Portland Area Planner and Newsletter - September 15, 2023

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EL GRITO
El Grito Fiestas Patrias celebrates the independence of Mexico and other Latin American countries from Spain. As the Mexican President presents the nation’s traditional El Grito in Mexico City, so too will Portland commemorates Mexico’s independence at the Moda Center/Rose Quarter Commons.

Join in the most important holiday celebrated by the Hispanic community in Oregon. In addition to folkloric and Aztec dancers, live mariachi, salsa, cumbia and pop music, there will also be traditional food and beverages, community booths with interactive and educational materials and the Mexican tradition known as El Grito de Independencia.

THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN
It’s no Legend of Sleepy Hollow or Night of the Living Dead, but once in the 1990s, the lovely Oregon town of St. Helens was overrun by something worse than zombies or vampires — a Hollywood movie crew! The peaceful waterfront city just 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Portland has never been the same.

Each year, St. Helens, the filming site of the otherwise forgettable Halloweentown, remembers its brush with the dollar DVD bin with  The Spirit of Halloweentown,  a fun, family-friendly celebration of the spookiest holiday around. Complete with costume contests, trick-or-treating through St. Helens’ Old Town District, haunted town tours, and scarecrows galore. The celebration of the creepiest day of the year extends into every weekend in October, starting with the lighting of the Great Pumpkin in the city plaza.

During The Spirit of Halloweentown, local merchants are dying to get you in the spirit, with costume shops stocking everything from frisky vampire getups to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shells. And with an array of events from ghost talks, tarot card readings, and face painting increasing up to the big day, you’ll want to be dressed and ready for action. So be sure not to miss it, or you’ll be haunted with regret — at least until next year.

MLK DREAM RUN
Join this annual race with live music, products and services from local businesses big and small in the vendor village. This event brings runners and spectators together to celebrate the North/Northeast community noted for its rich ethnic diversity. Enjoy live music, theater, food, drink, dancing, raffle prizes and a vendor's fair. 

This annual race will feature these events

• Free Saturday, 9/16 kids' race. 
• 5-kilometer fun walk and run.
• Timed competitive 10K.
• Timed 15K Geoff Hollister Tribute competitive race.

MT ANGEL OKTOBERFEST
In the heart of Oregon's hop-growing region, Mount Angel's Oktoberfest brings 350,000 people to the Bavarian village every September. The Northwest's oldest and best-loved folk festival celebrates the fruits of the harvest with a nice focus on hops! German-style biers, Northwest craft brew favorites, lots of wine, and a bit of cider are served in four biergartens, each showcasing different favorites.

PORTLAND TANGO FESTIVAL
The Portland Tango Festival is one of longest running Festivals in the US.
It includes:

• 48 hours of dancing
• 3 Matinee Milongas
• 2 Alternative matinee milongas
• 4 Evening milongas
• 3 practicas
• 3 days of classes taught by our guest teachers
• A chacarera class and a reverse lead and follow class
• Great DJs

Join in on the fun and register today.

SNACKFEST
SnackFest is brought to you by the same crew behind the Portland Night Market. SnackFest is a food-focused market featuring all your favorite treats from hot food vendors and trucks outside and food purveyors, retail, and other food and bev related products inside.
At the event, you’ll enjoy live entertainment, demos, educational breakout sessions and an opportunity to meet the makers of your favorite food and products. Not to mention all the tastiest treats and drinks Portland has to offer. This is a nonprofit event to insure our community can spend their money on their favorite products and makers rather than on ticket and entry fees. Snack Fest is here to help bring awareness to the community we love around food and all the amazing food purveyors in the PNW. The event is open to all ages and free to enter.

THE CORN MAIZE ON SAUVIE ISLAND
When summer winds down, Portland’s fall arrives with warm, sunny days and cool, clear nights. The ideal way to get lost in autumn’s splendor is at The Maize at the Pumpkin Patch. Located on Sauvie Island., a rural escape just 13 miles (21 km) north of downtown Portland, the Corn Maize offers visitors eight acres (3 hectares) of exciting twists and turns. But it’s not all about getting lost in nature; Two 16-foot (5 m) observation bridges provide picturesque panoramas, with great views of the island and Mount Hood, as well as the maze itself. 

As well as the corn maze, guests can take a trip on a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin, or pet farm animals and make a new feathery friend at the Big Red Barn. Not in the mood to traipse out into the pumpkin field? Explore the gift shop or have a relaxing lunch in the café, the family farm has activities to delight any visitor.

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.)

DAHLIA FESTIVAL
Celebrate the season of DAHLIAS. A Rainbow of Color. Stroll through almost 40 acres and a beautiful display garden of stunning dahlias featuring over 370 varieties. The beautiful fields are open from August to September each year, closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Pick out and order your favorite dahlias for Spring delivery and planting. Purchase a beautiful bunch of cut dahlias to take home with you or to make someone’s day. Visit the Gift Shop with hundreds of local treasures, open year-round. Fill your belly with yummy treats from Food Carts, relax and enjoy the Live Music, attend the Sunday farmers’ market, or take one of the Classes throughout the festival dates.

NORTH COAST FOOD TRAIL
Already an expansive way to chow down as you’re touring the Oregon coast, the North Coast Food Trail is getting ready to get bigger. Some 100 or more miles of foodstuffs, drinks and culinary-themed adventures await with Visit Tillamook Coast’s North Coast Food Trail, which starts at the southern edges of the Tillamook County line at Neskowin and runs up through Cannon Beach, Seaside and now Astoria.

MONTAVILLA FARMERS MARKET
Neighborhood farmers market featuring local farms, distilleries, coffee, bakeries, flowers, hot food vendors and more.  The market was founded by a grassroots collection of neighbors who were inspired by visions of a fresh, local, food market in a shared community space within the growing SE Stark Street business district. This dedicated group opened the market in just 10 short months with a small amount of grant funds and a generous outpouring of donations from local businesses, friends and neighbors. The tireless energy of these un-paid visionaries and countless other volunteers allowed MFM to open its first market on Sunday, July 22, 2007, with 17 vendors and over 2000 visitors. Montavilla Farmers Market is a thriving, diverse marketplace where all are welcome.

PORTLAND NIGHT MARKET
The Portland Night Market showcases many unique businesses that call Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail for an adventurous evening in the Central Eastside. Meet some of Portland's best makers and creators. With almost 200 hundred makers, the Night Market offers food carts, drinks, clothing, lifestyle goods, home goods, body care and art. The Portland Night Market is a FREE quarterly event open to all ages. 

FARMERS MARKET AT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
The Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University will be open every Saturday, year-round. April through October hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. November through March hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Market at PSU is located in Downtown Portland in the South Park Blocks between SW College & Montgomery Streets.

HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKETS
Year-round on Saturdays, the Hollywood Farmers Markets hosts 50+ vendors, bringing you the best of the region’s agricultural bounty. In addition to amazingly fresh, local food,  you’ll find live music, children’s activities, and fun events throughout the season.

• April through September, every Saturday 8 AM to 1 PM,
• October and November, every Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM,, and
• December through March: 9 AM to 1PM on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month

FEATURED LISTINGS
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• Main Floor Office/4th bedroom
• Private hobby room/additional office space augmented with natural lighting
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