Things to Do in Portland by the Month
As I was brainstorming article topics for 2024, I realized that I probably think about seasonal activities in Portland more than almost anyone. I decided to tidy up my thoughts and, ta-da, we got this list. I hope it spares you from a dull afternoon sometime in the future. If you are visiting the city, have guests coming from out of town, or are just looking for something to do this weekend, here is my in-no-way-comprehensive list of things to do in Portland by the month. I included some easy day trips, nothing farther than 90 minutes from the city. If I left off something you love, email me. I’m always looking for new ideas. And so, here are Portland’s seasonal highlights.
January
My weather forecast: Rainy and kinda cold. Sunset will feel bizarrely close to sunrise. Possible day or two of snow that will shut down the city.
Things to do in Portland:
See live music at one of the hundreds of shows in January, Portland Music Month.
Find even more music at the Portland Folk Festival and the Portland Old-Time Music Gathering.
Visit the Portland Japanese Garden during the O-Shogatsu Festival, Japanese New Year.
Celebrate Martin Luther King Day at the MLK Breakfast at the Oregon Convention Center.
Attend the Rose City Classic Dog Show.
Things to do near Portland:
January is a perfect time to try out winter sports near Portland. Head to Timberline Lodge for skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing. Check out the Mt Hood Ski Bowl for snow tubing. You can also explore the Mt Hood National Forest on snowshoes. Trillium Lake and Tamanawas Falls are fun and rewarding beginner trails.
For a snow-free trail, try out one of my winter hiking suggestions.
Hike for free at Oregon State Parks. Fees are waived on New Year’s Day.
Winter is a great time to see bald eagles near Portland when they are hunting spawning salmon. I’ve seen them in the city before, but heading to places like the Columbia Gorge, Oxbow Regional Park, or Sauvie Island will increase your odds.
Visit the Oregon Coast and watch for grey whales during their winter migration, which usually lasts through mid-January.
February
My weather forecast: Indistinguishable from January.
Things to do in Portland:
See the magical illuminated displays at the Portland Winter Light Festival. It’s free to attend but be warned, this one gets crowded.
Enjoy live comedy at the annual NW Black Comedy Festival, featuring over 60 Black comics from around the world.
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with a visit to Lan Su Chinese Garden. The garden hosts special events like calligraphy demonstrations, lion dances, and musical performances. In 2024, the Lunar New Year will be in February.
For two weeks in February, the Portland Jazz Festival celebrates new and emerging artists at live music venues around the city.
See the Portland Mardi Gras Parade.
Visit the Portland Night Market.
When it seems like the rainy days will never end, browse the shelves at Powell’s Books, then cross the street to see a movie at the Living Room Theaters.
March
My weather forecast: Rain.
Things to do in Portland:
After a winter hiatus, the Portland Saturday Market reopens in March. Stop by on weekends through December to shop for local art, snacks, drinks, and gifts.
See the cherry blossoms blooming at Tom McCall Waterfront Park from around mid-March until the beginning of April.
Run or walk through downtown Portland in the annual Shamrock Run. The run has several distance options, so you can choose how intense you want your day to get.
Thumb your nose at the weather by doing the Worst Day of the Year Ride, a costumed bike ride with a big afterparty.
Try beer and cider made by female brewers at the SheBrew Beer Festival.
Admire Lego creations at the fan expo, Bricks Cascade.
By March, it can be hard to keep coming up with ideas for things to do in Portland on rainy days. Check out my suggestions for indoor activities and unusual museums.
Things to do near Portland:
Watch for grey whales at the coast during their spring migration, lasting from around late March until June. During the spring Whale Watch Week at the end of March, volunteers can help you spot them.
Hunt for glass floats in Lincoln City. Every year, artists donate blown glass pieces that get hidden for beachgoers to find. The largest number of floats appear on the beach during Spring Break.
Check out my suggestions for spring hikes near Portland.
April
My weather forecast: A rollercoaster. Sunny one minute, then hailing the next. Lots of brief rain showers. The best month for rainbows.
Things to do in Portland:
Attend the Trillium Festival at Tyron Creek State Park to celebrate the emergence of one of Portland’s earliest blooming wildflowers. White flowers appear as early as February and change to purple by the end of April. To skip the crowds, see trillium blooming along hiking trails near Portland.
See the magnolias blooming in the Hoyt Arboretum.
Visit the Portland Night Market.
Find $2 pizza slices at restaurants around the city during Portland Pizza Week.
Walk or run over four of Portland’s bridges in the Bridge to Brews race. After the 8K or 10K, taste beers and ciders.
See thousands of motorcycles, including rare and custom designs, at the One Moto Show.
Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering at a clean-up event.
Things to do near Portland:
Later in the month, hunt for camas blooming near Portland, usually peaking from mid-April through May. Camassia Natural Area and Lacamas Park are a couple of the best places to see them.
