Spring in Portland
Portland celebrates spring with beer and food festivals, fiestas and flowers.
Rain showers, blooming flowers and lots of only-in-Portland things to do hit the calendar every spring in Portland. The city bursts into bloom as gorgeous rhododendrons, azaleas, cherry trees, and roses come into full flower in parks, gardens and yards all over town. Amidst spring showers, sun-breaks and dry days are common, though, and spring visitors are rewarded with lovely vistas, bountiful outdoor adventures and the city’s signature event, the Portland Rose Festival, which runs from late May through early June. Explore our top things to do, see and experience during a springtime visit to Portland.
Questions About Portland in the Spring
How much does it rain in Portland during spring?
When do cherry trees bloom in Portland?
What is the average springtime temperature in Portland?
Spring Weather
Rain showers continue in spring, along with plenty of cloud breaks and dry spells. Spring days often start rainy and end up with clear blue skies and sunshine, with the city getting progressively warmer as June approaches. With such a temperate climate, many flowers start blooming in Portland in early March.
What to Pack
For a springtime visit to Portland, we recommend packing layers and a light rain-proof jacket. Old-school Portlanders tend to shun umbrellas, but they can come in handy to shield glasses and faces from heavier showers. Waterproof boots will come in handy on muddy spring hikes and for splashing through Portland’s puddles.
Spring Activities
Don't let rain showers keep you from enjoying this verdant season in Portland.
Spend Spring Break in Portland
Plan an epic spring break in Portland with our list of activities for families, friends, couples and solo travelers.
Best Spots for Spring Flowers
Find your favorite blooms, from roses to rhododendrons and tulips to trilliums, with our guide to spring flowers in Portland.
Spring Hikes Near Portland
There’s something special about the first spring hike of the year. Enjoy wildflowers, bird watching and breathtaking scenery on these springtime rambles.
Events by Month
Each month of Spring in Portland offers its own unique selection of events and things to do.
March Events
Shop, eat, dance and cheer your way through the last of winter with these March events in Portland.
April Events
April in Portland means heading outside to enjoy gorgeous blooms and epic views, along with plenty of cultural offerings.
May Events
From farmers' markets to fiestas, there's plenty to do in Portland in May.
Favorite Spring Events
The spring season in Portland overflows with exciting events and festivals.
Spring Holidays
Celebrations a season of renewal and rebirth with these annual celebrations around Portland.
Mother’s Day Events in Portland
Myriad Mother's Day events in Portland make it easy (and fun!) to celebrate moms, grandmas and all of the other important women in your life.
Easter Events in Portland
Spring is the harbinger of Easter festivities in Portland. Check out kid-friendly Easter egg hunts, annual picnics and candy-centric events.
Memorial Day Weekend Events
Enjoy vacation-level-fun events during Memorial Day weekend in Portland.
Upcoming Spring Events
Enjoy these springtime events and festivals in and near Portland.
Crafty Wonderland Spring Art + Craft Market
Portland’s biannual art and craft fair boasts unique handmade wares from 225+ local vendors.
Nano Beer Fest
Starting back in 2008, the Nano Beer Fest began at Max's Fanno Creek where the owners were looking for a way to showcase the local small brewers who were coming on the scene. Nine years later, it has grown to a bi-annual event featuring small-batch beers, ciders and mead made by some of the most…
Spring Garden Fair
40 Years and Still Growing. Don't miss the anniversary celebration: enjoy a weekend of discovery, inspiration, and fun. DISCOVER • Plants, Tools and Treasures, and new finds at the Silent Auction, Garden Fair Raffle and Potting Station. GROW • Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions. Always popular – informative "10-Minute…
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Shop for handmade crafts, snack on traditional recipes and enjoy entertainment straight from Guadalajara at this popular Cinco de Mayo festival.
Portland Derby
The 17th installment of the Portland Derby is back. Celebrating the greatest two minutes in sports, the “Run for the Rose City” is the social event of the spring. A day for fashion, mint juleps, roses, ponies and dancing. Imagine sundresses, big hats and seersucker suits. The Portland Derby organizers are excited to bring The…
Play in the Park
Join every Saturday in the partnership with Whimsy Care and IDEALPDX to provide family friendly entertainment and activities in Director Park. Fairy house building? Seed planting? Bubbles? Magicians? All to be expected throughout the Play in the Park series.
