Portland and Area Activities Planner - August 23, 2024

GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND
Every fall since 2018, Portland International Raceway has hosted the celebrated open-wheel racing with the Grand Prix of Portland. Held from 1984–2007 under various names, the race is back at the Portland International Raceway. as the only Verizon IndyCar Series race in the Pacific Northwest.

Unlike the most famous IndyCar race — the Indianapolis 500 — the Grand Prix of Portland isn’t run on a simple oval. Portland’s 1.967-mile (3.166 km) course boasts 12 turns and several exciting passing opportunities, including a quick chicane at the end of the front stretch, a hard-breaking right leading into the backstretch and a three-turn complex leading back to the front stretch.

VIKING BEER FEST
Beer tastings meet Viking re-enactors and combat in this festival, featuring music, a Viking Ship, Nordic food, and more.

Embark on a mesmerizing journey to the heart of Viking heritage at the 2023 Viking Beer Fest, where frothy brews and Nordic traditions meld into a singular, unforgettable experience. Revel in the exhilaration of last year's sold-out festival, now amplified with even more enthralling features:

• Enriched Viking Experience: Double the re-enactors and merchants each day, immersing you in ancient Nordic customs
• Thrilling Combat: Witness live, heart-pounding combat demonstrations throughout the festival
• Scrumptious Nordic Cuisine: Feast on exquisite Scandinavian food carts and the acclaimed Broder Söder
• Exclusive Brews: Indulge in custom ales concocted solely for the festival
• Engaging Music and Activities: Dance, play, and rejoice like a true Viking

SMILE BOAT PARADE
The Smile Boat Parade is an aquatic celebration of local camaraderie, joining the marine community in North and Northeast Portland. Local boaters of all sizes showcase their creativity, decking out their boats with flags and decorations, bringing smiles to everyone involved including onlookers from shores. Whether steering a motorized vessel or propelling a human-powered craft, even watching from shore, everyone is welcome to participate in the Smile Boat Parade capturing the essence of togetherness and fun.

HOOD TO COAST
The Providence Hood and Portland To Coast Relay is the most popular and largest running/walking relay race in the world, drawing participants from over 40 countries and all 50 states annually. Known as the Mother of All Relays, the event takes 8-12 member relay teams through the unique and beautiful Oregon terrain, starting from the iconic top of Mount Hood and ending at the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. This 196-mile relay (128 miles for Portland To Coast) has filled its team limit for the past 36 years and on Opening Lottery Day for 31 consecutive years.

UKRAINIAN DAY
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Ukrainian traditions with a lineup of engaging activities. From traditional dances to captivating music, attendees can expect a day of cultural richness. Discover the artistry of Ukrainian crafts through hands-on workshops led by skilled artisans. It’s a unique opportunity to learn and appreciate the craftsmanship passed down through generations.

PAN AFRICAN FESTIVAL
The Pan African Festival is an annual festival that includes live entertainment, cultural foods, arts and crafts, and much more. Pan African Festival emphasizes promoting health equity, economic development, providing employment and educational opportunities and building community awareness. These are essential components to empower Pan Africans (Africans, Afro Latinix, Caribbeans and African Americans) and their allies to pursue societal changes which shift social and other determinants of health. Pan African Festival is dedicated to providing the necessary space to talk about, and fight for, social justice.

PORTLAND HIP HOP WEEK
Portland Hip Hop Day was founded in 2015 as a result of a collaborative effort to address concerns and conflicts between the Portland Hip Hop scene and various agencies representing the City of Portland. As the result of continued relationship building and successful annual events between the city and the Hip Hop community, in 2019, Hip Hop Day was extended as an official week celebration.

HAWTHORNE STREET FAIR
Visit one of Portland’s original “shop local” districts every August for the Hawthorne Street Fair. You can explore over 200 businesses while enjoying Vendors, Food, Music and Entertainment in a car-free zone from SE Cesar Chavez to SE 30th Avenue on Hawthorne. 

2024 is the 41st Anniversary of the Hawthorne Street Fair. Enjoy great food, music and vendors on one of Portland's most amazing boulevards.

JEFF LYNNE'S ELO
Formerly known as Electric Light Orchestra — an influential pop/rock group who took their cues from the Beatles — their name was eventually changed to Jeff Lynne's ELO, primarily to differentiate from tribute acts and offshoots that were touring under similar names. Since their formation in the '70s, the group underwent multiple lineup changes, with members staying with the band for varying amounts of time. Drummer Bev Bevan, for example, played alongside Lynne for a number of years before leaving, eventually forming his own iteration of the band: Electric Light Orchestra, Part II.

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.

