Autumn brings so many things to get excited about: leaves changing colors, brisk breezes that redden your nose and special events that help usher in this cozy time of year. The season is full of lively harvest festivals, challenging races for runners and memorable cultural events. Here are some of the fall happenings around the state that deserve a spot on your calendar.
September
Fiesta Cultural, Lane County, September-December 2022: All are welcome to participate in the 8th year of Lane County’s largest celebration of Latino/a/x/e arts, culture and heritage with in-person and virtual events happening across the region through December. Look for music, art, dance, food and drink, children’s events and local vendors, as well as virtual happy hours with local Latino creatives.
Vaux’s Swift Watch, Portland, Sept. 1-30, 2022: Thousands gather each fall at Chapman Elementary School in Northwest Portland to view an incredible sight. One hour before sunset, thousands of Vaux’s Swifts gather overhead as they prepare to roost for the night. Migrating swifts often use chimneys as roosts (places to sleep), and they are likely to return to the same roost year after year. One population has been returning to Chapman since the 1980s, and is one of the largest known roosting sites of migrating Vaux’s Swifts. Make sure to bike or arrange alternate transportation to the site since parking is extremely limited.
Epson Tour/Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic, Pendleton, Sept. 2-4, 2022: Top professional women golfers from around the world tee off at the Wildhorse Golf Course in this qualifying tournament on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour.
Ukranian Day PDX, Portland, Sept. 3, 2022: Join in for live music, dancing, traditional Ukrainian food, arts and crafts, fun activities for children and adults, raffles and prizes at Westmoreland Park. All profits raised during the festival will go towards medical and military safety equipment for Ukraine.
Sublimity Harvest Festival, Sublimity, Sept. 9-11, 2022: Monster-truck shows, tractor-pull contests and live music are just the beginning of the fun at this annual agricultural celebration in Sublimity. Other activities happening at this family-friendly event include a parade, a kid zone with bouncy houses, and a 10K, 5K and 3K fun run.
Mill-Luck Salmon Celebration, North Bend, Sept. 10-11, 2022: Celebrating its coastal culture, the Coquille Indian Tribe hosts a traditional salmon bake on the Coos Bay waterfront at the Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park, along with canoe races, crafts and demonstrations.
Pendleton Round-Up, Pendleton, Sept. 10-17, 2022: The world-famous weeklong rodeo event in Eastern Oregon is back for the 112th Pendleton Round-Up. Witness the world’s best bull riders in action, experience portrayal of traditional Native American life at the Happy Canyon Pageant and attend the Kip Moore and Ned Ledoux kickoff concert.
Mt. Angel Oktoberfest, Mt. Angel, Sept. 15-19, 2022: The largest folk festival in the Northwest is back in the beloved Bavarian-inspired town of Mt. Angel. Come to the biergarten, bandstand, wiener-dog races and arts-and-craft booths. Food, all prepared by volunteers, includes plenty of sausage, brats and sauerkraut along with German-style favorites like spätzle, festival favorites like corn dogs and onion rings, and local favorites like fish tacos, marionberry cobbler and Russian perogies. All food purchases support a local nonprofit.
Tater Tot Festival, Ontario, Sept. 16-17, 2022: Welcome to the birthplace of the humble tater tot — the former Ore-Ida factory in this out-of-the-way town on Oregon’s eastern border. This year at the second-annual festival, the food takes center stage. Several truck vendors will be on site to showcase a variety of tater tot recipes, along with music, a beer and wine garden, a classic car show, a 5K fun run and a kids’ area.
Klamath Independent Film Festival, Klamath Falls, Sept. 16-18, 2022: This premier festival highlights Oregon-centric films in a special weekend-long event at the Ross Ragland Theater. Get things started with a Friday-night gala, then go behind the scenes with a Q&A with filmmakers. Genres include feature films, short films, student films and more.
