Greater Portland Area Activities and Newsletter - June 26-July 3, 2026
TIGARD BALLOON FESTIVAL
June 26-28
The Tigard Festival of Balloons is more than balloons — it's a three-day celebration of community, family fun, and unforgettable experiences.
Join us in the pre-dawn hours as hot air balloons launch into the morning sky during the Morning Launches Presetned by Explore Tualatin Valley (weather and pilot permitting). Return at sunset for the spectacular NW Natural Night Glow. Spend the day enjoying live entertainment on the Krista Britton Realtor & Movement Mortgage Main Stage, the Landmark Ford Festival of Cars, artisan vendors, Kids Zone activities, food and beverage vendors, Funtastic Carnival rides and games, and much more.
As a nonprofit community event, TFOB helps raise funds for local organizations while bringing visitors together from across the Pacific Northwest. Every ticket purchased helps support local nonprofit organizations and community programs.
Decorate the Midsummer pole and make flower crowns, watch live music and performers, indulge in Nordic summer delicacies, play games and make crafts, shop vendors, and enjoy the beautiful weather.
OREGON RENAISSANCE FAIRE
June 6–28
Step into the world of Renaissance-era Scotland at the Vale of Dunrose. Cheer for daring knights, enjoy live music, and savor delicious food from across the realm. Explore a lively marketplace full of unique crafts, catch captivating performances on seven stages, and experience a day filled with history, laughter, and adventure. With activities and entertainment for all ages, the Oregon Renaissance Faire is a gateway to making memories and letting your imagination run free..
LAKE OSWEGO FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
June 26-28
Presented by the Oregon Botanical Artists and Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists, the 2026 Featured Exhibit, “Wild and Luscious,” is a vibrant celebration of art, earth, and sustaining flavors. Explore the fascinating world of “Wild Ancestors” through high-detail botanical paintings of heirloom plants and wild foods.
This year’s festival offers a full sensory experience for the whole family:
- Curated Galleries and Outdoor Booths: Discover the work of over 600 artists across our indoor galleries and sprawling outdoor show.
- Taste and Learn: Savor exclusive culinary demonstrations, feast on offerings from local restaurants, and learn about sustainable gardening and food.
- Family Fun: Enjoy dedicated kids’ activities and an electric lineup of live bands performing all weekend long.
- Connection to Nature: Immerse yourself in a theme designed to help the community connect more deeply with the natural world.
PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL ROSARIANS MILK CARTON BOAT RACE
Admission is free, and the festivities occur at the historic Westmoreland Casting Pond in the Sellwood neighborhood of SE Portland. There is no cost to enter a boat to participate in the race.
June 19–Aug. 21
Nothing says summer in Portland like a warm evening outdoors with good food and live entertainment. On several evenings throughout the summer, the Oregon Zoo hosts Zoo Nights filled with local music, food carts, activities for all ages and the chance to get to know some of the animals active during twilight hours.
Zoo Nights occur from mid-June through mid-August, with live music on the lawn at 6:30 p.m. and activities from 5:30 p.m. Guests will also find tasty food and snacks — plus the ever-popular elephant ears and a selection of local beer and wine for adults.
Located in the charming town of St. Paul, Oregon, this annual rodeo has been a beloved tradition for over eight decades. Experience the thrill of saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and the legendary bull riding that keeps spectators on the edge of their seats. With a rich history and a reputation for delivering excitement and entertainment, the St. Paul Rodeo offers a unique blend of athleticism, tradition, and Western hospitality that will keep you coming back year after year.
But the St. Paul Rodeo isn’t just about the heart-pounding action. Enjoy live music, mouth-watering food vendors, and a festive carnival atmosphere that adds to the excitement and creates unforgettable memories for the whole family.
WATERFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL
July 2–4
The Waterfront Blues Festival is a jubilant celebration in downtown Portland. Founded in 1988, this Independence Day festival has welcomed over 2,000 artists, including Gregg Allman, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Plant, Mavis Staples and Trombone Shorty, garnering international acclaim and raising over $10 million dollars for local community organizations, the Oregon Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.
