Free Things To Do In Portland, Oregon
the city of portland, oregon may be a bit rainy and dreary at times, but we combat this with a ton of free things to do throughout the year! if you still want to get out into the community but don’t want to spend a ton, here is a list of free things to do in portland, oregon all through the year!
i am co-hosting a blogging link-up with the fantastic amanda and this month we are talking about about the free things in your town so let’s hop to it.
anytime!
this is obviously located on the waterfront and plays host to many of the city’s favorite events and festivals. it’s where you go to see the cherry blossoms bloom, run the loop across the bridges or take a stroll with a coffee and donut in hand.
saturday market (open sundays too from march – december 24)
located under the burnside bridge on the west side expands hundreds of vendors selling everything under the sun (or most likely rain). there is jewelry, clothing, food, photography, woodworking, duct tape goods and everything in between! street performers also gather here.
international rose test garden
there are more than 8,000 rose bushes from all over the world on display here! the roses typically get cut back mid-november and then come out again during summer but you can go whenever. great view of mt. hood here too!
the bookstore takes up an entire city block. there are 5 other smaller stores through the city but the main one is located on SW burnside and 10th. you could spend days here and go check out the rare book room while there!
hike, run or walk through more than 5,000 acres of forest, right in the city!
there are quite a few farmer’s markets spread throughout the city. the one that runs year round is located in the park blocks on the portland state university campus, rain or shine!
portland art museum (fourth fridays)
every fourth friday of the month, portland art museum offers free admission form 5-8pm!
summertime (june/july/august)
yup. you read that right. a free event that “highlights the vulnerability of cyclists everywhere and decries society’s dependence on pollution-based transport.” the route isn’t disclosed until right before the event. no, it’s not illegal and no it’s not an orgy, just to be clear.
this happens in june as part of the rose festival celebration but is a free spectator event on the waterfront in downtown portland!
because summer is so gorgeous here, why not watch some of your favorite films outside on the lawns of the pretty parks! pre-movie entertainment is provided by local muscians and they even give you free popcorn. the movies start at dusk and run mid july- mid september.
this takes place in pioneer square in downtown portland. it happens every friday night in july and august and play typically loved movies (mrs. doubtfire, the breakfast club, legos movie, etc). they also have a live band play each time before the movie starts!
this takes place in downtown but at director’s park every tuesday in july and august from 12pm-1pm! music types range from blues, pop, punk, electronic and americana!
this is an awesome and funky art showcase that takes place in the NE on alberta street. they close the street down and you get to see everything from massive paintings to people writing poetry for you for a few dollars to a booth entitled ‘free dating advice.’ super fun. it runs on the last thursday of june, july and august.
this is a showing of fine art galleries who open their doors to the nights of portland on the first thursday of month starting in july and going through december. there is often music and refreshments but it’s a classier and less eclectic scene than last thursdays!
this is a three-day free event for all ages and completely run by volunteers! it features more than 50 local bands and takes place under the hawthorne bridge. what more could you ask for!?
apparently this is the longest running free jazz festival west of the mississippi! with more than 10,000 people attending the festival, it’s sure to be a rip roaring good time. festival held in july.
this is a fun way to explore a new part of the city or connect with your community. it’s all about promoting a healthy and active lifestyle so they put on free events in the streets to achieve this. often there is a 7 mile bike ride around with many activities afterwards!
because who doesn’t want to watch free shakespeare plays being done in the park? these change locations throughout the summer and run from august-september.
autumn time! (september/october/november)
see the swifts at chapman elementary
each year during the month of september, vaux swift birds roost in the chimney of chapmen elementary school in NW portland! want to see hundreds of little birds swarming around above you? you’ve come to the right place. pack a picnic and even bring a piece of cardboard to slide down the hill on (thanks for the extra tips, alison!)
art in the pearl: fine arts & crafts festival
this happens every labor day weekend and features art, theater, music, and hands-on activities for everyone of all ages!
because summer is so gorgeous here, why not watch some of your favorite films outside on the lawns of the pretty parks! pre-movie entertainment is provided by local muscians and they even give you free popcorn. the movies start at dusk and run mid july- mid september.
this is a showing of fine art galleries who open their doors to the nights of portland on the first thursday of month starting in july and going through december. there is often music and refreshments but it’s a classier and less eclectic scene than last thursdays!
this is a fun way to explore a new part of the city or connect with your community. it’s all about promoting a healthy and active lifestyle so they put on free events in the streets to achieve this. often there is a 7 mile bike ride around with many activities afterwards!
because who doesn’t want to watch free shakespeare plays being done in the park? these change locations throughout the summer and run from august-september.
west coast giant pumpkin regatta
this has been going on for 12 years in the city of tualatin, close to portland. people straight up sit in massive pumpkins, dressed in costumes and race against each other across the lake!
this takes place each year on the night after thanksgiving! located in pioneer square in downtown portland, come see a massive evergreen (at least 75 feet tall) get turned on. tons of people but don’t panic…you’ll get to see the tree!