Willamette River Regenerative Tour, Independence, Sept. 17-18, 2022: Join First Nature Tours for an overnight outing that includes guided kayaking on the Willamette River, vital watershed service projects alongside a local nonprofit, cozy craft beverage tastings, and modern accommodations. You will leave the weekend with a deeper connection and understanding of nature and the local community. Book soon before slots fill up.
Columbia River Indian Summer, The Dalles, Sept. 17, 2022: Take part in this free, family-friendly event featuring a multi-tribal fashion show, Native American artisans and exhibitors, as well as a salmon bake lunch from Salmon King Fisheries.
JUNTOSpdx, Portland, Sept. 17-Oct. 15: This inaugural event was created to connect, inform, inspire and celebrate Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month, founder Cristian Vargas says. Families are invited to Portland’s Old Town/Chinatown during five individually themed weekends of activities including art and vintage crafts, stories of triumph, music and dance, artisan flea markets and community. There will be local vendors, low riders, piñatas, guest speakers, dancing and more.
Portland Latin American Film Festival, Sept. 22-Nov. 17, 2022: This annual festival is dedicated to showcasing perspectives of Latin American culture through an annual exploration of Latin film and increasing the visibility of Latin American cinema. Check the website for the updated screening schedule.
October
BendFilm Festival, Bend, Oct. 6-9, 2022 and virtual Oct. 10-23, 2022: With a mix of in-person and virtual screenings, the 19th annual BendFilm Festival brings independently produced films to the big screen for Oregon audiences to enjoy. You can also participate in online discussions with filmmakers, virtual mentor sessions, an awards ceremony and more.
Great Columbia Crossing, Astoria, Oct. 9, 2022: The chance to run a 10K across North America’s longest continuous truss bridge has returned. Runners can run in between the two states on the Astoria-Megler Bridge at this iconic race.
Hood River Valley Harvest Fest, Hood River, Oct. 7-9, 2022: Sample local produce and peruse local products at the Columbia River Gorge’s biggest celebration of regional fall bounty. You’ll find arts and crafts as well as tastings of wine, cider and beer.
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, Tualatin, Oct. 15-16, 2022: One of the most unique events on Oregon’s fall calendar, the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta allows you to witness costumed characters paddling inside giant pumpkins racing against one another. This fun-filled spectacle includes pumpkins, pints and a Terminator giant pumpkin weigh-off at nearby Stickmen Brewing on Day 1; and regatta run and regatta festival and pumpkin races on Day 2. The giant pumpkins are generously supplied by the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers.
Eastern Oregon Film Festival, La Grande, Oct. 20-22, 2022: Returning to the Liberty Theatre in downtown La Grande is the annual Eastern Oregon Film Festival. Come watch the special screenings of 33 films and stream them online if you can’t make it in person.
Mount Pisgah Mushroom Show, Eugene, Oct. 30, 2022: Celebrate all things mushroom to support native habitat stewardship and outdoor environmental education at the Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Among the many activities, you can learn about 300 local species of mushrooms, listen to live music, take a hayride or go on a guided nature walk.
November
Quiltopia Oregon, Salem, Nov. 4-5, 2022: Held at the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem, this annual quilt show includes demonstrations, raffles, a quilt challenge, and opportunities to take home quilts and other goodies from several vendors.
Stormy Weather Arts Festival, Cannon Beach, Nov. 4-6, 2022: Cannon Beach is already an art lover’s paradise, but the city earns this title tenfold during the Stormy Weather Arts Festival. Complete with a self-guided public-art tour, gallery showings, sip-and-paint events, and live music around town, the weekend is sure to delight and inspire.
Portland Book Festival, Portland, Nov. 5, 2022: Story lovers, aspiring writers and wordsmiths of all kinds can geek out at the Portland Book Festival, held at the Portland Art Museum and surrounding venues. The festival includes author readings, writing classes and more.
Yachats Celtic Music Festival, Yachats, Nov. 11-13, 2022: Celebrate all things Irish on the Oregon Coast at Yachats’ annual Celtic Music Festival. Bands and artists are scheduled to perform all weekend long, though there are also opportunities to try your hand at whistling and harp-playing at event workshops.
