Our Favorite Free and Splurgy Summer Date Night Ideas

We are all about parent-kid dates. But this post isn’t all about that. This is for that magical, elusive, nobody’s sick, sitter’s secured, get out on the town with your person date — summer edition. We’ve got ideas to take full advantage of the season, from free to splurge-worthy. Happy date night!

Free Summer Dates, because Sitters are Expensive

Comedy in the Park

Every Friday, all summer long you can attend a free Kickstand Comedy show in Laurelhurst Park. This event is popular, so arrive early.

Parks & Recreation Free Outdoor Concerts, Movies, and Events

Portland Parks & Rec hosts free summer concerts, outdoor movies, and cultural events throughout the summer at parks across town. Looking for jazz, Somali dance music, groove-heave Mexican folk? They’ve got it all. Want to dress in pink and watch Barbie on the big screen under the stars? It’s on the calendar. Check out their full summer schedule of events here.

The Classic Picnic

Whether you hike to a waterfall, or choose a picnic spot closer to home, there’s nothing more romantic and low-cost than the classic picnic.

Shakespeare in the Park

Original Practice Shakespeare travels to parks across Portland to speak the speeches, trippingly on the tongue. Check out their schedule here. All shows are free!

First Thursdays in the Pearl

During the summer months, there’s a monthly street gallery featuring original work on NW 13th street between Irving and Lovejoy, packed with artists, musicians and art-lovers. It’s free to attend, though you’ll definitely be tempted to take home a piece or two.

Festival Fun

Portland is serious about festivals; there’s at least one (usually more) every weekend, all summer long. Most are free to attend!

Sunset at Mocks Crest

For sunset and people watching, there’s no place quite like Mocks Crest on the Skidmore Bluffs. From the Bluffs, you can catch views of the Willamette, the West Hills, the rail yard, and the city skyline. But the real fun is what you might see in the park — unicycles (probably), hula hoops (almost definitely), a wedding on stilts (it’s been rumored to have happened). It’s a great spot to feel reconnected to Portlandia. 

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Splurge-Worthy and Slightly-Splurgy Date Nights

Farm to Plate Experiences, Live Music Nights, and Summer Silent Reading at Topaz Farm

You’ve probably already visited Topaz Farm with your kids on one of their free Animal Talks or Tractor Talks, but Topaz also hosts some incredible events perfect for date night. At their Farm to Plate dinners, you’ll eat a five-course meal under a 500-year-old oak tree, prepared by “culinary power couple” Christian and Janelle Ephrem. The dinners are made from ingredients grown on the farm — some harvested the very day they serve them to you. Or check out their Americana Harvest Nights: they’re very affordable, the music is incredible, and you can sip craft beer or wine and eat a picnic dinner while you listen. Children are welcome at these live music events, but they do offer a few 18+ shows. And new this year are their Summer Silent Reading nights! Enjoy a welcome beverage and read under the historic oak for two glorious hours, with live music playing softly in the background.

Baseball Games

Check out the collegiate team The Portland Pickles in Lents. You can take part in this quintessential summer activity, snack on hot dogs and enjoy the antics of Dillon (okay, just got that), the Pickles’ mascot. Another option — check out a minor league game with the Hillsboro Hops.

Urban Wine Tasting

It’s a pretty short drive to wine country — but did you know you don’t actually need to leave Portland to have a true wine tasting experience? With over a dozen in town, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get those palates working. Here’s a list of wineries and hours.

Get into the Spirit(s)

Portland’s distillery row is the place to go for tasting locally-made spirits. Get a behind the scenes look and taste of vodkas, whiskeys, brandies and more. Check out where to go here.

OMSI After Dark

You’re away from the kids, so where else to go but… OMSI? Okay, okay. Hear us out. OMSI After Dark is just for adults. That means you may actually have a chance to look at the exhibits. Plus every month, they have a theme — like astronomy, or even beer or spirits. They have vendors, artisans, science experiments and presentations around that theme, and they serve alcohol.

Sunflower Fields

For the perfect August date night, check out one of the many sunflower fields in the Portland metro area. Entry is always affordable, and strolling through the flowers basically shouts romance.

Looking for more date night inspo? Check out these budget-friendly ideas!