Portland and Area Activities Planner - Sept 5-12, 2025

ROSE CITY COMIC CON
Sept. 5–7
Portland’s premier pop culture event, Rose City Comic Con, is produced locally and has a weird and wonderful vibe unique to the Pacific Northwest. Now in its thirteenth year, the ultimate goal remains the same — to deliver the most rewarding, memorable, laughter-inducing weekend ever.

While comic books and their mega-talented creators remain the cornerstone of RCCC, fans of all ages can also access top-tier celebrity guests, video and tabletop gaming, cosplay, anime, science fiction, fantasy, and everything in between.

GEEK WEEK PDX
Sept. 5–14
The spell has been cast, and the transformation has begun. Geek Week PDX is returning to Portland, offering a citywide celebration of geek culture. Dubbed “the world’s first citywide comic con,” this festival transforms over 100 local businesses into hubs of pop culture, featuring events that span fantasy, sci-fi, superheroes, and the supernatural. Join events held at over 120 small businesses across the city, Geek Week highlights the deep and vibrant Geek culture in Portland.  

The 10-day festival includes a diverse array of events:​

• Ales and Scales: A 10-day Dungeons and Dragons campaign hosted by TPK Brewing.
• Wine and Wizards: Fantasy-themed wine tastings.
• Warhammer Discovery Days: Introductory sessions for Warhammer enthusiasts.
• 7 Wordy Wonders: 7 days of Literary events held at the Rose City Book Pub

PORTLAND DRAGON BOAT RACES
Sept. 6–7
Come join a day filled with thrilling dragon boat races, delicious food/beer vendors, and lively entertainment. This free festival is a fantastic opportunity to experience the vibrant culture and teamwork of dragon boat racing. There will be teams traveling from all over the surrounding area to race. Whether you’re a participant or a spectator, there’s fun for everyone at this event. Don’t miss out on the excitement — mark your calendars now.

CRABBING EXPLORIENCE
Sept. 6
Enjoy the bounty of Siletz Bay with Explore Lincoln City's Crabbing Explorience. Hit the sand and catch your own dinner. Before heading out to the shoreline to toss a line, meet a local expert for an overview of Oregon's crabbing regulations, harvesting methods, identification, cleaning, and cooking techniques. Each crabber can use up to three devices; we recommend a folding crab trap for Siletz Bay crabbing, which can be done right from the shore. The adventure will last approximately one to two hours, is free, and requires no registration.

DAHLIA FESTIVAL
Aug. 1–Sept. 30
You are invited to celebrate the season of Dahlias. Stroll through almost 50 acres of breathtaking fields and a beautiful display garden of stunning dahlias featuring over 375 varieties. Treat yourself to a rainbow of colors by taking photos, shopping in our gift shop, and purchasing fresh-cut dahlias to take home. Select and order your favorite dahlias for spring delivery to enjoy the beauty in your garden the following year. Fill your belly with yummy treats from the food carts, relax and enjoy the live music on the weekend, or take one of the classes throughout the festival dates.

BETHANY VILLAGE OKTOBERFEST
Sep. 6
Dust off your Lederhosen and Dirndls and experience the annual Bethany Village Oktoberfest.

Come visit and enjoy an afternoon full of live music, German inspired food offerings, a large Oktoberfest beer tent, kids activities, numerous local small business vendors, and more.

CHAPMAN SWIFT WATCH
Sept. 1–30
Great blue herons, bald eagles and peregrine falcons are just a few of the Rose City avian residents routinely spotted by visitors. But to really “put a bird” on a Portland memory, mark the calendar for September’s Chapman Swift Watch — the time of year when thousands of Vaux’s swifts drift through the city on their annual migration from Canada to Central and South America. The tiny birds spend their days hunting for insects and their evenings roosting, bat-like, in trees and chimneys..

The most popular perch is the towering smokestack of Chapman Elementary School in Northwest Portland, which attracts as many as 16,000 swifts looking for a place to hunker down for the evening. It’s plenty popular with spectators, too: Each night at sunset, hundreds of onlookers flock to a nearby grassy bank and watch in awe as a shadowy cloud of birds swirls acrobatically for up to an hour before darting inside the craggy chimney for the night. (Onlookers also watch for hawks, raptors and other birds of prey, which sometimes add a dose of drama to the nightly ritual.)

Chapman Elementary School students have embraced the annual event, even electing to make the swift their official mascot. Volunteers from the Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon) are also on hand most nights to help educate the curious public.

