Sunny days are here again! But whatever the weather, there is so much to do in Portland in the spring! And the great news is that this May, there are plenty of family-friendly events — that are fun and free.
Enjoy the classics. Head to Trinity Trinity Church of Portland (909 NE 30th Ave.) at 7 pm on May 2 for a family-friendly concert by Classical Up Close. Comprising the talented Oregon Symphony musicians, these mini concerts are a fun way to introduce classical music and orchestra instruments to children of all ages.
Building time. If your kids are fans of the monthly kids’ workshops at Home Depot, you’ll definitely want to register them for The Parrrty on May 3 event. From 9 am-noon, in addition to making a cool new thing, kids can also play games and say hello to special guests. Come dressed as a pirate!
Read comics. Comic book fans unite! Saturday, May 3 is the annual Free Comic Book Day. Other World Games, Tasteecat Comics, Books with Pictures and more will all have kid-friendly comics on hand — and many shops have special activities throughout the day.
May the 4th be with you. If your family loves Star Wars, LEGO, or both, stop by Washington Square for its May the 4th Be With You Star Wars Weekend. There will be Star Wars LEGO creations on display, live building demonstrations, plus build your own spacecraft to take home (while supplies last).
Celebrate Portland. Portland’s getting a new holiday! Celebrate the city, Portland culture and community during the 503 Day Block Party on May 3 at Ankeny Alley Plaza in Southwest. There will be a drag story hour, a kids’ dance party and tasty treats (ice cream, lemonade, popcorn and more). Pro tip: The first 100 attendees will receive a 503 Day swag bag!
Budding entrepreneurs. Come learn bike safety and support your local kidpreneurs during the Children’s Entrepreneur Market at Bike Beaverton on May 4. Get educated and find all sorts of fun, local, artisan products. A bike ride will also take place for those who want to participate!
Fiesta! Celebrate May 5 one day early at the Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Rockwood Market Hall. This family-friendly event features a mariachi band and other live music, performances and cultural festivities and more.
Spring clean. Help your kids earn money and get organized by selling their old toys to consignment shops.
Hit the market. May means it’s officially Farmers Market season again, with markets opening back up or extending their hours.
Go. Dog. Go! Head to Ridgefield for the K9 Sports Agility Trials from Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11. It’s a fast-paced competition of all the goodest doggos.
Tree-mendous fair. Held the day before Mother’s Day, on Saturday, May 10, the annual Camas Plant & Garden Fair is a must visit for plant and tree lovers. And for the kids: hit up the Kid Zone, featuring crafts, garden activities, petting zoo, face painting, and Rosie the larger-than-life puppet!
Take a look. Also on Saturday, May 10, is the Mother’s Day Birding and Wildflower Festival at Silver Falls State Park. Activities include guided birding walks, educational discovery tables, a wildflower show and a native plant sale. Pro tip: The festival is free, but a $10 daily parking permit is required at Silver Falls.
For the moms. Sunday, May 11 is Mother’s Day. Show her some extra love today!
Porch jams. It’s time for the 2025 Porch Concert Series! Held the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from May through September, stop by the front lawn of the Cathedral Park Performing Arts for free, live music on the porch.
Terrific teddies. Don’t miss the cutest parade: The Teddy Bear Parade! Held in Oregon City on May 10, the one-hour parade features stuffies that are given to law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency rooms, children’s help centers, hospitals and women’s shelters in Clackamas County to parade down main street. These stuffed animals are then re-homed to children throughout the community who need comfort in times of crisis.
Ride the rails. Since 1954, Molalla Train Park has held a special place in the hearts of families. Join in the fun with free train rides, held each Sunday from May through October.
The truth is out there. The 25th annual McMenamins UFO Festival touches down in McMinnville for a weekend of ufologist speaker panels and a block party and street fair, complete with costume contests, live music, food and drinks, and more. Friday and Saturday, May 16-17.
Fair thee well. Get ready for fair foods, free entertainment and lots of fun at the Multnomah County Fair at Oaks Amusement Park. Pro tip: Your kids — and you — can earn ribbons (and cash!) by entering the food, photo, or arts and crafts competitions! The fair runs May 24-26.
Cool coyotes. Coyote-palooza is a family- and pet-friendly event that will feature booths where you can learn about coyote identification and biology, participate in hands-on activities for adults and kids, and discover ways to keep pets and people safe. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the cultural significance of coyotes, the role they play in our ecosystem, and how to coyote-proof your space. Held on May 31 at the PSU Farmers Market.
Roll out. You know it’s officially almost summer when the first Portland Sundays Parkway event pops up. Portlanders can stroll, bike or roll along a 2- or 3.6-mile route through Southwest Portland on Sunday, May 18. Gabriel Park, Multnomah Arts Center, Multnomah Village and Spring Garden Park are stops along the route where your family will find community booths, vendor markets and free activities and entertainment.
Adventure time. Visit one of these Portland-area destination playgrounds.
Hear a story. Foster a love of reading and books during a fun story time. There are several free ones throughout the Portland area, tailored for young readers from littles to tweens.