2026 features headliners like The Revivalists, Durand Jones and the Indications, Tank and the Bangas, Glitterfox, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs and Cymande.
The festival also serves as a showcase for Portland’s homegrown music community, with performances from local legends like Curtis Salgado, Mel Brown and Norman Sylvester. Over the course of four days and four stages, the festival features a dynamic lineup of over 50 blues, soul, funk and R&B artists, as well as some of Portland’s favorite food trucks, wineries, breweries and more.
ARMORED MMA
June 27
Armored Medieval Martial Arts, the viral sensation that fuses medieval combat with modern martial arts, is returning to Portland. Get ready for 10 epic battles where warriors in authentic knight armor clash with swords, maces, and shields inside an iron cage. Full-contact action like you’ve never seen before. Join the waitlist now for exclusive early access to pre-sale tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
June 11–July 19
This summer, Away Days Brewing is transforming the Historic US National Bank Building in downtown Portland into the ultimate soccer fan fest. Six weeks, daily matches, one giant screen with hundreds of fans. DJs, games, pop-ups, merch and of course Away Days beer flowing from the taps.
Be a part of the energy, the community, and every unforgettable match-day moment. The Festival is headquartered at the Historic Alberta House in NE Portland, with events taking place in various venues throughout the city (PSU, EXPO, Historic Vanport/Delta Park, City Hall…) and are offered free/sliding scale to the public
WORLD CUP 2026
June 11–July 19
May 23-24Gol will be showing every match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup live, with sound. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. Enjoy the enthusiastic and football-loving atmosphere at Gol, the preeminent “footy” bar in Portland. There will be high-end pub food and a mouth-watering selection of local beers on draft, as well as a large selection of international beers. There will also be a daily cocktail dedicated to the countries playing that day.
STEWART COPELAND
June 27
He’s a bona fide rock star, the sort of head-turning, headline-generating, household name who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before today’s music stars had even been born. Stewart Copeland became an all-time great after recruiting Sting and Andy Summers into his band, The Police, in 1977. They enjoyed four consecutive number one studio albums, winning Grammy and BRIT Awards, and selling a cool 75 million records. Enjoying number-one hits with Message In A Bottle, Walking On The Moon, Don’t Stand So Close To Me, Everything Little Thing She Does Is Magic, and the peerless, multi-platinum Every Breath You Take, The Police became one of the most influential bands that Britain has ever produced. For a while, they were the biggest in the world, before disbanding at the height of their fame in 1986 and periodically returning for one-offs and a reunion tour in 2007, which was the highest-grossing tour in the world.
Copeland was far from done. After The Police first disbanded, he began composing soundtracks for cult and blockbuster movies, starting with Grammy winning Francis Ford Coppola’s Rumblefish. He’s spent the subsequent near-four decades at the forefront of contemporary music, as a rock star and acclaimed film composer, and across the worlds of opera, ballet, chamber, and world music. More recently, he published two autobiographical books and unveiled Police Deranged For Orchestra, a remarkable, orchestral reimagining of The Police’s best works. A polymath and creative tour de force, Copeland is anything but ‘yer average rock star’.
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.
GEM FAIRE
June 28
Fine jewelry, crystals, gems, beads, minerals, pearls, gold and silver, and unique gifts from around the world at manufacturer’s prices. Shop directly from wholesalers and importers. Jewelry repair, cleaning and ring sizing service while you shop. Displays and demos by Portland Bead Society.
Admission $7 weekend pass — purchase tickets at the door, cash only. Free admission for children under 12 years old.
PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET
Ongoing
Nationally recognized as the largest continuously operating open-air arts and crafts market in the country, the Portland Saturday Market Combines the vibes of an art show, a live street concert and an open-air bazaar. has been a beloved Rose City tradition since 1974 — in 2024, the market celebrated its 50th anniversary and earned the “Oregon Heritage Tradition” title. It’s considered the largest continually operating arts-and-crafts fair in the United States, drawing up to 1 million visitors during its annual season.
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