Photo courtesy of Portland All Souls River Procession
As autumn deepens and the veil between worlds thins, community members gather by the Willamette River to honor loved ones who have passed at the Portland All Souls River Procession.
Each year, the All Souls River Procession participants gather with masks, lanterns and instruments to honor the dearly departed and acknowledge our interconnectedness.
The Portland All Souls River Procession began in 2021. The three event founders, affected by the grief of the pandemic, sought solace in art and ritual by the riverside. Together, they crafted willow lanterns, a reliquary for messages to the dead and a giant paper-mache skeleton to carry as a communal emblem of remembrance. At the river’s edge, they read the names of the departed, offering flowers and herbs to the waters as symbols of release and remembrance.
The tradition has since grown. The public is invited to participate in this collective honoring of those who have passed.
Here’s how you can join the procession.
2024 Portland All Souls River Procession
The Portland All Souls River Procession, on Saturday, November 2, 2024, is a vibrant and deeply moving free, all-ages event. It offers a space for creative expression, remembrance and collective healing in a powerful ritual procession.
Come together to honor those we have lost, offer remembrance, gratitude and love by the peaceful flow of the river.
Here’s what is happening:
Event Schedule and Details
5 p.m. Welcome and Letters to the Dead: Gather at Green Anchors Pavilion (8940 N Bradford St.) in Cathedral Park to add names to the Book of Souls and place messages for the dead in the Reliquary. Join in dance and song with Bulla!, and contribute to the Community Altar of Our Beloved Dead with photos or offerings.
5:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony and Invocation: Witness a unique performance that invokes the guardians of the four directions, mixing ritual, art and storytelling.
6:00 p.m. Procession through Cathedral Park: Lanterns, music and puppets light the way along a 1/2-mile path by the river.
6:30 p.m. The River Ritual: A sacred performance unfolds as the names of the dead are read, and messages to them are burned over the river. As the river’s current carries away our offerings, we honor our shared grief and love.
7 p.m. Return Procession: With a shift to joyous music from Portland Samba band Bloco Alegria, the procession flows back to Green Anchors.
8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Post-Processional Revelry: Gather for an evening of music, dance and community. Bring a picnic or savor homemade soup as Children of the Moon and a DJ fill Green Anchors Pavilion with sounds of celebration.
How to Prepare
You are welcome to be a spectator or join the procession. Here are some items to consider bringing with you:
Bring a ceremonial costume or decorative mask representing themes of life, death and connection. Pack a lantern to light your way. You’re invited to bring instruments as well.
If you have messages for the dead, bring them to place at the Reliquary. You can also pack along tokens of remembrance, such as small items, flowers or photos. Offerings for the river are also encouraged. Be sure they are biodegradable tokens or plant-based items.
For more details on how you can participate, visit the Portland All Souls River Procession website.
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