Kodomo no Hi, Children's Day
Kodomo no Hi, also called Children’s Day, is commemorated each year in Japan in early May to celebrate children's growth and good fortune. The festival will feature a range of family-friendly activities. Listen to taiko performances, learn how to make origami koi or frogs, participate in a treasure hunt, and enjoy koinobori or cloth carp streamers displays. Koi symbolize…
Portland Farmers Market at Shemanski Park
With its carts and vendors selling delicious meals under a lush green canopy of trees, this downtown farmer’s market at Shemanski Park is a popular lunch spot for good reason. Portland residents and visitors also use this shaded destination to buy locally grown groceries for dinner — or supplies for an alfresco picnic. (Wednesdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.)
Picnic in the Park
Come enjoy lunch in Director Park with music and fun games such as corn hole, giant chess, and jump rope. Special appearance from Shoehorn Conley on Thursdays.
Wine & Watercolor
Explore your creative side and enjoy some wonderful local wine while you paint. You are encouraged to make it unique. YOU are the artist. Paint a path of blossoming cherry trees for spring or a wreath of spring florals for Mother's Day. No experience is necessary. Artists of all levels are welcomed and encouraged. With…
Inner City Blues Festival
A Benefit for Health Care for All Oregon – OREGON presents Soul Queens and Blues Kings Healing the Health Care Blues Norman “Boogie Cat” Sylvester and Lenanne Sylvester-Miller bring together some of this region's finest Rhythm & Blues favorites for an amazing night of Soul and Blues.
Hippie Chick Half Marathon
The Hippie Chick half marathon, quarter marathon, 5k and kid's half-mile race return for Mother's Day weekend. This female-focused event is designed to celebrate how amazing women are. Grab your mom, sister, friend, or co-worker and register to run through Oregon's scenic countryside. The run is returning to the birthplace of this great event at Champoeg…
St. Johns Bizarre and Parade
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…
Unique Markets
Discover the best of Portland's independent designers, artists and emerging brands in a festive indoor setting. Enjoy complimentary refreshments, lounges, photo booths, creative DIY activities, arcade games, music and more while you browse a curated lineup of over 100 up-and-coming small businesses. Shop everything from clothing and accessories to art, jewelry, gourmet treats and home…
Baker's Dozen Coffee Beer & Doughnut Fest
The 8th Annual Baker’s Dozen melds three things Portland does best: coffee, beer, and doughnuts. Each brewer uses beans from a different roaster. Admission includes all thirteen coffee beers, samples of several of the specific coffees, morsels of all thirteen doughnuts, and a souvenir glass. (No extra drink tickets needed/sold). As always, several of the…
Reigning Roses Walk
Rose Haven supporters and guests will unite to stride a beautiful route through NW Portland on Mother's Day at the annual Reigning Roses Walk. Walk with, or in honor of, a special woman in your life – a mother, grandmother, daughter, partner or friend. All proceeds benefit the women and children of Rose Haven. There…
Mother's Day Cruise
Sweep mom off her feet this Mother’s Day with a special brunch cruise. The whole family will enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Willamette River, a delicious Northwest brunch buffet, mimosas or sparkling cider, live piano music and beautiful river views. Make memories that Mom will treasure forever.
UFO Festival
Every May, thousands of visitors flock to the city’s famous UFO Festival, featuring four days of parades, costume contests and expert speakers.
Vanport Mosaic Festival
The Vanport Mosaic's annual exploration of little-known local histories and celebration of our communities' resilience returns in spring 2024 with a rich program of performances, exhibits, tours, screenings, dialogues and gatherings. The events, hosted in various venues in N/NE Portland, are offered to the public free/sliding-scale, thanks to the generous support of our funders and…
Mt. Tabor Art Walk
The Mt. Tabor Art Walk is a Portland tradition. This juried show and sale is a great opportunity to see quality visual art and meet artists in their studios and homes. Diverse media are represented, including photography, painting, ceramics, sculpture, prints, metal arts, photography, glass, jewelry, book arts and mosaics. The Mt. Tabor Art Walk…
East Portland Sunday Parkways
Celebrate National Bike Month and open streets during the East Portland Sunday Parkways event presented by Kaiser Permanente. The East Portland 3.3-mile down-and-back route will feature Gateway Discovery Park, Ventura Park, and Lincoln Park. Start anywhere on the route and bike, walk, or roll as you explore the neighborhood greenways and other infrastructure, parks, and…
The Flip Side — Vegan Market
Spend the day and celebrate Small Business Month. There will be a slew of amazing vendors selling all vegan wares and works, from snacks to candles. Come grab a cinnamon snail from Hail Snail, some award-winning food from Our Vegan Cocina and some unique Portland finds. All are welcome. The Flip Side Vegan Market is…
Rose Festival CityFair
Considered the "hub" of the annual Portland Rose Festival, CityFair fills Waterfront Park with carnival rides, concerts, food and fireworks for multiple weekends during the festival.
