Wooo-weee. italBetween the Portland Rose Festival, Pickaton and other festivals, 2025 is already shaping up to be quite the year for Portland.

It’s time to start marking your calendars —here are the events catching our eye this year.

Portland Saturday Market Opening Day

Saturday, March 1
Considered to be the largest continually operating arts and crafts fair in the US, this spectacular bazaar is returning to Tom McCall Waterfront for its 51st year with 150+ vendors. Check it out every Saturday, rain or shine.

Mardi Gras Celebration

Tuesday, March 4
Get ready to catch some beads at this giant, free, and family-friendly parade. Festivities kick off at 7 p.m. with several businesses along the parade route offering special deals on drinks, desserts, and more.

Be sure to wear something green — no one likes getting pinched. | Photo by Kells Irish Festival

Portland’s Irish Festival

Friday, March 14-Monday, March 17
Cheer for local boxers as they take on Irish fighters, join the Shamrock Run, watch Irish dancing and bagpiping, and imbibe a pint or two at Oregon’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Paddy’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival

Monday, March 17
From the festival that made the world’s largest Irish coffee in 2023 comes a giant tent full of bagpiping, Irish whiskey, Guinness, Irish dancing, and green-hued fun at Paddy's Bar and Grill.

Tulips to the horizon. | Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Late March to mid-May
More than 1 million tulips representing 100+ varieties create a 40-acre, multi-color dreamland to explore.

Portland Rose Festival

Friday, May 23-Sunday, June 8
The long-running city tradition bursts into bloom every May; highlights include CityFair, Fleet Week, parades of flower-laden floats, a “queen’s court” of local high school students, and the Milk Carton Boat Race.

Festival of Balloons

Friday, June 20-Saturday, June 22
Every year, Tigard’s Cook Family Park hosts the Festival of Balloons, and even when gusty conditions ground hopes to see the colorful craft in full flight, attendees are still treated to a candlestick glow (igniting the burner without the envelope attached) and some tethered rides. There is also a carnival with live music, absolutely enormous corn dogs, and plenty of vendors.

The music is electric and the show is pyrotechnic at the Waterfront Blues Festival. | Photo courtesy of Waterfront Blue Festival

Waterfront Blues Festival

Friday, July 4-Saturday, July 5
Happiness is sitting by the river taking in shows from a comfy lawnchair. Headliners have yet to be released for this year's fest, so stay tuned for updates.

Summer Free For All

Thursday, July 10-Saturday, Aug. 30
More than three dozen free events will take place across Portland, ranging from screenings of kids’ classics like “The Sandlot” to arts festivals. Take a look at the full calendar.

Portland Pride Festival & Parade

Saturday, July 19 + Sunday, July 20
Expect a weekend chock-full with exhibitions, vendors, entertainment on multiple stages, and lots and lots of community.

Pickathon Music Festival

Friday, Aug. 1-Monday, Aug. 4
Expect to be introduced to a wide variety of new artists at this "experiential music festival."

Vanport Jazz Festival

Friday, Aug. 1-Saturday, Aug. 2
This festival is named in honor of Black Oregonians who moved to Portland after being displaced by a flood in 1948. "Discover the legacy" of those early Portland jazz artists with a lineup including Jon B. and Norman Brown.

Hood & Portland To Coast Relay

Friday, Aug. 22-Saturday, Aug. 23
The largest running/walking relay race in the world traverses 196 miles of Oregon, starting at Mount Hood and ending on the coast. The route passes through the heart of Portland, so feel free to do some cheering.

Time-Based Art Festival

Thursday, Sept. 4-Sunday, Sept. 14

This nearly two-week long multidisciplinary arts festival by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art includes art in many forms, ranging from experimental operas to performance lectures.

Rose City Comic Con

Friday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 7

"Stranger Things" star David Harbour is one of just many familiar faces you might see at the biggest pop culture convention in PDX.

Are you a kölsch kind of person or a dunkel? All are welcome at Edgefield's Oktoberfest. | Photo courtesy of McMenamins

Edgefield's Oktoberfest

Sunday, September 21
Prost — don your lederhosen + dirndls for a weekend of delicious beers, pretzels, live music, and a mechanical bull.

Portland Film Festival

Now-Sunday, Oct. 5

Once named “one of the coolest film festivals in the world, this fest includes dozens of screenings across a range of genres.

Hood River Orchard & Ale Festival

Saturday, Oct. 4

Celebrate local cider and beer makers for the revamped version of the former Hood River Hops Fest. In addition to beverages, you can also expect live music, food, and craft vendors.

Portland Cocktail Week

Sunday, Oct. 12-Thursday, Oct. 16

Bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts from all over the world will descend upon Rose City for workshops, classes, tastings, tours, and plain ole boozy fun.

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta

Sunday, Oct. 19

It's exactly what it sounds like — people, pumpkins, and pints aplenty.

Portland Book Festival

Saturday, Nov. 8
Pay attention, bookworms. This festival comes with appearances from more than 100 authors of all genres. That's plenty of opportunity to add to your TBR stack.