OMSI Brewfest

Portland favorite OMSI After Dark ups the ante each September with its Brewfest event. On September 30th, local artisan breweries will team up with OMSI to hold inventive presentations that mix beer with science. Example of this brilliance: Here, you can experiment with "drunk goggles," which open your eyes up to differing levels of impairment and afterwards, you can test your sobriety by driving a remote-controlled car so you can see just how much damage is possible. 

1945 SE Water Ave.

Oktoberfest at Oaks Park

Because lederhosen and rollercoasters are a solid combination. Oregon is a state with notable German ties as nearly 20% of residents claim some German heritage, which makes some sense as to why beer is so popular here. If you’re looking for some cultural appreciation, Oaks Park is the most reputable breeding ground come September 25-27. Eat sausages, learn how to cook German food, play games, listen to live music, and talk immigration. You know, do as the Germans do. 

7805 SE Oaks Park Way

Pumpkin Regatta Festival

Ever been to Tualatin? Ever seen people compete by racing across a river in giant pumpkins? The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta Festival on October 17th will mark checks next to these two boxes for you. A festival that brings together a costume contest, a 5K run, kids’ crafts, and food and drink with FREE admission now has a name.

8325 SW Nyberg St.

NW Cider Fest

Beer and Portland go together like vegans and nose piercings. But what about cider: one of Portland’s most trailblazing trends? The answer: NW Ciderfest from October 10-11 at Pioneer Courthouse Square. There are taste testings for adults, pie-eating competitions, and fun and games for the little, sober ones too. 

Sauvie Island

Visiting Sauvie Island during the fall months is a congratulatory escape from the hustle and bustle of urban Portland. Here, Portlanders can pick pumpkins off of the vine in wide, spooky open fields. But the real draw on this forsaken island (which with a little imagination can give the shooting location from the Blair Witch Project a run for its money) is the The Haunted Maize, a four-acre spectacle that is open every Friday and Saturday evening until 10 PM this October. 

16511 NW Gillihan Rd.

Harvest Festival

For $6 per adult and for free if you’re a kid, you can visit the Hood River Valley Harvest Festival from 1 PM to 6 PM on Friday, October 16th and from 10 AM to 6 PM on October 17th and 18th. This is where you want to go if you want to reap some of Oregon’s finest bounty: load up on a cornucopia of local harvested items such as fruits, vegetables, and other goodies. Oh, and there’s also free parking. That’s important. 

110 Portway Ave., Hood River

Cider Squeeze

If you want to learn how to press your own cider in style, the Cider Squeeze at the Philip Foster Farm is the ideal fall activity. The historic farm is modeled around and 1860s house and those working for the farm will be dressed in antique clothing. You can learn how to build log cabins, tour the historic house, or enjoy corn-grinding and cross-cut sawing. Essentially, this place is the perfect family field trip. Note: squeezing your own cider is much cheaper if you bring your own apples!

29912 SE Hwy. 211 Eagle Creek, OR 97022 

80’s Video Dance Party

Need Halloween plans that you can't escape? Well, it's suggested that you buy a $12 ticket to the annual 80s Video Dance Attack Halloween Party at the Crystal Ballroom ahead of time (e.g. prices jump to $15 at the door). This event will have you rocking back and forth all night long. Held on Friday, October 30th at 8 PM, you can relive your middle school dreams with an adult twist as the most coveted 80s hits dominate your backdrop. Both floors of the venue will be utilized and there were be plenty of Halloween-themed surprises and treats as the night rages on.  

1332 W Burnside St.

Fright Town

Some people are just visual learners. Fright Town 2015, held in the 40,000 square foot Exhibit Hall beneath the Memorial Coliseum at the Rose Quarter, will teach you that it is still very possible to wet your skinny jeans out of fear. Three massive haunted houses full of demonic cults and cunning witches will chase you – and your imagination to sudden horrific madness. Because, you know, life wasn’t frightening enough at work that week. Fright Town will be held on October 3rd and 4th, the 7th-11th, the 14th-18th, the 21st-25th, and the 28th through Halloween. As you can read, there are many chances here to see the three different haunted attractions available. 

Howloween

Here's one for the kids. At Howloween at the Zoo, kids can trick-or-treat in style (and in safety) by participating in an impromptu scavenger hunt at the Oregon Zoo. While kids gain prizes, they can also learn about wildlife and broaden their ecological understanding. Sounds like a Portland parents’ dream come true.  

4001 Southwest Canyon Rd.

Erotic Ball

Santa might be watching, but this event takes place in October so there's still time to redeem yourself. Labeled Portland's biggest sexiest Halloween party, the Erotic Ball is a place where the 21+ crowd can expect to be among 2,000 other party-goers who plan on pulling out all the stops. General admission is $39, but there are also VIP passes for $89. $5,000 worth of cash prizes will be awarded to the Most Original Costume, the Sexiest Couple, and the Best Group. 

