Activities
Activities on the Portland Events 2012 Wall Calendar
- Japanese Garden
Walk quiet trails, glimpse coy, and breathe in the fresh air at the most authentic Japanese Garden outside of Japan.
japanesegarden.com - Last Thursday on Alberta
The whole street becomes a flood of art lovers, vendors, food trucks, fire breathers, acrobats, dancers, Hula-Hoopers…
artonalberta.org - Powell’s Book Signings and Readings
Meet your favorite authors and hear your favorite works read aloud, all for free.
powells.com - Washington Park
Don comfortable shoes and pack a picnic, this park is full of recreational areas, hiking trails, and museums.
portlandonline.com - Crafty Wonderland Pop-Up Shop
Check out the locally produced art & crafts made by vendors from the famous Crafty Wonderland exhibit.
craftywonderland.com - Fubonn Grocery
Get excited about cooking all over again: This is Portland’s epicenter of Asian cuisine, from curries to plum wines.
fubonn.com - Glowing Greens
Strap on 3-D glasses and play miniature golf at this blacklight, pirate-themed course downtown.
glowinggreens.com - Ground Kontrol Arcade
What’s not to love? Retro arcade games, good food and drinks, and they’re cheap.
groundkontrol.com - Lan Su Chinese Garden
Relax, surrounded by Chinese architecture, native plants, and the sound of trickling water.
lansugarden.org - Music Millennium
Live in-store performances and rarities in stock, this music store rocks.
musicmillennium.com - Portland Children’s Museum
Tap into the workshops, reading series, and game times. Educational fun provided by the professionals!
portlandcm.org - Shanghai Tunnels
Go underground for an entirely new perspective of the Old Town. You might see a ghost.
shanghaitunnels.info - Trail Blazers
Go to the Rose Garden and root for Rip City!
nba.com/blazers - Willamette Valley (Wine Tasting)
With hundreds of wineries within an hour’s drive, Oregon’s wine country is too good to be missed.
willamettewines.com - World Forestry Museum
A unique opportunity to learn all about forests; don’t miss the lift that takes you into the forest canopy.
worldforestry.org - Aladdin Theater
Take advantage of this rare venue. Around since the 1920s, it still boasts cutting-edge bands.
aladdin-theater.com - Distillary Row
There’s a strip of distilleries in SE, and today’s the day to taste handcrafted, local spirits.
distilleryrowpdx.com - Forest Park
5,170 acres within walking distance of downtown. How lucky is that?
portlandonline.com - Kennedy School
This renovated elementary school has six bars, and the gym’s been converted into a movie theater with couches and beer.
mcmenamins.com/427-kennedy-school-home - Kidd’s Toy Museum
See thousands of toys for free, some dating back to the 1860s.
kiddstoymuseum.com - Museum of Contemporary Craft
Visit this museum where craft meets high art, and get inspired by world artisans and artists.
museumofcontemporarycraft.org - OMSI After Dark
See permanent and special, adult-geared exhibits with a beer in hand. Unleash the inner child at this adult-only activity.
omsi.edu - Sauvie Island
Drive 10 miles north and enjoy the beaches, hiking trails, and fresh produce of Portland’s most accessible island.
sauvieisland.org - The Grotto
Commune with the spirits at this shrine built right into the side of Rocky Butte, and walk the expansive botanical gardens.
thegrotto.org - 24 Hour Church of Elvis
Unapologetically kitsch, this coin-operated church provides temporary marriages and more.
24hourchurchofelvis.com - Brewvana
Get the inside sip: Tour tried-and-true and up-and-coming breweries like a pro.
experiencebrewvana.com - Darcelle’s XV
Female impersonation at its best! Great for bachelorette parties and evenings when you’re looking for something out of the ordinary.
darcellexv.com - Mill End Park
If you visit the smallest park in the world, don’t forget your magnifying glass: You just might see a leprechaun.
portlandonline.com - Movie Madness Museum
This movie museum lives up to the hype: See the knife from Psycho, Diane Keaton’s dress in Godfather II, and more.
moviemadnessvideo.com - Powell’s Books
Join your fellow bibliophiles, and patronize the world’s largest used and new bookstore.
powells.com - Rose City Rollers
Women roller skaters fight to the finish line while rock’n'roll blasts.
rosecityrollers.com - Smith and Bybee Lakes
Proof that you can see loads of wildlife within the city limits, these teeming lakes come with a canoe launch, too.
portlandonline.com - Spanish Coffee at Hubers
Order the original Spanish coffee and enjoy the tableside show. Wear flame retardant clothing.
hubers.com - The Hat Museum
This museum is the number one authority on hats. Learn, ogle, and enjoy. Reservations required.
thehatmuseum.com - Tillamook Cheese Factory Tour
Mmm cheese. Learn it. Eat it. Tour it for free nearly any day of the year.
tillamook.com - Bar Bar Summer Patio Series
Free outdoor acoustic concerts hosted by Mississippi Studios. Also, drink specials.
mississippistudios.com - Classic Greek Theatre of Oregon
Greek costumes? Check. Greek plays? Check. An outdoor theater? Check. The Fates are aligned!
classicgreektheatre.org - Concerts in the Parks
Each summer evening features a different local park; the music begins around 6pm.
portlandonline.com - Movies in the Park
From cult favorites to Disney classics, watch movies in parks throughout the city.
portlandonline.com - 3D Center of Art and Photography
Avatar didn’t invent it. 3-D images have been around for more than 160 years, and the friendly staff at this museum share it all.
