Portland and Area Activities Planner - September 13, 2024

by Geri And Tim Penner

WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND?
Excerpts From
TravelPortland .com
TualitinValley.org
TravelOregon.com

	PDX GEEK WEEK September 6 - 15 The Geeks of Portland are uniting to bring you the worlds largest pop culture festival, featuring fantasy, sci-fi, super heroes and supernatural events. Each quadrant of the city will be transformed with cosplay events, film festivals, discounts, etc. Your Destiny Awaits!!
	PORTLAND FASHION WEEK Sept. 16–22 Portland Fashion Week, the Sundance of Fashion Weeks, is the 3rd oldest fashion week series in the United States, TIME Magazine’s “BEST Indie Fashion Week in the USA since 2012, and the only carbon-negative fashion week in the world as outlined by The Huffington Post. From top-of-the-line eco-chic fashion experiences to our support for the local fashion community and the community, it’s no wonder Portland Fashion Week is on the “Top 100 Things to Do Before You Die” Portland Bucket List. With something for everyone, the Scooped Ice Cream Festival is the perfect way to end the summer on a high note. Attendees can indulge in unlimited ice cream, enjoy a variety of food options, and experience live entertainment throughout the day.
	PORTLAND OKTOBERFEST Sept. 20–21 Bring your steins, dirndls, and lederhosen – Munich’s favorite fest arrives in downtown Portland this fall. It's Oktoberfest at Pioneer Courthouse Square. With its picturesque setting in the heart of the city, Portland Oktoberfest invites locals and visitors alike to experience an unforgettable fusion of German heritage and Oregonian flair. Indulge in authentic Bavarian delights with mouthwatering bratwursts and soft pretzels from Portland’s Urban German Wursthaus. Steins will overflow with a carefully curated selection of regional German-style beers and authentic imports straight from Munich.
	PORTLAND POLISH FESTIVAL Sept. 14–15 The Portland Polish Festival invites you, your family, and your friends to experience Poland's food, dance, and music at the oldest Polish festival in the western United States. Since 1993, the festival has celebrated Polish culture, traditions, and achievements. Enjoy authentic Polish food, live music, folk dance performances, exhibits about Polish culture, activities for children, polka contests, local vendors and a beer garden. Rose City Comic Con is produced by LeftField Media, a boutique event company made up of passionate fans and experienced convention organizers.
	STEAMPUNK SOIREE AND COSPLAY CONTEST Saturday, Sept. 14 5 p.m.–7 p.m. Sashay in style to the Steampunk Soiree at the Society Hotel. Where history meets hi-tech, enjoy vintage cocktails and an extraordinary view from the Rooftop Bar. Show off your steampunk cosplay and win awards and prizes, including an exceptionally rare Society Hotel Bomber Jacket. Exclusively during Geek Week PDX.
	SEASIDE WHEELS AND WAVES CAR SHOW September 12-15 The Seaside Oregon Car Shows include Wheels and Waves and Muscle and Chrome shows. These annual car shows celebrate classic cars and hot rods. The event takes place downtown in beautiful Seaside, Oregon, and attracts car enthusiasts from all over the country. The Seaside Oregon Car Shows are family-friendly and welcome to people of all ages. The car shows feature over 200 classic cars and hot rods, showcasing some of the most beautiful and well-maintained vehicles from around the world. The Seaside Oregon Car Show is organized by a team of volunteers who are passionate about cars and making a positive impact in their community.
	EL GRITO Sept. 15–16 Join in the most important holiday celebrated by the Hispanic community in Oregon. El Grito features the rich traditions of the Latinx community with delicious Mexican cuisine and family-friendly entertainment, folkloric and Aztec dancers, live mariachi, salsa, cumbia and pop music, and interactive and educational community booths. The event also features contests, prizes, raffles, and the traditional “El Grito de Independencia” ceremony. As the Mexican President presents the nation’s traditional El Grito in Mexico City, so will Portland commemorate Mexico’s independence at the Moda Center/Rose Quarter Commons.
	SEASIDE SANDFEST September 12-15 Join us for the third-annual Seaside SandFest, featuring 10 master-level sculptors, five advanced amateur sculptors, two instructors for Lesson Beach, vendors and a one-of-a-kind beach experience in Seaside. Both the Master Sculptors and Advanced Amateurs will hold a contest Sept. 13 through 15. Lesson Beach will be open daily at 10 AM, Noon, and 2 PM. Gated entry to SandFest is just off the Turnaround on the beach. $2 for the day or $5 for multiple days, and includes a token for People’s Choice award voting.