1332 W. Burnside St. 

Rimsky-Korsakoffee House

This October, you might want to have an eccentric dining experience in a notorious haunted house. The Rimsky-Korsakoffee House shows its true colors during the fall season when its subtle live pianists and odd late night hours (open from 7-midnight) make the most sense. Also, don't visit the upstairs bathroom and try to convince yourself that the doll feet hanging out of the ceiling are not somewhat alarming. Remember, another oddity: this place only serves coffee drinks and desserts!

Zombie Zip Line

The 2015 Portland Zombie Zip Line will really get you in the mood for the return of The Walking Dead. Zip lining through trees at the Tree To Tree Adventure Park could only be made scarier with the addition participants wearing zombie-inspired attire. With this added Halloween twist, outdoor sports have succumbed to a new level of creativity. What an adrenaline rush. 

2975 SW Nelson Rd.

Lone Fir Cemetery

What better way to celebrate fall than to have a picnic in one of Portland's most historical (the first burial took place here in 1846) and scenic cemeteries? The Lone Fir Cemetery has an extraordinary number of botanical gardens and a number of leaf-littered flat surfaces for you to toast to the holiday season. Bring some candles and some tarot cards and feast during the nighttime when there's a higher chance that you might catch sight of a ghost! 

SE 26th Ave.

Underground Tour

Paris has its catacombs and Edinburgh has its underground city, but let's not forget the Shanghai Tunnels of Portland. The Underground Portland Walking Tour operates on a roaming basis (in terms of scheduling and activity), and is specifically designed to delve into the more embarrassing and depressing portions of Portland's history. This insider's view may make Portland seem just a bit dirtier even when it is internationally lauded for its cleanliness. 

Hump! Festival

Being sex-positive is becoming more and more positive -- and lucrative. The Pacific Northwest Hump! Tour gives local Portlanders a chance to become amateur porn stars by submitting 5-minute films to the contest in order to win cash prizes. The Best of Hump! movies (selected in the contest) will be premiered at Cinema 21 so that you can observe even if you don't actually want to submit footage in the competition yourself. 

616 NW 21st Ave.

NW Filmmaker's Festival

The 42nd Northwest Filmmaker's Festival will premiere from November 12th through the 17th. The event allows west coast directors to become participants with the winning selections showcased during the festival. The festival is a great chance for you to simultaneously wet your cinematic appetite while getting in touch with local, unknown prodigies. 

Christmas Bazaar

Believe it or not, Portland is home to America's largest Christmas Bazaar. Expect 400 booths of juried handcrafted items as well as 500 additional commercial holiday products. The Bazaar is held at the Portland Expo Center and runs from November through December. Remember guys, America's largest bazaar.

2060 N Marine Dr.

Xmas Light Drive-Thru

Cheesy Christmas-related events are a dime a dozen. And they're quite important for the soul. The 23rd annual Winter Wonderland, powered by Comcast, is dubbed the largest holiday light show west of the Mississippi. So load up on a winter-themed drink from the Starbucks drive-thru and set your car on cruise control. Christmas is comin' at ya from November 27th through December 26th. 

Christmas Tree Lighting

Though Lake Oswego has its own Christmas tree lighting ceremony, the premiere lighting is held (per usual) in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Bring a jacket and some good tidings come November 28th (from 5:30 to 6:30 PM) so that you can be present to watch the official turning point of the holiday season!

SantaLand Diaries

Who doesn't love David Sedaris? Well, probably a few people. Love him or hate him, his words are front and center this holiday season. Aficionados of Sedaris' novel "The Santaland Diaries" should feel enticed to see the live action version of the book brought to life by Portland's very own Portland Center Stage. 

128 NW 11th Ave.

Twist Your Dickens

Twist Your Dickens is returning to the Portland Center Stage. Though Charles Dickens probably never intended for his classic novel "A Christmas Carol" to be quite this raunchy, Twist Your Dickens is an interactive theatrical event that includes audience members during the performance. You don't have to be involved (because sometimes that's awkward), but it might be an option for those who like to get intimate. 

128 NW 11th Ave.

Photo by: katu.com

Vegfest

Vegetarians and vegans alike might want to make their pilgrimage to 2015's VegFest held at the Oregon Convention Center from November 14th to November 15th. The convention celebrates a plant-based diet and includes health and nutrition specialists, Fashion and Beauty state presentations and -- you guessed it -- free food. 

777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

Zoolights

The Oregon Zoo will set out to brighten the mood this December with its 28th annual ZooLights festival. In case you're interested in a striking backdrop and some nostalgic field trip cuisine like chicken strips and cotton candy, ZooLights should be a quick fix. Don't expect many animals though, the event takes place at night while critters are sleeping!

Wordstock

Woodstock with an "r" is back. Wordstock, kicking off on November 7th at the Portland Art Museum, is Portland's main literary festival. Wordstock attempts to build community with a collaboration of author events, workshops, and book fairs. Also, as always, there is a beer tent. Somehow, Portlanders just can't go without the beer tent. Don't forget to leave your reading glasses at home. 

1219 SW Park Ave.