--- title: "Arts, Events, More" date: 2023-12-15T21:17:00-08:00 author: Ben Seigel canonical_url: "https://welcometoportland.net/music-arts-events/arts-events" section: PDX --- ![](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t1600/pdx-winter-lights-fest.jpg?v=1767619692)# Arts, Events, Happenings Portland Winter Lights Fest by Brett Nemecek Music, Arts, Events > Arts, Events, More ## Arts & Events [ ![Church of Art](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/4368/churchOfArt.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://church-of-art.com/)#### [Church of Art](https://church-of-art.com/) An in-person art-making and community building for adults who want a fun and unique way to hang out and meet new friends. [ ![Portland Winter Lights Festival](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3478/pdx-winter-lights-fest5-3.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://pdxwlf.com/)#### [Portland Winter Lights Festival](https://pdxwlf.com/) Downtown Portland fills with every color of light in an array of art installations. [ ![Tomorrow Movie Theatre](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3501/tomorrow-theatre.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://tomorrowtheater.org/what-does-tomorrow-bring/)#### [Tomorrow Movie Theatre](https://tomorrowtheater.org/what-does-tomorrow-bring/) Promotes the idea of “cinema unbound” through a mix of artist-driven signature screenings, events, happenings, performances, and discussions changing for whom, by whom, and how cinematic stories are told now — and tomorrow. [ ![Movie Madness](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3498/movie-madness.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://moviemadness.org/miniplex/miniplex/)#### [Movie Madness](https://moviemadness.org/miniplex/miniplex/) Honest to goodness video rental store, with free movie screenings on Sundays. [ ![Free Museum Days](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3496/museum-days.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://dopdx.com/p/free-museum-days-in-portland)#### [Free Museum Days](https://dopdx.com/p/free-museum-days-in-portland) A solid list. [ ![Portland Art Museum](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3490/portland-art-museum.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://portlandartmuseum.org/)#### [Portland Art Museum](https://portlandartmuseum.org/) [Free on the first Thursday](https://portlandartmuseum.org/blog/free-first-thursday-returns/) of each month. [ ![OMSI](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3492/omsi.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://tickets.omsi.edu/events)#### [OMSI](https://tickets.omsi.edu/events) Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. [$5 tickets on the first Sunday of each month](https://omsi.edu/events/5-day/). [ ![Hopscotch](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3502/hopscotch.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://letshopscotch.com/locations/portland)#### [Hopscotch](https://letshopscotch.com/locations/portland) An interactive art exhibit, i.e., psychedelic trampolines. [ ![Portland Rose Festival](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3497/rose-festival.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://www.rosefestival.org/)#### [Portland Rose Festival](https://www.rosefestival.org/) Parades, tours of visiting ships, carnival rides, and more. [ ![New Year in the Park](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3509/newyear.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://www.newyearinthepark.com/)#### [New Year in the Park](https://www.newyearinthepark.com/) Southeast Asian cultural festival. Music, dance, food. [ ![Honk!PDX](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3524/honk.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://honkpdx.org/)#### [Honk!PDX](https://honkpdx.org/) Interactive celebrations offering pick-up bands throughout the festival open for anyone who would like to pick up an instrument and play. [ ![Go see a play](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3508/goSeePlay.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://pdxtheatre.org/)#### [Go see a play](https://pdxtheatre.org/) A listing of theater shows around Portland. [ ![The Actual Portland](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3785/actual-portland.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://www.theactualportland.com/)#### [The Actual Portland](https://www.theactualportland.com/) A curated hub to find underrepresented businesses, places, news, resources, and other local recommendations made by **actual** people who live here. [ ![Portland Adult Soapbox Derby](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/3817/derby.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://www.soapboxracer.org/)#### [Portland Adult Soapbox Derby](https://www.soapboxracer.org/) Yearly race between lovingly crafted, themed, adult-size, push-powered derby cars around Mt. Tabor. [ ![Portland Things to Do](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/4396/pdx-things-to-do.webp?v=1767619692) ](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/19HaN6KTVgQht60_qbsFLqsRihh600uK2pxxwwc9Jv6U/htmlview)#### [Portland Things to Do](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/19HaN6KTVgQht60_qbsFLqsRihh600uK2pxxwwc9Jv6U/htmlview) It's a giant spreadsheet! Someone took the time to compile this, show 'em some love. [ ![Portland Dancing](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/4411/tango.webp?v=1767619692) ](http://www.portlanddancing.com/)#### [Portland Dancing](http://www.portlanddancing.com/) A big list of dances in Portland -- from Ballroom to Zydeco -- singles or couples welcome at any dance listed. [ ![Portland Saunas, Cold Plunges, etc.](https://welcometoportland.net/files/general/_t400webp/4453/sauna.webp?v=1767737732) ](https://goleary.com/tools/saunas/portland)#### [Portland Saunas, Cold Plunges, etc.](https://goleary.com/tools/saunas/portland) A curated list of places to get toasty or chilly, or both. ## Event calendars - [WWeek events calendar](https://www.wweek.com/calendar/calendars/all-events). - [Portland Mercury/EverOut events calendar](https://everout.com/portland/). - [DoPDX](https://dopdx.com/). Events website - beware their emails, they get overwhelming. - [PDX Pipeline](https://www.pdxpipeline.com/) has more event listings. ## More stuff to do - [Portland Living on the Cheap](https://portlandlivingonthecheap.com/). Does what it says on the tin. - [Sidewalk Joy](https://www.pdxsidewalkjoy.com/). A map of whimsical things. - [Summer Free for All events](https://www.portland.gov/parks/arts-culture/summer-free-all/cultural-events). At Portland parks. - [Kickstand Comedy](https://www.kickstandcomedy.org/) has live shows, improv classes, and a great series of free events in Laurelhurst Park each summer. - [Bars with activities](https://dopdx.com/p/the-best-activity-bars-in-portland). A nice list of bars that offer more than drinking - pinball, pool, vintage video games, and more. - ["Best" rooftop bars](https://dopdx.com/p/the-best-rooftop-bars-in-portland). - [Late night food and activity options](https://www.wweek.com/culture/2024/12/03/portland-after-hours/) via Willamette Week. All images ©/ownership to original photographer/source.