3dcenter.us - Aerial Tram
Catch some of the best views of the city while hanging midair with doctors and nurses.
portlandtram.org - First Thursday in the Pearl
Soak up the vibrant art scene as it literally spills into the streets each summer! Free wine, yum.
firstthursdayportland.com - Hoyt Arboretum
187 acres of incredibly beautiful trees, flowers, and trails, all for free! Two miles of trails are handicap accessible.
hoytarboretum.org - Mondays on the Mall
Add bounce to your step: Each Monday there’s something free and fun!
pioneercourthousesquare.org - Oaks Amusement Park
With free admission and parking, this amusement park next to Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is good, cheap fun!
oakspark.com - Rooster Rock
Disc golf, swimming, nude and regular beaches, picnic areas, and so much more, this recreational park is one of the best in the Gorge.
oregonstateparks.org/park_175.php - Timbers
Join the Timbers Army and cheer on the best soccer team in the world!
portlandtimbers.com - Blah Buster
Break the blah! Get discounts on tickets for downtown theater, musicals, symphonies, dining, and more for nearly two months.
downtownportland.org - Portland Farmers Markets
There’s nothing like the fresh morning air at one of Portland’s farmers markets.
portlandfarmersmarket.org - Beer & Movie (BAM) Fest
Do cult classics and microbrews sound like a good way to spend a weekend night? How about every weekend February-April?
bamfestpdx.com - Biking
A “Platinum Level Bike Friendly Community,” today’s the day to enjoy hundreds of bike paths.
bikeportland.org - Jamison Square Wading Pool
Fed by a man-made waterfall, this huge wading pool will cool off you and your kids.
portlandonline.com - Pick Your Own Fruits and Berries at Sauvie Island Farm
There’s fresh, and then there’s fresh. Delicious fun for all.
sauvieislandfarms.com - Rose Test Garden and Tour
Learn about the “testing” and the history of roses at one of the free tours given while the garden is in bloom.
rosegardenstore.org - Rowing Course at Station L Rowing Club
The pleasure of rowing is unique, and so is the Willamette.
stationlrowingclub.com - Tubing on Clackamas River in Milo McIver State Park
Get a couple cars, grab some tubes, and float through Oregon wilderness.
oregonstateparks.org/park_142.php - Waterfront Bike Loop
Get some fresh air while riding this mostly off-street bike path from the Steel Bridge to the Sellwood Bridge. For more fun, continue on the Springwater Corridor.
portlandonline.com - Willamette Jet Boat Tour
Get to know the Willamette just a little bit better, from wildlife to military vessels. Prepare to get soaked!
willamettejet.com - Grand Central Bowling
Lanes for bowling, leather couches for clubbing, and fine food for dining: Enter the PDX bowling scene.
thegrandcentralbowl.com - Mt. Tabor
Catch excellent views of the city while hiking one of the only extinct, inner-city volcanos in the U.S.
portlandonline.com - Portland Art Museum
The exhibits are constantly changing, so there’s always something new! Grab a friend and hang with the masters.
pam.org - Powell’s Writer Workshops
A great way to hone your craft and get feedback from other writers.
powells.com - Project Grow Lecture Series
Lectures focus on improving community and the environment, and they take place at a hip urban farm in North Portland.
growinginalldirections.org/lecture-series - Ride the Mt. Hood Railroad
Tour Hood River Valley in a classic train! Endless mimosas + brunch ride = sophisticated fun!
mthoodrr.com - Portland Saturday Market
Find earrings, garden art, street food, and more in Waterfront and Ankeny parks. Open Sundays, too, March-December.
portlandsaturdaymarket.com - Stark’s Vacuum Museum
Get your fill of unique history in this spotlessly clean museum.
starks.com/about_us/vacuum - Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
It’s worth the drive. See the Spruce Goose, tanks, war planes, water slides, the largest IMAX theater in the NW, and much more.
evergreenmuseum.org - Oregon Maritime Museum
Learn about the history of boating on the Willamette and Columbia rivers at this floating museum.
oregonmaritimemuseum.org - Oregon Zoo
Learn why foxes are sly, beavers are busy, and polar beers are just plain cool.
oregonzoo.org - Pier Park Disc Golf Course
Grab a frisbee and hit this sprawling and well-manicured course in North Portland.
portlandonline.com - Pittock Mansion
Step inside Portland’s history: This mansion was built by pioneers who loved Turkish, English, and French designs.
pittockmansion.org - Pumpkin Patch
Enjoy the crisp fall air on Sauvie Island while searching for just the right pumpkin.
thepumpkinpatch.com - Thursday Night Group (Bike) Ride
Time to hit the trails in Forest Park with a crew of like-minded folk.
fattirefarm.com - Chimney Swifts
At dusk, each fall evening, thousands of swifts pour out of the Chapman School’s chimney in NW.
audubonportland.org - Kayak Sunset Tour of Ross Island Portland
Learn to kayak or show off your skills on the Willamette River.
portlandkayak.com - Back Fence PDX
Some of the stories told around here are unbelievable. Hear them firsthand at this reading series.
backfencepdx.com - Breakfast on the Bridges
Enjoy free coffee and pastries the last Friday of each month while biking across select Portland bridges.
shift2bikes.org - Forktown Food Tours
See Portland as one giant meal! Tours are designed with the ultimate PDX foodie in mind and feature small and up-and-coming restaurants.
forktown.com - Garden University
These lectures, led by gardening experts at the Oregon Garden, will kick your gardening skills into overdrive.
oregongarden.org - Portland Eats Out
Get this card and join the local restaurant community! Receive 15% off at restaurants and raise money for the Oregon Food Bank.
portlandeatsout.com - Sunday Parkways
Streets are closed down, merrymaking ensues, and DIY classes are provided for free. Join the bike scene.
portlandsundayparkways.org - Title Wave Used Book Sales
These famous sales take place regularly and feature outrageous discounts.
multcolib.org/titlewave