Rose Festival Opening Night and Fireworks
Nothing says celebration quite like fireworks — and the Portland Rose Festival will blast off with an impressive fireworks display choreographed to music. Opening day of the Rose Festival is Friday, May 24, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, starting at 5:00 PM. You are invited to enjoy the carnival rides, food, and activities, with opening…
Holi Spring Festival at Topaz Farm
Join a spring harvest celebration and Bollywood and Bhangra dance party in the grass featuring DJ Anjali & the Incredible Kid, Anjali's Gulabi Gang Dancers and Gurpreet Dhillon's PDX Bhangra Dance Troup. The last two years of sold-out Holi Fests were so much fun. This is going to be another great party featuring music, dancing,…
Starlight Run
Portland’s most popular fun run, the Starlight Run, is the wacky warm-up act for the CareOregon Starlight Parade is starting and finishing on Naito Parkway at Rose Festival CityFair. The 47th Annual Starlight Run will start at 6:30 p.m. The traditional costume contest will be held at 5:30 p.m. The route will follow the path…
Rose Festival CareOregon Starlight Parade
The CareOregon Starlight Parade is one of the Rose Festival's most popular events, offering electrified, funky fun for everyone. From traditional marching bands and flood-lit floats to glow-in-the-dark umbrellas and unique hand-built entries, you’ll see representation from Portland’s diverse community groups (and the surrounding Pacific Northwest region), creating a vibe like no other on Portland's…
Rose Festival Fleet Week
Since 1907, visiting ships have made their way to Portland's waterfront. The City of Roses is known to be a favorite port of call for military (and non-military) visitors, as Portland's citizens thank them and make them feel welcome. The Portland Rose Festival is extremely fortunate to be one of a few U.S. Ports of…
Rose Festival Fred Meyer Junior Parade
From the moment the lovable Fred Bear cuts the ribbon to kick off the Fred Meyer Junior Parade, fun reigns. Children come from all parts of the city to join in: dressing in costume, transforming wagons into floats, decorating their bikes with colorful flowers, or just parading with their pets (and parents!). Elementary and Middle…
Spring Rose Show
The Portland Rose Society Annual Spring Rose Show is the largest and longest-running rose show in the nation. The exquisite beauty and fragrances of this yearly show emanate from more than 4,000 blooms. Entry is open to anyone, and all entrants are encouraged. Rose growers from across the Pacific Northwest participate, and some 6,000 spectators…
Rose Festival Art Show
Please join the 41st annual Rose Festival gallery Art Show and reception at OSA. The OSA Rose Festival Show is an artistic celebration of the City of Portland and its traditions surrounding its iconic flower, the rose. The official Portland Rose Festival theme is “Dream Forward” this year. OSA is honored to participate in the…
Rose Festival Queen’s Coronation presented by Unitus Community Credit Union
Who will become the next Queen of Rosaria? One of Portland's most time-honored traditions continues as the Rose Festival Court is presented, and the new reigning Queen is named during this special investiture ceremony. The Queen represents Portland and the Rose Festival for one year at appearances throughout the country and abroad. When choosing a…
Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races
The Rose Festival is proud to host the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races, an event that has been bringing an exciting Chinese tradition to Portland for more than two decades, beginning in 1989. Held on the Willamette River near the Hawthorne Bridge, the races feature exciting four-team heats held every nine minutes. More than…
Rose Festival Royal Rosarians Milk Carton Boat Race
A classic Rose Festival event and family-friendly community tradition dating back to 1973, the Milk Carton Boat Race is a spectacle you won’t want to miss. Children and adults race and show off their handmade, human-powered boats that float only employing recycled milk cartons and jugs. Creatively constructed watercraft will compete in nine categories, with…
Oregon Midsummer Festival
Decorate the Midsummer pole and make flower crowns, watch live music and performers, indulge in Nordic summer delicacies, play games and make crafts, shop vendors, experience Vikings, and enjoy – this is Midsummer
Events in Portland Today, Tomorrow and This Weekend
Things to Do in Portland Today
Today is a beautiful day to explore all that Portland has to offer. This page lists the best Portland events, festivals, concerts, tours and exhibitions that are happening today.
Things to Do in Portland Tomorrow
Are you going to be in town and looking for something to do tomorrow? There are so many fun things to do in Portland and tomorrow is the perfect day to explore.
Things to Do in Portland This Weekend
Looking for what to do in Portland this weekend? This page lists the best Portland events, festivals, concerts, tours and exhibitions that are happening this weekend.
Was this page helpful?