Admire fields of flowers at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. Plan ahead for this one. The festival gets crowded and you will probably need to buy a ticket ahead of time.
Head to the Oregon Coast to look for tufted puffins nesting at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach. April through early July is the best time to see them.
May
My weather forecast: Equal chances for the most beautiful day of your life and uninterrupted gray drizzle.
Things to do in Portland:
See peak bloom at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.
May is Oregon Wine Month. Visit a tasting room or wine bar in town, or head out to wine country and have a tasting flight by the vines.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Admire the paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and sculptures at the Mt Tabor Art Walk.
Support local artists and makers at Crafty Wonderland.
Things to do near Portland:
In May, the wildflowers will be at their best in the Columbia Gorge. Try out the greatest wildflower hikes to enjoy them.
Head to Salem to see an incredible variety of blooming irises at Schreiners Iris Gardens. You can make it a floral double feature by stopping at nearby Adelman Peony Gardens.
Head to McMinnville to celebrate the otherworldly during the annual 3-day UFO Festival. Look for a costume contest, live music, vendor booths, and an expert speaker panel. Beware of abduction.
Visit Multnomah Falls before a seasonal permit is required to park. For the past few years, permits have been required starting Memorial Day weekend.
June
My weather forecast: A good chance of long sunny days, although rain is still common. Occasional withering heat.
Things to do in Portland:
See the roses at peak bloom at the International Rose Test Garden.
Watch a parade or a dragon boat race during the Portland Rose Festival, one of the city’s biggest parties.
Celebrate Juneteenth with food, live music, and a parade in North Portland. If crowds aren’t your thing, visit any Bureau of Land Management park for free on June 19th in honor of the holiday.
Try one of the hundreds of themed bike rides during the Pedalpalooza Bike Festival, which runs from June through August in locations around Portland.
Bring a blanket to Laurelhurst Park to watch free live comedy. From June until September, Comedy in the Park happens every Friday evening.
Things to do near Portland:
Go strawberry picking on Sauvie Island. Later in the month, look for raspberries and blueberries. Check farm websites before heading out since specific dates vary each year based on weather conditions.
Head to Tigard to admire hot air balloons and go for carnival rides at the Festival of Balloons. Reserve tickets ahead of time.
Summer is a great time to look for tidepools on the Oregon Coast since the lowest tides happen during daylight hours.
July
My weather forecast: Excellent. Do all the outside things. Occasional withering heat.
Things to do in Portland:
One of Portland's biggest events is the Waterfront Blues Festival when four outdoor stages line Tom McCall Park next to the Willamette River. If you attend on July 4th, stay for the fireworks.
Watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. The biggest show will be from the Tom McCall Waterfront.
Attend the welcoming and family-friendly Portland Pride Festival and Parade.
Try out beer, wine, and cider made in Portland at the Portland Craft Brew Festival.
Celebrate Bastille Day with Portland’s Alliance Française.
Visit a farmers market. The local produce selection will be excellent in July. The PSU and Hollywood markets are staples.
With many long sunny days, July is an ideal month to seek out a cold drink on a rooftop patio.
Things to do near Portland:
Drive to the Hood River Fruit Loop to pick blueberries, cherries, peaches, and apricots.
Visit a lavender farm. Lavender blooms near Portland from around June - September. The fields look great in July.
The snow will finally have mostly melted at high elevations by July. Wildflowers start emerging just after the snow melts. Go for a hike above 5,000 feet of elevation, like Zigzag Canyon, Silcox Hut, White River Canyon, or Lookout Mountain.
August
My weather forecast: Often excellent, but occasional withering heat and the greatest chance of wildfire smoke.
Things to do in Portland:
Join thousands of spectators on Mt Tabor to watch the Adult Soapbox Derby.
Take it all (or as much as you want) off for the World Naked Bike Ride. It’s free to participate, which is lucky since you will have no place to keep your wallet.
Do a seasonal hike to an island. You can reach islands near Portland on foot when the water level in the Willamette River is low enough. Visit Elk Rock Island via landbridge or Cedar Island Nature Park via floating bridge.
Enjoy music, food, and dancing at Portland’s Chinese Festival.
Run in the Hood to Coast Relay, the world’s longest relay race.
Join thousands of people biking over Portland’s bridges during the Portland Bridge Pedal.
Enjoy live music at events like Pickathon and Portland Hip Hop Week.
Things to do near Portland:
Although the blooms will have faded in the Columbia Gorge, August is a great month to look for high-elevation wildflowers. Try a trail on Mt Hood to see lupines, penstemon, buckwheat, yarrow, and paintbrush.
Wander through 40 acres of dahlias at the Swan Island Dahlia Festival. Look for music, snacks, drinks, gifts, and hundreds of dahlia varieties. Admission and parking are free.
