Photo by Brett Sayles
As summer transitions to fall, Portland offers the perfect blend of outdoor adventures, cultural experiences and culinary delights. Here’s your guide to the best things to do in Portland in September.
Whether you’re a local looking for fresh ideas or a visitor eager to explore, this guide will help you discover what to do in Portland, Oregon in September. Most events are held in Portland, but I also include some in surrounding cities.
Many of these events are free and cheap to attend. If you’re looking for even more upcoming activities and happenings around the Portland area, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter (only one email a day).
Also, at the end of this post is a day-by-day calendar of September events.
What to Do in Portland, Oregon in September
Photo by Brett Sayles
Portland Oktoberfests
Date: Various dates in September
Time: Varies by event
Locations: In and around Portland
Cost: Free to $30
In September, Oktoberfests are taking place almost every weekend, including Bethany Village Oktoberfest, Portland Oktoberfest and Oaks Park Oktoberfest. These events feature brews and German food along with full lineups of music and performances.
Photo courtesy of Belmont Street Fair
Street Fairs
Date: September 7 and September 14
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Locations: Clinton and Belmont neighborhoods
Cost: Free
Don’t miss the remaining street fairs for the year: Division Clinton Street Fair and Belmont Street Fair. These events bring together our city’s best local art and food vendors along with lots of family-friendly activities and performances.
Photo by Jacob Colvin
Fall Colors in Portland
Date: Late September
Time: Daytime
Location: Throughout the city
Cost: Free (possible parking fees at some locations)
Starting in late September, Portland begins to sparkle with pops of red, yellow, orange and gold around every corner. There are lots of great locations that are completely free to visit around the city. View my guide to the best places to see fall colors in Portland.
Photo courtesy of Bird Alliance of Portland
Swift Watch
Date: All month
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Chapman Elementary School
Cost: Free
Throughout the month, Vaux’s Swifts roost in a chimney located in Northwest Portland. If you love birds and incredible nature sights, you’ll want to attend at least one night of Swift Watch. Plan on arriving an hour before sunset any night during September.
Photo courtesy of The Pumpkin Patch
Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Patches
Date: All month
Time: Varies by location
Location: Various farms in and around Portland
Cost: $10-$25
The fall harvest season kicks off in September. Visit family farms throughout the area for corn mazes, fresh produce, family activities, farm foods and petting zoos. Pumpkin patches open at the end of the month. Find a farm to visit.
“Bonneville Dam” by Don Graham is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Salmon Spawning
Date: All month
Time: Varies by location
Location: Various viewing areas in and around Portland
Cost: Free (parking fees at some locations)
Did you know the annual salmon migration happens right here in the streams, creeks and rivers near our neighborhoods? Salmon spawning season in the Portland area starts in the late summer and lasts well into the fall depending on salmon species (approximately September 1-December 1). I recommend taking a drive to the Bonneville Dam, which has a fish ladder for an aerial view of salmon swimming upstream and inside for an underwater view. Find a viewing location in or around Portland.
Photo courtesy of Weird Portland United
Portland Weird Fest
Date: September 7
Time: Noon to 5 p.m.
Location: Oaks Park
Cost: $15
Are you ready to embrace the strange, the unusual and the downright bizarre? Look no further than the inaugural Portland Weird Fest. This one-of-a-kind event takes over Oaks Park, offering a day filled with eccentricity and wonder for the whole family.
Photo courtesy of The Biggest Clothing Swap in the Northwest
The Biggest Clothing Swap in the Northwest
Date: September 8
Time: 12-3 p.m.
Location: The Crystal Ballroom
Cost: $10
Ready for a new-to-you wardrobe? Swap your old clothes at the Biggest Clothing Swap in the Northwest. If you’re looking to freshen up your wardrobe, get rid of some old clothes and practice sustainability, head to this event at the Crystal Ballroom.
Photo courtesy of Topaz Farm
Sunflower Fields
Date: Open early to mid-September
Time: Varies by location
Locations: Topaz Farm and West Union Gardens
Cost: $5-$8
It’s harvest time in the Pacific Northwest. One crop that brings universal admiration for its lofty stalks and full faced color is the sunflower. Sunflower fields are still showing impressive color from early to mid-September. Head to Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island for a sunflower maze or West Union Gardens’ sunflower field in Hillsboro.