winter time! (december/january/february)
on of the perks of having a river run through your city is this event! the boats actually run down both the willamette and columbia rivers and you can check out their schedules here. come see boats all lit up, often decorated with a theme as they cruise down the water!
in the SE portland neighborhood, they have been lighting up their homes spectacularly since the 1920s! parking can be a bit of a challenge but worth it to walk down the cheerily lit-up street. this runs from december 15-31.
ever wanted to see a whole bunch of tuba players together?? here’s your chance, located in downtown pioneer square where as many as 250 tuba players will gather for christmas tunes
spring time! (march/april/may)
saturday market (starts back up in march!)
located under the burnside bridge on the west side expands hundreds of vendors selling everything under the sun (or most likely rain). there is jewelry, clothing, food, photography, woodworking, duct tape goods and everything in between! street performers also gather here.
there are quite a few farmer’s markets spread throughout the city. the one that runs year round is located in the park blocks on the portland state university campus, rain or shine!
this is actually always free for multnomah county residents but they also do special free days for the general too! check the website as these dates change but typically there is one free day each quarter.
the library puts on a ton of events, especially during spring break to help keep those kids entertained!
looking for date ideas in portland, oregon? i’ve got you covered there too, right HERE!
portland friends, what did i forget? what is your favorite free activity?
the link-up will be open for the next week so put together a post and join in so that i know how to save my pennies when i come visit!
Amanda
August 17, 2015 at 10:43 pm
OMG your list is sooo good! I love how you broke it up too. These are AMAZING ideas. I am so pinning this for future reference:) City of books sounds like my kinda thing.
Amanda recently posted…Free Things to Do in Fargo
chelsea
August 18, 2015 at 8:39 am
you are going to loooove it here when you come visit amanda 🙂 as i was searching i was quite impressed with all the free things to do here! thanks for the invitation to link-up because now i’m like oh heeeey cool city!
Elyse
August 18, 2015 at 2:27 am
I’m so pinning this for future reference!
Elyse recently posted…Baseball, Barbecue & Best Friends
chelsea
August 18, 2015 at 8:39 am
thanks for pinning it! come visit – it’s pretty fun here 🙂
Annie Demczak
August 18, 2015 at 5:55 am
We honeymooned in Portland and we loved every second of it! The people there were so nice! I feel like if you can make one Portland friend while you’re there, you’ve done the best free thing!
chelsea
August 18, 2015 at 8:40 am
awww FUN! love that you honeymooned here! it’s such a fun city and i’m glad people were nice and friendly to you! that makes me happy to hear annie!
Audrey
August 18, 2015 at 7:33 am
This is great! I’m following the trend and pinning this for our someday-trip to the west side of the US!
Audrey recently posted…One Time, At Band Camp… (a grateful heart)
chelsea
August 18, 2015 at 8:40 am
thanks for pinning audrey and yes, COME PLAY! the west coast will like you a lot 🙂
Lindsay
August 19, 2015 at 7:58 am
Oh my goodness I want to do ALL of this!! Well, maybe except the naked bike ride. That sounds like it might chafe me in places I really would prefer ~not~ to chafe. But those dragon boat races? Count me in. Let’s form a two-woman team.
Lindsay recently posted…How to Make Houseguests Feel Welcome
chelsea
August 21, 2015 at 8:44 am
i agree…they obviously must have figured out how to stop some of the chaffing…i’m not sure but don’t really want to find out.
two-person dragon team?! i’m totally in. i’ll start training and then you just move here, okay? great!
Elizabeth T
August 19, 2015 at 12:49 pm
I officially want to visit Portland now even more than I did before now!!! Pinning this! 🙂
Elizabeth T recently posted…15+ Free Things to Do on Oahu
chelsea
August 21, 2015 at 8:45 am
yay!!! come play! it’s a pretty fun place! thanks for pinning too elizabeth, you a pinmaster!
Amber
August 19, 2015 at 5:02 pm
This is such a great list! I have not been to Portland in so many years; next time I go back I am looking up this list for sure! Maybe not the bike ride though; sounds so uncomfortable for a guy or a girl! I can’t ride more than a few miles with out padded cycling pants; can’t imagine doing that naked!
Amber recently posted…Hi Sierras!
chelsea
August 21, 2015 at 8:45 am
it’s totally time to come back and play, amber! yeah…not sure about the naked bike ride either but apparently people figure it out ha!
Mar
August 23, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Oh how I love the West Coast. We visited Seattle last summer and I really wish we had enough time to make it down to Portland. Next time 🙂
Stopping by from Tell Me About Your Town. Thanks for sharing!
Mar recently posted…Food of Italy
chelsea
August 24, 2015 at 7:57 am
absolutely come play in portland next time, mar! you shall not be disappointed 🙂 thanks for stopping by and i’m reaaaal excited to read your post about the food of italy. YUM