THE CORN MAIZE ON SAUVIE ISLAND
Aug. 30–Oct. 31
When summer winds down, Portland’s fall arrives with warm, sunny days and cool, clear nights. The ideal way to get lost in autumn’s splendor is at The Maize at the Pumpkin Patch. Located on Sauvie Island, a rural escape just 13 miles (21 km) north of downtown Portland, the Corn Maize offers visitors eight acres (3 hectares) of exciting twists and turns. But it’s not all about getting lost in nature; Two 16-foot (5 m) observation bridges provide picturesque panoramas with great views of the island and Mount Hood, as well as the maze itself.

Every year, the cornfield is carved with a different pattern, and the design is always sure to stump maze-goers while delighting fans of public art. Starting at the end of August, the maze is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and stays open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in October (and on select days leading up to Halloween).

TIME-BASED ART FESTIVAL
Sept. 4–14
Called “the best contemporary summer festival in the country” by The New York Times, Portland’s Time-Based Art Festival (TBA) returns every September with boundary-pushing performances, visual art and projects that defy categorization. Expect an eclectic array of artists, both local and from across the globe, including from far-flung locales like New Zealand, Ontario and the UK.

Modeled after international contemporary arts festivals in cities like Edinburgh and Adelaide, TBA is orchestrated by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA)  Installations and performances take over Portland’s theaters, galleries, warehouses and public spaces, while workshops and talks keep the arts going almost nonstop. Together, these works effectively obliterate the barriers between artists and their audiences.

NAYA'S ANNUAL NEERCHOKIKOO POWWOW
Sept. 6
NAYA’s Annual Neerchokikoo Powwow celebrates Native American history, culture, and cultural arts. Since 2010, the powwow has welcomed the community to gather to celebrate culture through dance, music, art and food. The powwow also honors partners, volunteers and donors whose contributions to NAYA’s work have enhanced the lives of the youth, families and elders over the past year.

Traditional drumming and dance for individuals of all ages are performed throughout the day, as well as exhibitions from tiny tots, youth and multi-generational groups. Participants dance, drum and sing in their own styles, as Portland is home to a large and diverse Native population representing members from 380 different tribes.

In addition to the dance exhibitions, Native artisans and vendors supported by NAYA’s microenterprise services offer beautiful prints, jewelry and other items for sale. Delicious fry bread and Indian tacos are also available.

OREGON HOP FESTIVAL 2025
Sept 6-11
Join us for the 2025 Oregon Hop Fest at TopWire Hop Project in the heart of the Willamette Valley! Set against the backdrop of lush hop fields at Crosby Hop Farm, this is a celebration of all things lupulin, bringing together hop enthusiasts, craft beer lovers, and families for a day of memorable experiences.

Following the success of the inaugural event, the Oregon Hop Festival is expanding to two full days of celebration. This year’s festivities will be even more meaningful as the event coincides with the 125th anniversary of Crosby Hop Farm, home to TopWire Hop Project and one of the Pacific Northwest’s most storied family hop farms.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Sept. 4-7
For the first time in 15 years, Bag&Baggage revisits Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, a haunting memory play that stands as a cornerstone of American theatre. This semi-autobiographical classic follows Tom Wingfield as he struggles between duty and desire, caught between his overbearing yet fiercely loving mother, Amanda, and his painfully innocent sister, Laura. A poignant exploration of the fragility of dreams and the weight of family ties, The Glass Menagerie lingers in the heart long after the curtain falls. This production features Company Artists Kymberli Colbourne, Taya Dixon, and Samuel Campbell in a fresh and intimate staging of Williams’ timeless masterpiece. Don’t miss this stunning revival of a play that reminds us how memory shapes our lives in ways both beautiful and heartbreaking.

• September 4 (Preview): 7:30 p.m.
• September 5: 7:30 p.m.
• September 6: 7:30 p.m.
• September 7: 2 p.m.

DRAGONSLAYER FANTASY DASH & STRUT
Sept. 6
Step into your favorite character’s shoes — whether you’re a superhero, anti-hero, villain, knight, princess, or even Sasquatch — and join the inaugural Dragonslayer Fantasy Dash and Strut.

This 5K adventure invites you to walk or run through the magical trails of Gabriel Park. Along the way, you’ll encounter thrilling Hero and Villain Zones for an extra dash of fun and excitement.

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.

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.