What's on in Portland

Details of what's on in Portland throughout the year

Festivals
Get your tickets early for the Portland International Film Festival, which usually sells out a month in advance. If you are there in the summer, the Waterfront Blues Festival features some of the best blues and jazz artists from around the world, and the Bite of Oregon showcases cuisine and craft beers from many of Oregon's best restaurants and breweries, all conveniently located in one place on the waterfront for several days over a weekend in August. This also includes performances by famous musical artists (The Violent Femmes, Patti Smith and the Decemberists have all been featured) and it is just $5-10 to get in.

One of the biggest highlights, also during the summer, is Portland's Rose Festival, complete with carnival rides and games on the waterfront and several huge parades and fireworks displays. If you are in Portland during this time, it is an event not to be missed, and if you are staying anywhere near downtown Portland, you probably will not have a choice.

Finally, 'First Thursday' takes place on the first Thursday of every month in the Pearl District and celebrates the arts with gallery showings as well as offerings on the city's streets from independent artists and musicians. The less well-known 'Last Thursday' is the exact counterpoint to this. On the last Thursday of each month on the east side of town near Alberta Street, hundreds of twenty-somethings celebrate the arts by costuming themselves and enjoying some merry boozing.

Spencer Thanhouser