If you’re not from Portland then the city will likely astound you with the variety of festivals, events, and shows that the city has every year. These are not one-off festivals and happen every single year.

As a result, there will be something for everyone, if you’re not into music, then there will be a book festival – if you’re not into either of those things, then there will surely be something on this very extensive list to suit your tastes.

January:

1. Portland Boat Show: Typically held in early January, the Portland Boat Show features a wide array of boating equipment and vessels, drawing enthusiasts from across the region.
2. Reel Music Festival: This event showcases films that highlight the role of music in storytelling, exploring various genres, artists, and musical cultures.
3. Fertile Ground Festival: A multi-day event that provides a platform for local artists to present new work in theater, dance, and multimedia performances.
4. Portland Old-Time Music Gathering: A festival that celebrates traditional, old-time Appalachian-style string music, which includes performances, jams, and workshops.

February:

1. Portland Winter Light Festival: This non-ticketed winter light festival is positioned in public spaces throughout Portland and features illuminated art installations, vibrant performances, and kinetic fire sculptures.
2. Chinese New Year Celebrations: The Lan Su Chinese Garden typically hosts a series of events to celebrate the Chinese New Year, offering lantern viewings, lion dances, martial arts performances, and more.
3. Portland Seafood & Wine Festival: Bringing Oregon’s delicious seafood and exquisite wines together, this festival allows attendees to indulge in the state’s best flavors, often also featuring arts, crafts, and live music.
4. Zwickelmania: This Oregon craft beer celebration includes meet-the-brewer events and beer samples across Portland’s extensive brewery scene.
5. Portland International Film Festival: Showcasing diverse films from around the globe, this festival presents new cinematic experiences and frequently features discussions with filmmakers.

March:

1. Portland Dining Month: This is typically a month-long culinary celebration where numerous restaurants in the city offer special menus and deals, enabling foodies to explore a range of cuisines at a more affordable price.
2. St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations: Various events, parades, and specials in bars and restaurants are held across the city to celebrate this Irish holiday.
3. Cinderella Ballet: Often, the Oregon Ballet Theatre presents “Cinderella” in March, providing a magical experience for all ages with its enchanting performances.
4. Portland International Film Festival (PIFF): It generally continues into March, offering a platform for filmmakers from around the world to showcase their work.
5. Bricks Cascade: LEGO fans, both builders and enthusiasts, converge to showcase creations, attend workshops, and shop for hard-to-find LEGO accessories.

April:

1. Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest: Although this is located just outside of Portland in Woodburn, it’s a significant event where the tulip fields are in full bloom, offering a breathtaking display and numerous photo opportunities.
2. Portland Spring Beer and Wine Fest: This event celebrates the local beer and wine industry, with tastings, food pairings, and workshops available for attendees.
3. Soul’d Out Music Festival: A celebration of soul, R&B, and hip-hop, this festival brings together artists across these genres for multiple days of vibrant performances.
4. Design Week Portland: This is a week-long, city-wide series of programs exploring the process, craft, and practice of design across all disciplines.
5. Easter-Related Events: Various Easter egg hunts, brunch specials, and family-friendly activities take place throughout Portland.
6. Earth Day: Numerous events, clean-up initiatives, and educational programs around the city focus on environmental awareness and sustainability.

May:

1. Portland Rose Festival: One of the city’s landmark events, it kicks off in May, spanning three weekends into early June. The festival features parades, carnival rides, and exhibitions.
2. Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country: Wineries and vineyards in the Willamette Valley, just outside of Portland, open their doors for tours, tastings, and special events.
3. St. Johns Bizarre & Parade: A community festival that traditionally starts with a parade followed by a craft fair, live music, and other entertainment.
4. CityFair: Often coinciding with the Rose Festival, it offers rides, games, and food for a fun, family-friendly outing.
5. Portland Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: A vibrant celebration of Mexican culture, featuring music, dance, and traditional food and drinks.

June:

1. Portland Pride Festival and Parade: This event celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, with a colorful parade, waterfront festival, and numerous other gatherings and parties.
2. Portland Beer Week: A 10-day celebration that explores the world of craft beer with tastings, dinners, and educational events.
3. Pedalpalooza: Spanning June and extending into July, this event features numerous bike rides and events, embracing Portland’s strong cycling culture.
4. Good in the Hood: A multi-cultural music and food festival that also features a parade, intended to promote diversity and unity.
5. Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts: A short drive from downtown Portland, this event features visual arts, live music, and artisan food and drink.
6. Scandinavian Midsummer Festival: Celebrating Nordic heritage with music, dance, and a traditional maypole-raising ceremony.
7. World Naked Bike Ride: Portland’s unique and famous bike ride where thousands of cyclists cruise through the city to promote body positivity and cycling.
8. Summer Free For All: Kicking off in June, this Portland Parks & Recreation series offers free movies, concerts, and other events in parks throughout the city during the entire summer.

July:

1. Waterfront Blues Festival: A staple in Portland’s summer event lineup, this festival brings numerous blues artists to perform on the waterfront, with fireworks typically on July 4th.
2. Cathedral Park Jazz Festival: A long-standing free jazz festival held underneath the St. Johns Bridge, providing an impressive lineup of jazz musicians and beautiful scenery.
3. PDX Pop Now!: A volunteer-driven festival that celebrates and showcases Portland’s diverse musical talent with free and all-ages shows.
4. The Big Float: An event designed to encourage people to get into the Willamette River, involving a parade, a float down the river, and an after-party.
5. Oregon Brewers Festival: One of the longest-running craft beer festivals in the country, typically featuring produce from numerous breweries, both local and international.
6. Portland Highland Games: Celebrating Scottish culture with traditional games, dancing, piping, and drumming competitions.