	MT ANGEL OKTOBERFEST Sept. 14–17 In the heart of Oregon's hop-growing region, Mount Angel's Oktoberfest brings 350,000 people to the Bavarian village every September. The Northwest's oldest and best-loved folk festival celebrates the fruits of the harvest with a nice focus on hops. German-style biers, Northwest craft brew favorites, lots of wine, and a bit of cider are served in four biergartens, each showcasing different favorites.
	THE FEAR PDX HAUNTED HOUSE Sept. 13–Nov. 1 PORTLAND'S LARGEST HALLOWEEN EVENT: All-new haunted houses, one location, one ticket. 2024 Attractions: Toxic Carnage The Mansion Blood House 2 Scarecrow Metal Massacre Rotten Pulp Poison Apple Festival Tormented Chopped Slasher Shed
	THE CORN MAIZE AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH Aug. 31–Oct. 31 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).
	SNACKFEST September 19-22 SnackFest is a food-focused festival featuring all your favorite treats from hot food vendors, food trucks, food purveyors, retail stores, and other F&B-related products. You'll experience live entertainment, demos, educational breakout sessions and opportunities to meet the makers of your favorite food and products. You'll also be able to experience special, one-off pop-ups from chefs from near and far.
	PORTLAND TIMBERS VS LA GALAXY Sept 18 @ 7:00 PM Head to Providence Park to watch the Portland Timbers take on their rivals. Cheer with the Timbers' Army at Providence Park and become part of a Portland tradition.
	THORNS FC vs CHICAGO RED STARS Sep 13 @ 7:00 pm Watch the Thorns play at Providence Park. Established in 2012, the team began to play in 2013 and placed third in its inaugural season and, in the playoffs, won the first NWSL championship. The club won the NWSL Shield in 2016 and a second NWSL Championship in 2017. 2020, they won the Community Shield with the best record in the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. In 2021, the Thorns won the NWSL Challenge Cup, the Women's International Champions Cup, and the NWSL Shield.[4] They followed up in 2022 by winning the NWSL championship.
	BELMONT STREET FAIR Saturday, Sept. 14 The Belmont Street Fair is one of the largest-attended street fairs in Portland. With food and retail vendors of all kinds, show-stopping performances and live music on 3 different stages, and the first-ever Kids Zone, there are activities for all ages, the Belmont Street Fair is fun for everyone.
	CHAPMAN SWIFT WATCH All September 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.
	DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS Sept. 13–29 Ever wondered what would happen if you took Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale and put it into a blender with Mel Brooks, Monty Python, and The 39 Steps? That’s just what happens in this lightning-fast, laugh-out-loud, 90-minute romp. When her sister Mina falls ill with a mysterious disease of the blood, Lucy Westfeldt and her fiancé, Jonathan Harker, enlist the help of famed female vampire hunter Doctor Jean Van Helsing. Their hunt for the dangerous and sexy Count Dracula abounds with clever wordplay and quick-change antics. Five actors play over a dozen roles in this bloodcurdling hilarious send-up of the literary classic.
	DAHLIA FESTIVAL Aug. 1–Sept. 29 Celebrate the season of DAHLIAS. A Rainbow of Color. Stroll through almost 40 acres and a beautiful display garden of stunning dahlias featuring over 370 varieties. The beautiful fields are open from August to September each year, closed on Monday and Tuesday. Pick out and order your favorite dahlias for Spring delivery and planting. Purchase a beautiful bunch of cut dahlias to take home with you or to make someone’s day. Visit the Gift Shop with hundreds of local treasures, open year-round. Fill your belly with yummy treats from Food Carts, relax and enjoy the Live Music, attend the Sunday farmers’ market, or take one of the Classes throughout the festival dates.
	OAKS PARK OKTOBERFEST Sept. 20–22 Head to Oaks Amusement Park for their annual Oktoberfest, where you can expect several beers on tap, delicious German food, live bands and performances by dance groups. "Willkommen" back to Oktoberfest, the first one since 2019. This fall family festival returns with three days of authentic German food and beer, polka music, dancing, kids' activities, cooking shows, thrill rides, and more. All ages of visitors are welcome.
	CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: KOOZA August 21, 2024 - October 6 Undeniably the most daring Cirque du Soleil touring production, KOOZA takes audiences on a thrilling, emotional ride with its nail-biting, mind-boggling acrobatics. Inspired by traditional circus arts from around the globe, the show’s performances display remarkable showmanship, exceptional execution and incredible agility — notably in the High Wire, Teeterboard and Wheel of Death acts.
	BIGFOOT ADVENTURE CRUISE July – September, Wednesdays - Mondays Explore the history and lore of Bigfoot while traveling 80 miles (129 km) roundtrip on a high-speed jetboat from Portland to Multnomah Falls. See the landmarks along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers that make the Northwest famous while listening to exclusive narration by Cliff Barackman (star of Animal Planet‘s “Finding Bigfoot”) and a live tour guide. You’ll enjoy curated information about the legend of Bigfoot and sightings in the Columbia River Gorge on this exhilarating, informative journey.
	ENCHANTED FOREST September Weekends The Enchanted Forest has been a destination for Oregon children since it opened in 1971. Generations of kids have slid down the creepy witch slide, delighted in the Crooked Man’s house, and ridden on the carousel. The Enchanted Forest is a theme park – there is a section with carnival rides and a haunted house – but what most people remember is the creative world contained in the paths and structures of the park.
	LENTS INTERNATIONAL FARMERS MARKET Sundays, June 2 – November 24 The Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) is the only one in Portland with an intentional international focus. LIFM provides fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate produce to the diverse community of Lents neighbors. Founded in 2006 by a community of volunteers and then run by Zenger Farm, it is an important sales outlet for immigrant and new farmers and small food-business owners. The market features culturally specific products, including Northwest-grown traditional Mexican produce and Asian greens.
	STERNWHEELER RIVER TOURS Year-Round This once primary mode of transportation has become more of a fun commodity for tourism, as river cruise ships provide visitors a chance to get out on the water and take in the sights of their new surroundings. Oregon joined in on the trend in the early 1980s. Since then, several non-steam-powered sternwheel riverboats have been built and operated on major waterways in the state, primarily on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in Marion County. Each is a fun ride for visitors and locals alike as they seemingly tug along and transport them to yesteryear.
	HIGH LIFE ADVENTURES Year Round Enjoy a tour of 8 zip lines in a beautiful setting. Join two tour guides on an exhilarating zip line experience around and over a seven-acre lake. A mile of zipping, sure to create lasting memories for the whole family. Take your team to the next level: High Life Adventures also offers customized Team Building Programs to challenge your group while bringing them together as a team.
	PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET Mar. 9–Dec. 15 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. 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.
	ST JOHN'S FARMERS MARKET May 4–Dec. 14 The St. Johns Farmers Market will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday May 4 through November 23, the weekend before Thanksgiving. There will also be a Holiday Market on Saturday, December 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The market is held at the corner of N. Charleston Ave. and N Central St, next to the St. Johns Bachelor Club. The 2024 season has a full vendor roster, including new and returning small businesses spanning local, sustainably-grown agriculture, artisan food, and handmade arts and crafts, Some exciting new products at the market this year include organically grown vegetables and quail eggs from Tiny Acre, a St. Johns-based small scale organic farm; breakfast burritos from Poblano Pepper Mexican Food; and plant-based, farmer-forward pastries and treats from Poppy Shop. To see which vendors are scheduled for each week, check out the interactive market map: https://maps.managemymarket.com/6336
	PORTLAND INDIGENOUS MARKETPLACE Ongoing Portland Indigenous Marketplace will host the Indigenous Marketplace. Over 30 vendors, food, art exhibits, and more will be present. A marketplace specifically for Indigenous/Black vendors, all the artists/entrepreneurs featured on Indigenous Marketplace have Indigenous/Black ancestry. Vendors sell their hand made and original designs.
	KENTON FARMER'S MARKET June 5–Sept. 25 The Kenton Farmers Market is located in the heart of the historic Kenton neighborhood in North Portland. Founded in 2012, the market’s live music and the festive street-fair atmosphere thrive in this growing business district. Proximity to a MAX station and easy access for bicyclists and those on foot make this market a lively and convenient mid-week destination for fresh, local food.