PORTLAND FESTIVAL OF CINEMA, ANIMATION AND TECHNOLOGY
OMSI is the place to be in Portland, as the Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation and Technology will present five days of screenings, panels, presentations, parties, and an annual award ceremony. Screening over 110 films and animations from 23 countries, the event will include parties, panel presentations, and Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers.

The festival is open to various genres and will highlight films and animations created by visionary filmmakers and animators from across the globe. The festival also features VR and other special technology showcases and dome screenings in the Kendall Planetarium. The festival embraces cutting-edge technology and its role in modern filmmaking. 

PORTLAND BURGER WEEK
Hamburglars, it's your time to shine. You have one week to see how many juicy burgers you can put away at an absolute steal ($8 each). You won't get a trophy or anything, but you will have bragging rights among your fellow burger lovers and one very satisfied stomach. Brought to you in partnership with Jim Beam, Laurelwood Brewing, and Electric Lettuce, The Merc's most popular food week event by a landslide features vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, so no growling belly is left behind. Plot your own personalized burger adventure and try as many as you like. For maximum success, wearing something with an elastic waistband

PORTLAND MIDDLE EAST FESTIVAL
Portland's annual, family-friendly Middle East Festival showcases traditional Middle Eastern dance, food, children's activities, a bookstore and a silent auction throughout the day.

MY FAIR LADY
This is a musical masterpiece where wit, charm, and an unlikely partnership challenge the status quo. Step into Edwardian London, where social classes clash and hearts open wide. A determined professor bets he can refine a rough-edged flower vendor into a polished member of high society. Delight in this journey of laughter and romance, proving true beauty lies within.

This award-winning musical will captivate your heart and leave you humming its iconic tunes long after the curtain falls.

SUMMER BREW FEST
Come out and enjoy amazing craft beers from some of the best breweries in the Pacific Northwest. While you're sipping those tasty brews, relax and listen to live music, and soak in the views of Mt. Hood. Pricing will include a mug, tasters and a raffle ticket.

What's better than drinking a beer? Sampling multiple beers from the Gorge and Portland area breweries.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: KOOZA
Undeniably the most daring Cirque du Soleil touring production, KOOZA takes audiences on a thrilling, emotional ride with its nail-biting, mind-boggling acrobatics. Inspired by traditional circus arts from around the globe, the show’s performances display remarkable showmanship, exceptional execution and incredible agility — notably in the High Wire, Teeterboard and Wheel of Death acts. 

BIGFOOT ADVENTURE CRUISE
Explore the history and lore of Bigfoot while traveling 80 miles (129 km) roundtrip on a high-speed jetboat from Portland to Multnomah Falls. See the landmarks along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers that make the Northwest famous while listening to exclusive narration by Cliff Barackman (star of Animal Planet‘s “Finding Bigfoot”) and a live tour guide. You’ll enjoy curated information about the legend of Bigfoot and sightings in the Columbia River Gorge on this exhilarating, informative journey.

ENCHANTED FOREST
The Enchanted Forest has been a destination for Oregon children since it opened in 1971. Generations of kids have slid down the creepy witch slide, delighted in the Crooked Man’s house, and ridden on the carousel. The Enchanted Forest is a theme park – there is a section with carnival rides and a haunted house – but what most people remember is the creative world contained in the paths and structures of the park. 

THE OREGON GARDEN
Home to Oregon’s garden city, Silverton is known for its natural beauty and stunning sights. Encompassing that small-town feel and hospitality, locals and visitors can feel right at home in Silverton. Take a stroll through Oregon’s breathtaking botanical garden in the heart of Silverton at The Oregon Garden. You will love visiting this majestic garden with a relaxing, magical escape full of nature’s finest offerings. Offering 80 acres and more than 20 specialty gardens to see and appreciate, there is something for everyone to enjoy of all ages.

STERNWHEELER RIVER TOURS
This once primary mode of transportation has become more of a fun commodity for tourism, as river cruise ships provide visitors a chance to get out on the water and take in the sights of their new surroundings. Oregon joined in on the trend in the early 1980s. Since then, several non-steam-powered sternwheel riverboats have been built and operated on major waterways in the state, primarily on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in Marion County. Each is a fun ride for visitors and locals alike as they seemingly tug along and transport them to yesteryear.

Take your team to the next level: High Life Adventures also offers customized Team Building Programs to challenge your group while bringing them together as a team.

The 2024 season has a full vendor roster, including new and returning small businesses spanning local, sustainably-grown agriculture, artisan food, and handmade arts and crafts, Some exciting new products at the market this year include organically grown vegetables and quail eggs from Tiny Acre, a St. Johns-based small scale organic farm; breakfast burritos from Poblano Pepper Mexican Food; and plant-based, farmer-forward pastries and treats from Poppy Shop. To see which vendors are scheduled for each week, check out the interactive market map: https://maps.managemymarket.com/6336