August:

1. Pickathon: An independent music festival that focuses on sustainability, held on Pendarvis Farm, just outside of Portland.
2. PDX Adult Soapbox Derby: A quirky event where competitors race homemade, motorless vehicles down the winding roads of Mt. Tabor.
3. Hawthorne Street Fair: An event showcasing the vibrant and eclectic nature of the Hawthorne District with vendors, live music, and food.
4. Flicks on the Bricks: An event that transforms Pioneer Courthouse Square into an outdoor movie theater with free films and available snacks.
5. Portland Hot Sauce Expo: A spicy event for hot sauce enthusiasts, with opportunities to sample and purchase a wide variety of hot sauces.
6. PDX Country Fair: Celebrating the handmade and homegrown with workshops, vendors, and traditional country fair activities.
7. India Festival: A vibrant celebration of Indian culture, featuring dance, music, food, and traditional crafts, organized by the India Cultural Association.
8. Jade Night Market: Celebrating the diverse cultures found in the Jade District with international cuisine, cultural performances, and a vibrant marketplace.

September:

1. Feast Portland: A premier food and drink festival that showcases local culinary talent along with national and international chefs, featuring tastings, workshops, and cooking demonstrations.
2. Time-Based Art Festival (TBA): Hosted by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), this festival includes contemporary and experimental visual art, dance, theatre, and music performances.
3. Rose City Comic Con: A multi-genre comic convention held in the Oregon Convention Center, bringing together comic book authors, artists, and fans.
4. Oregon International Air Show: An event featuring stunning aerial performances, static aircraft displays, and other family-friendly activities.
5. Portland Polish Festival: A cultural event that celebrates Polish traditions, food, dance, music, and history.

October:

1. Portland Film Festival: An event that showcases independent filmmakers with screenings, workshops, and networking opportunities across various genres.
2. Portland Greek Festival: One of the largest Greek festivals on the West Coast, it celebrates Greek culture with food, dance, music, and a marketplace.
3. Portland Queer Film Festival: Highlighting narratives, documentaries, and short films related to the LGBTQIA+ community and experiences.
4. Portland VegFest: Celebrating plant-based living, this festival offers a range of vegan products, restaurants, and informational resources.
5. The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta: Held in Tualatin, just outside Portland, this unique event features races of giant pumpkins paddled across the Tualatin Commons Lake.
6. Hood River Valley Harvest Fest: A bit east of Portland, this event celebrates the harvest season with local produce, arts and crafts, food, wine, cider, and beer vendors.
7. Portland Fashion Week: Showcasing local and international designers, this event highlights sustainable and innovative fashion through runway shows and pop-up shops.
8. Great American Spirits Festival: Featuring craft distillers from around the country, attendees can sample a range of spirits and cocktails.
9. Portland Trail of Terror: An event that signals the start of the Halloween season with a variety of haunted attractions, spooky trails, and other themed activities.

November:

1. Wordstock: Portland Book Festival: A celebration of literature with author events, workshops, and book fair, engaging writers and readers in a dynamic exchange of ideas.
2. Holiday Food & Gift Festival: A festive event where you can get started on your holiday shopping with numerous vendors offering unique gifts, crafts, and delicious food items.
3. Portland Cider Week: An event that celebrates Portland’s craft cider scene, with tastings, new releases, and various cider-related events.
4. Portland Metro Dealers RV Show: Enthusiasts of recreational vehicles and travel can explore the latest models and accessories.
5. Wild Arts Festival: Presented by the Audubon Society, this event celebrates nature in the work of regionally and nationally-known artists and authors.

December:

1. Holiday Ale Festival: Featuring dozens of breweries, this event provides the opportunity to taste a variety of winter seasonal beers in a joyful atmosphere under a clear-topped tent, warmed by gas heaters.
2. The Christmas Ship Parade: A beloved tradition where a fleet of ships, bedecked with sparkling lights, sail down the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.
3. ZooLights at Oregon Zoo: The zoo transforms into a winter wonderland with over a million lights decorating the grounds and creating a magical atmosphere.
4. Peacock Lane: Known for its awe-inspiring Christmas lights and decorations, strolling down Peacock Lane has been a holiday tradition since the 1920s.
5. The Nutcracker Ballet: Various renditions of this classic ballet, including performances by the Oregon Ballet Theatre, light up stages around the city.
6. Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway: Recognized as the largest holiday light show in the Pacific Northwest, attendees can experience the spectacular light displays by car.
7. Holiday Express Train: Operated by the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, this vintage train takes a festive ride along the scenic Willamette River.
8. Crafty Wonderland Holiday Art + Craft Market: Offering a wide array of handmade goods from hundreds of local artists, it’s a great spot to find unique holiday gifts.
9. Christmas in the Garden: Although located a bit south of Portland, in Silverton, this event at the Oregon Garden features ice skating, festive lights, and a traditional German Christmas Market.
10. Tuba Christmas Concert: Over 300 tubas gather to play some of your favorite holiday tunes in the heart of downtown.