The past few years have been difficult for many, but the journey toward better days starts with one step. Paseo, a free, family-friendly summer festival of music, food, and creative expression, invites Portlanders to take a walk downtown in a showcase of community resilience and diversity.

Though 2021’s inaugural event was forced to pivot to online videos, Portland Parks Foundation will host an in-person celebration this Fri., July 15-Sun., July 17 featuring our city’s diverse artists, community advocates + mutual aid groups in Director Park and the South Park Blocks. Performances will be focused around three points — Madison Street Stage, Director Stage, and the Daa-nu’-yash area.

Here’s what you can look forward to this weekend.

Folkloric dance from Rejoice!, a Portland-based contemporary dance ensemble inspired by the African diaspora (Sat., July 16 at 3 p.m.). 💃
Musical acts from Aaron Nigel Smith, LaRhonda Steele Band, DJ Mami Miami, and more.
Street paintings from IDEAL PDX muralists.
Spoken word from Oregon’s poet laureate, Anis Mojgani. 🗣️
Vendors like RRB Native Jewelry, The Bookmobile Babe, Portland Fruit Tree Project, and Zenger Farm. 🧺
Free admission to the Portland Art Museum on Sat., July 16 to highlight the opening of “Perspectives,” a special exhibition from local BIPOC photographers made during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. 📷
Maps for an urban scavenger hunt from Super Nature Adventures can be found at Portland Parks Foundation’s South Park Blocks booth. 🗺️
Pop-up yoga classes from Forge Hot Yoga and Flex & Flow.