Free and Cheap Museum Admission
Date: Beginning of September
Time: Varies by location
Location: Portland Art Museum, Portland Japanese Garden and OMSI
Cost: Free to $5
During the first full week of the month, Bank of America cardholders can get free admission to local museums through the Museum on Us program. Also, Portland Art Museum hosts Free First Thursdays for everyone.
Also, mark your calendar for free and cheap museum admission during OMSI discount days, Free First Sunday at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Free First Sunday at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon.
Photo courtesy of Urban Art Network
First Thursday Street Gallery
Date: September 5
Time: 5-9 p.m.
Location: Pearl District
Cost: Free
Once a month, city blocks in the Pearl District are open for foot traffic only as the streets transform into the First Thursday Street Gallery. The event showcases original, handmade artwork by close to 100 local artists. You’ll find all kinds of art, including ceramics, fabric, painting, mixed media, glass and more.
Photo courtesy of Tacos in the Park
Tacos in the Park
Date: September 6-8
Time: 4-10 p.m. on Friday, 12-10 p.m. on Saturday and 12-7 p.m. on Sunday.
Location: Esther Short Park in Vancouver
Cost: $25
Are you ready for a weekend filled with mouthwatering tacos, refreshing craft beer, live music and tequila? Attend Tacos in the Park. The annual event, which benefits Arc of SW Washington, offers attendees good food, great drinks and a vibrant atmosphere.
Photo courtesy of Clark County Historical Museum
Haunted Walking Tours in Vancouver
Date: September 13-October 26, Saturdays and Sundays only
Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Clark County Historical Museum
Cost: $20
Take a short drive north to to explore the spooky side of Vancouver’s past Clark County Historical Museum’s Haunted Walking Tours. This spine-chilling excursion is perfect for those eager to uncover the unexplained mysteries that lurk in the corners of our historic city.
Photo courtesy of The Tesla City Stories
The Tesla Stories Live Vintage Radio Theater Onstage
Date: September 13
Time: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Location: TOC Portland (formerly The Old Church)
Cost: $25 (use code CHEAP9 for $12 off!)
Have you ever wondered what storytelling was like before modern technology? See it come to life right before your eyes at The Tesla Stories Live Vintage Radio Theater Onstage. Local actors take the stage to perform live radio theater derived from the long-lost radio programs of Tesla Broadcasting Company. The shows cover sitcoms, thrillers, mysteries, romantic comedies with forays into westerns, sci-fi and horror. All performances are based in the fictional locale of Tesla City. It’s also never the same show twice.
Photo courtesy of Portland Polish Festival
Polish Festival
Date: September 14-15
Time: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Polish Hall, 3900 N Interstate Ave.
Cost: Free
Experience the food, dance and music of Poland. The Polish Festival is a free event featuring authentic Polish food, live music and dance performances, history and culture exhibits, children’s activities, polka contests, local merchants and a beer garden.
Photo courtesy of El Grito Portland
El Grito
Date: September 15-16
Time: Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Monday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Moda Center
Cost: Free
Celebrate Mexican independence day with music and dance and delicious food at the free El Grito Festival. One highlight of the event is the traditional “El Grito de Independencia” ceremony that symbolizes the revolt for the independence of Mexico from the Spanish crown.
Photo by Thirdman
OMSI Star Parties
Date: September 14
Time: 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: Rooster Rock State Park in Corbett and L.L. Stub Stewart State Park in Buxton
Cost: Free
Join OMSI, Rose City Astronomers and Oregon Parks and Recreation for the final star party of the summer. OMSI Star Parties let you meet others interested in astronomy while you view planets, the moon, stars and other celestial sights through telescopes and binoculars of all sizes.
September is also a great month for stargazing. Check out the best stargazing spots in and near Portland.
Photo courtesy of PBOT
Sunday Parkways
Date: September 22
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Gabriel Park
Cost: Free
Sunday Parkways lets bikers, walkers and rollers stroll Portland neighborhoods together like one big mobile block party. It is family friendly and always draws big crowds of Portlanders looking to be active and enjoy the perks of pedestrian-only pathways.
Full September Calendar
If you’re looking for even more great events happening throughout the month, here’s a full list. Be sure to bookmark this page. I’ll add more events every day.
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