theatre presents Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, featuring Commedia dell’arte masks and a live Foley artist. The show will be performed in various locations around Portland from June 27 to July 26. Bring a chair, blanket, and snacks to a park, backyard or garden near you and enjoy the outdoors while being taken away to this magical, wintery world. All shows are free and open to the public. (It will be in a different location every weekend, so please check the website to find out where.)

PGA HOPE HILLSBORO AT MERIWETHER NATIONAL GOLF COURSE
July 11
Join PGA HOPE alongside your fellow Veterans and Servicemembers. PGA HOPE has served thousands of Veterans and Servicemembers across the United States through one of our 300+ locations.

This introductory program is designed to welcome those of all ages, branches and eras of service, genders, and abilities to the golf course and share in camaraderie and fun together as a group. During this session you will learn the basics from grip to 9 holes of golf from PGA and LPGA Professionals.

HELVETIA LAVENDER FESTIVAL
July 11-13
The beloved Helvetia Lavender Festival returns the first two weekends in July, running Friday through Sunday. Nestled in the scenic hills of Helvetia—just off Sunset Highway at Exit 61—this popular mid-summer event welcomes over 5,000 visitors each year. Guests can stroll through fragrant lavender fields, browse local vendor booths, enjoy live music, savor delicious food, and discover a wide array of lavender-themed products. With fun activities for kids and plenty to explore, it’s a perfect outing for the whole family.

ANNUAL OREGON COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL
July 12-26
The 47th Oregon Coast Music Festival returns this July 12 – 26 with two weeks of stunning classical and jazz performances. Known as the “Tanglewood of the West Coast,” it's the longest-running music festival on the Oregon Coast, featuring over 80 musicians from across the country. Enjoy concerts at scenic venues like Shore Acres, Mingus Park, and the OIMB Boat House, plus free seminars at Southwest Oregon Community College. The festival wraps up with three powerful performances by the 80-member Festival Orchestra at Marshfield High Auditorium.

Get the calendar of events and your tickets here.

AMERICANA HARVEST FEST
July 8–Sept 7
Topaz Farm is excited to announce the 2025 Americana Harvest Fest series. The festival features a mix of nationally and internationally known folk, country, and bluegrass artists. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music on the farm, surrounded by farm animals, U-pick fields, and the market bar and grill. Come early to enjoy the farm, including the cow train, fresh grilled farm food, craft beer, cider, and more.

TIDE POOL EXPLORIENCE
July 13
Come experience an overview of area tide pools provided by local experts from the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition. These guides will take you on a tide pool tour, starting at 8:30 a.m. from the NW 15th Street beach access, teaching methods to identify and explore local marine life such as sea stars, anemones, urchins, and other colorful creatures. The Explorience will last approximately one hour, is completely free, and requires no registration.

OREGON POTTERS ASSOCIATION SUMMER FAIR
July 11–13
Over 40 local artist selling their handmade ceramic goods. Oregon Potters Association: Sharing knowledge, Making connections, Giving Encouragement and Inspiring Each Other

JURASSIC WORLD BY BRICKMAN
Mar. 15–Sep. 31
Get ready for an immersive adventure like no other as Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught re-imagines Jurassic World, the blockbuster franchise from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, through 6 million LEGO bricks.

It features large-scale LEGO brick dinosaurs, props, scenes, and activities, as well as the newest Jurassic World by Brickman® dinosaur, made from over 100 thousand LEGO bricks, the Baryonyx. Walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates and relive the magic of beloved stories and characters from the Jurassic World franchise, as you embark on a thrilling journey across the Isla Nublar.

Get hands-on with LEGO brick paleontology, mystery mosaics, island-building, hybrid dinosaur creations, and much more. There will be 2.5 million LEGO bricks for you to show off your own building skills.

LINCOLN CITY'S FINDERS KEEPERS GLASS FLOATS 2025
Year-Round
Finders Keepers is Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2025. Be on the lookout for the colorful twinkle of a hand-blown glass float when you’re exploring the beaches of Lincoln City. As the name says, Finders Keepers.

Discover “random acts of findness” in Lincoln City, with —Finders Keepers. Over 3,000 glass treasures are hidden along the town’s seven miles of sandy beach, made by local artisans. If you find a float, it’s all yours. Let your treasure hunt begin. Discover glass treasures every day of the year from Roads End on the north to Siletz Bay on the south.

WAITRESS
June 26–July 20
Grab a little slice of heaven with the Broadway hit musical, Waitress. With music and lyrics by Tony Award-nominee, Sara Bareilles, this pop musical tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. When a baking contest in a nearby county offers her a chance at escape, Jenna fights to reclaim a long-forgotten part of herself. Through the support of her fellow waitresses and an unexpected romance, Jenna begins to find the courage to take an abandoned dream off the shelf. Waitress celebrates the power of friendship, dreams, motherhood, the family we choose, and the beauty of a well-baked pie

PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET
Mar. 1–Dec. 20
Combining the vibes of an art show, a live street concert and an open-air bazaar, the Portland Saturday Market has been a beloved Rose City tradition since 1974, earning it the “Oregon Heritage Tradition” title in 2024. In fact, the market is considered the largest continually operating arts-and-crafts fair in the United States, drawing up to one million visitors during its annual season.

On any given weekend from the beginning of March to the day before Christmas, shoppers can wend their way through the rows of tents of this large outdoor market featuring local makers, artisans, and chefs. A full sensory experience, the sights, and sounds will have shoppers and on-lookers tapping their heels to bluegrass pickers and jazz trios with weekly sets of local musicians performing for market-goers and passersby in Tom McCall Waterfront Park

FARMERS MARKET AT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Year-Round
The Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University will be open every Saturday, year-round. April through October hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. November through March hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Market at PSU is located in Downtown Portland in the South Park Blocks between SW College & Montgomery Streets.

HOLLYWOOD FARMER'S MARKET
Year-Round
Year-round on Saturdays, the Hollywood Farmers Markets hosts 50+ vendors, bringing you the best of the region’s agricultural bounty.

In addition to amazingly fresh, local food,  you’ll find live music, children’s activities, and fun events throughout the season.

• April through September, every Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM,
• October and November, every Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM,, and
• December through March: 9 AM to 1PM on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month

ST. JOHN'S BAZAAR AND PARADE
May 10
The St. Johns Bizarre is a uniquely crafted celebration that kicks off Portland's summer street fair season. Held annually on the second Saturday in May, the Bizarre brings music, crafts, and food to the crowds who traditionally attended the St. Johns Parade. After the parade, a portion of the business district in St. Johns is closed to traffic and filled with over 135 juried craft vendors, several stages for music, great food, and tons of games and activities.
It’s a fantastic community event with something for everyone.
The event is free.