Greater Portland Area Activites and Newsletter - May 8-15, 2026
Eggs, fresh-baked pastries, honey-glazed ham, fresh fruit, Kennedy School’s Mother’s Day buffet has all the classic dishes to keep everyone happy, plus a few tasty specialties, an omelet station, endless coffee, desserts, and more.
Call the front desk for reservations, (503) 249-3983.
The Courtyard Restaurant will be serving Mother’s Day specials in addition to the regular menu
May 9–10
The Crystal Springs Mother’s Day Rhododendron Show is a decades-long tradition that celebrates and awards excellence in rhododendron cultivation.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is a sanctuary of tranquil beauty for the wellbeing of all. A unique 9.5-acre garden, Crystal Springs contains an outstanding collection of rare species and hybrid rhododendrons, azaleas, and other lesser-known ericaceous plants, as well as many companion plants and unusual trees.
Every year, thousands of visitors flock to McMinnville, a quiet Willamette Valley town located an hour southwest of Portland, to attend the city’s famous UFO Festival. Second in popularity only to the UFO festival in Roswell, New Mexico, Oregon’s annual celebration features days full of parades, costume contests, expert speakers and family fun..
REIGNING ROSES WALK
May 10
Reigning Roses is a joyful celebration in solidarity with our guests and Rose Havens’ biggest annual fundraiser. Supporters and guests will unite on Mother’s Day to stride a beautiful route through NW Portland featuring interactive and sponsored stops along the way.
The party starts at The Eleanor with mimosas, a raffle, and live music from the Portland Symphony. The walk ends at Rose Haven day shelter, and this year there will be an after-party at the Timbers Army 107ist’s Legends clubhouse.
MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY
May 9–24
Back by popular demand. You are cordially invited to join the Hatter for tea. Travel through the looking glass to enjoy an interactive extravaganza filled with music, magic, and just a touch of madness. Enjoy tea and treats as the Hatter takes you through interactive stories, songs, and a magic show.
Costumes and tea party attire encouraged.
Youth tickets include tea and a variety of treats. Adult tickets include tea and coffee.
May 9
NATIONAL TRAIN DAY
May 9–10
Get ready for two full days of steam, history, and railroad excitement at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center’s annual National Train Day Celebration. This year is going to be bigger—with two action-packed days of family fun, historic locomotives, and unforgettable railroading experiences.
There will be something for everyone to enjoy, including:
SP 4449 and SP&S 700 under steam
Cab tours of these legendary locomotives
Turntable demonstrations
Model railroad displays from local clubs and enthusiasts
Food trucks and refreshments
Family-friendly activities
Opportunities to explore the museum and the rail yard
And plenty of railroading excitement all weekend long
LOW BAR CHORALE
May 8-22
You show up at a bar or music venue. You grab a drink, and within minutes, you’re singing the hell out of your favorite rock song with a hundred other folks and — wait for it — a live band of nationally known musicians. In three-part harmony, no less. Wait, what just happened? Welcome to the Low Bar Chorale and what we all not-so-secretly wish singing could be. Drop-in only: no auditions, rehearsals or commitments ever. Sing rock, alt-indie and pop music like Bowie, Lady Gaga, Yacht Rock, or Michael Kiwanuka. With an incredible band, that has performed with some amazing acts — Built To Spill, Portugal. The Man, Storm Large, and others. The best thing is that ANYONE CAN DO THIS. No prior musical experience is required. Just show up with your love of music and an open mind, and you’re guaranteed to sound great. So if this sounds like something you’d love, what are you waiting for?
SOLAR SUPERSTORMS
Apr. 1–May 12
Solar Superstorms, narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, takes viewers into the tangle of magnetic fields and superhot plasma that vent the Sun’s rage in dramatic flares, violent solar tornadoes, and the largest eruptions in the solar system: coronal mass ejections. Audiences will witness a fury building on the surface of the Sun — high-velocity jets, a fiery tsunami wave that reaches 100,000 kilometers high, and rising loops of electrified gas. What’s driving these strange phenomena? How will they affect planet Earth? Find the answers and venture into the seething interior of a star.
PORTLAND JEWISH MUSIC FESTIVAL
May 6–17
The Portland Jewish Music Festival 2026 is now in its second year. This celebration of Jewish musical traditions from throughout the diaspora and Israel will fill EJC for more than a week with top-tier artists from near and far. One of the most famous Mizrachi musicians in the world, Yair Dalal, is a festival headliner. The Portland Jewish Music Festival is quickly becoming not only a tentpole of EJC and local Jewish programming, but also a highlight of the region’s cultural calendar, period. Enjoy 11 days and nights of concerts, discussions and community.
WESTSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH
Apr 4-May 9
Come Alive is a six-week journey that begins with the explosive hope of Easter and unfolds into the life-changing reality of what the resurrection of Jesus truly means. The empty tomb wasn’t simply the end of death—it was the beginning of a brand-new future for humanity and for the whole world.
In this powerful series, we’ll explore the breathtaking hope unleashed by Jesus rising from the dead: the promise of heaven, the future God is preparing, and why eternity changes the way we live right now. What really happens after we die? What kind of life awaits those who belong to Christ? And how does the promise of eternity fill our everyday lives with courage, purpose, and hope?
If death is not the end and heaven is real, then every moment matters more than we imagine.
Death is finished. Hope is forever.
It’s time to Come Alive.
SEAN-NOS NORTHWEST FESTIVAL
May 14-17
Welcome back, Sean-nós Northwest (SNNW), an Irish festival in its 15th year, celebrating and promoting the deep Irish cultural practices of sean-nós singing, sean-nós dancing, and the Irish language (Gaeilge). Despite Ireland’s colonial past, these incredibly rare treasures remain at the heart of Irish culture. The festival, sponsored by the 501(c)(3) non-profit Irish Cultural Society of the Pacific Northwest (ICSPNW), endeavors to sustain a vibrant regional community for these and other Irish cultural practices, including storytelling, poetry, craft and vernacular dance.
BLUEGRASS JAMS
On-going
Hopworks is thrilled to welcome Patrick and his rotating vintage bluegrass band for a weekly jam session. They’ll be playing classic tunes from the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s, along with a solid lineup of original songs in that same hard-driving, traditional style.
Join a toe-tapping good time filled with lively music, great vibes, and cold drinks. Whether you’re a bluegrass fan or just looking for a fun night out, Hopworks is the place to be.
Come on down, grab a drink, and soak up the good vibes.
This foundation of inspiring individuals forms the basis of the community we're building in Portland to inform our present and evolve our future. We'd love for you to join the movement.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Apr. 29–May 10
The Phantom is back to thrill audiences once again! Cameron Mackintosh presents a revitalized new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical, The Phantom of the Opera, which was rapturously received by London critics when it reopened in 2021. Featuring Maria Björnson’s brilliant original design and based on the celebrated direction of Harold Prince, with musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne. The Phantom of the Opera is widely considered one of the most beautiful and spectacular productions in history, playing to over 160 million people in 47 territories and 195 cities in 21 languages. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s romantic, haunting, and soaring score includes “The Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” “Masquerade,” and the iconic title song. It tells the tale of a disfigured musical genius known only as ‘The Phantom’ who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. Mesmerized by the talents and beauty of a young soprano, Christine, the Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her. Unaware of Christine’s love for Raoul, the Phantom’s obsession sets the stage for a dramatic turn of events in which jealousy, madness, and passion collide.
PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET
Ongoing
Nationally recognized as the largest continuously operating open-air arts and crafts market in the country, Portland Saturday Market is proud to provide a marketpla
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