Huckleberries start to ripen in areas close to Portland. Look for them in the Mt Hood National Forest and coastal forests. Be sure you know what you’re picking and the local harvesting regulations.
August in Portland can get hot. Escape to a swimming hole like Dougan Falls. See my suggestions for hiking on hot days for short trails that will bring you to the water.
September
My weather forecast: One of our best months. Air quality usually improves and temperatures are often lovely. Some rainy days.
Things to do in Portland:
Watch the races during the Portland Dragon Boat Festival.
See thousands of migrating Vaux Swifts hunker down in a decommissioned chimney at Chapman Elementary School.
Enjoy the full moon from lantern-lit garden paths during the Moonviewing Festival at the Portland Japanese Garden.
Admire the works of local artists at the free outdoor event, Art in the Pearl, during Labor Day Weekend.
Get your costume ready for Portland’s 3-day Comic Con.
Check out the looks at Portland Fashion Week, billed as the world’s most sustainable fashion week.
Visit one of over 100 venues participating in Portland Negroni Week. A portion of the proceeds go to charity.
Things to do near Portland:
See the salmon migrate past Bonneville Dam.
Check out the beer, schnitzel, lederhosen, polka music, and vendor booths at Mt. Angel’s annual Oktoberfest. If you miss the event, rest assured that the town is Bavarian-themed all year.
Berry season is over, but September and October are the best months for apple and pear picking near Portland.
October
My weather forecast: A gamble.
Things to do in Portland:
Enjoy the works of independent filmmakers at the Portland Film Festival.
Try the snacks and watch folk dancing at the Portland Greek Festival.
You’ll have to go without me for this one, but the Portland Marathon happens in October.
Go to a haunted house.
Enjoy classic video and arcade games at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo.
See the workspaces of local artists at Portland Open Studios.
This one is a bit of a maybe, but it looks like VegFest will return in 2024 after a hiatus due to Covid.
Fall color in and around Portland peaks in October. Expect the leaves to last until around late November. With cooling temperatures and dwindling crowds, October can be great for hiking.
Things to do near Portland:
October is a good time to find mushrooms in the woods whether you’re harvesting or just admiring.
Head to Tualatin for the West Coast Pumpkin Regatta, where you can enjoy pumpkin bowling, pumpkin golf, and watching a giant pumpkin-boat race.
Visit Sauvie Island to pick the perfect smooth orange or warty green pumpkin from a pumpkin patch. Enjoy the corn mazes, hayrides, and farm animals while you’re there.
Sauvie Island is also a great place to look for migrating sandhill cranes. They begin arriving in September, but many more come during October.
Come to St. Helens, Oregon, in October for the Spirit of Halloweentown, a month-long festival celebrating all things spooky. The town was a filming location for the movies Hallweentown and Twilight.
Head to Hood River for the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest.
November
My weather forecast: Rain.
Things to do in Portland:
Admire the blooms during the Chrysanthemum Festival at Lan Su Chinese Garden.
Watch the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
See the Portland Veteran’s Day Parade.
Watch the Gingerbread Masterpiece Unveiling at Benson Hotel. If you miss the unveiling, you can still see the gingerbread house through December.
Shop the Portland Holiday Market.
Head to the Portland Art Museum for PDX Book Fest.
Things to do near Portland:
Oregon sees its highest tides in winter, informally called the king tides. Keep an eye on the forecast to know when to expect the tallest waves on the coast. Watch them from a safe distance.
Get in a last-minute seasonal hike before winter. Some forest service roads close in November, blocking access to trailheads. Head to places like Larch Mountain, Falls Creek Falls, and Lower Lewis River Falls before the season ends.
December
My weather forecast: Indistinguishable from January and February.
Things to do in Portland:
Admire holiday lights. Some of the best displays in Portland are at the Grotto, Zoo Lights at the Oregon Zoo, and Portland International Raceway.
For the best neighborhood lights, walk or drive to Peacock Lane, where you won’t find one disappointing house. This one is free to visit.
See the holiday decorations at Pittock Mansion.
Admire the decorated boats on the Willamette during the Christmas Ship Parade.
See the menorah lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square during Hannukah.
Get your shopping done at a holiday pop-up or the Portland Night Market.
Try holiday beers in a heated tent at Portland Holiday Brew Fest.
Join the thousand or so Santas at venues around the city during Santacon, an annual Christmas-themed bar crawl.
December is usually Portland’s coldest month. Warm up by taking a dip at one of the soaking pools or visiting a teahouse.
Things to do near Portland:
Head to the Silver Falls Winter Festival to see the seasonal changes at one of Oregon’s most stunning parks.
Grey whales will begin migrating past Oregon towards the end of December. During the winter migration Whale Watch Week, volunteers can help you spot them.
Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area offers elk feeding tours from December through February. Make a reservation ahead of time.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2024!
With love,
Emma
More in Portland
Find more suggestions for things to do in Portland on the blog.
