We’re taking weekend planning off your plate with fun event suggestions from the QDoc 2025 Film Festival to the World Famous Kenton Club Honky Tonk and Chili Cook-Off and from Portland Fruit Tree Project’s Free Cider Fest to the Oregon Mycological Society’s Fall Wild Mushroom Show. Plus, our weekly top picks guide has even more options.
Portland Design Month 2025 Remind Like List
Good design can be appreciated whenever and wherever, but Portland Design Month dedicates an entire month of programming to our city’s multifaceted design community. The artsy affair includes events and workshops around the city led by cutting-edge designers, nonprofit organizations, students, and others. This year’s highlights include workshops on Portland political cartooning (RELEVANT), narrative design, and olfactory brutalism, which explores architectural minimalism through scent. Experience the full spectrum of what design can be, all month long! BB
(Various locations, prices vary by individual event)
Aan, Gabriel Delicious, Mlue Remind Like List
A new project featuring members of local grunge bands Summer Cannibals and Soft Cheese, Mlue plays their first show this Friday with “one of their favorite bands ever,” Portland indie rock group Aan. Aan released a brilliant, bubbly, pop and psych rock-influenced album at the end of last year and played a set out at Shady Pines Festival this summer. Australian-based singer and guitarist Gabriel Delicious rounds out the lineup — he’s worked with New Zealand band the Beths and makes music reminiscent of Scottish indie pop group Belle and Sebastian. This show originally caught my eye because of the poster (Is it people throwing socks? Receiving socks? What’s going on here?), but once I listened to the bands, I knew this was a must-see. SL
(Firkin Tavern, Hosford-Abernethy, free)
Reality Zzones Songwriter Series Remind Like List
If you can’t quite pick a single artist to see this weekend, let me recommend a show with six of them! The Reality Zzones songwriter series brings together a half-dozen of the best Portland artists plucking strings and hitting notes right now. Pythias Braswell pens earnest and experimental folk-rock ballads, Aurelia Marine makes lo-fi tunes with “weird time signatures,” Sweet Freeze crafts atmospheric dream pop, Rob Westlund plays rock with punk edges, Dustin Silva sings pared-back vocal-and-guitar tunes, and Violet Creatura makes witchy darkwave perfect for the haunting season. Each performer has something different and delicious to offer, and you can see them all for just $10 at the very cozy Haymaker — grab a taste of one of the bar’s 100+ whiskey options for a little extra warmth. SL
(Haymaker, Overlook, $10)
A People’s History Of North American Music With Special Guest Toody Cole Remind Like List
A People’s History of North American Music is a trippy lecture/film/slideshow that attempts to pack centuries of music education into a tight 80-minute time frame. Quite an undertaking! Filled with history, comedy, and plenty of surprises, there’s no one better to offer this education than Mississippi Records founder Eric Isaacson, who’ll be accompanied by Harlan Silverman live on cello. This is billed as the final Portland performance of this quirky exhibition, so don’t miss it! BB
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $12)
Queen Jane’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-A-Long Remind Like List
There are many reasons to love Tim Burton’s 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas: stop-motion animation, ghost dog Zero’s adorable jack-o-lantern nose, the fact that you can watch it anytime October through December, and the award-winning soundtrack from composer Danny Elfman. Queer-owned community arts space Queen Jane Music Studios transforms into Halloween Town for a special sing-along screening of the movie with themed snacks, mocktails, and cocktails. Costumes are encouraged, and according to the organizers, singing off-key is “required.” SL
(Queen Jane Music Studios, Lents, $10 suggested donation)
Portland Fruit Tree Project Free Cider Fest Remind Like List
The nonprofit Portland Fruit Tree Project advocates for food equity by empowering Portlanders to harvest and care for urban fruit trees. Come taste the fruits of their labor at this free fest where they’ll press fresh cider from “all of the B-grade apples collected this season from the urban canopy.” Folks are also welcome to bring harvested apples to press. Cider aside, over 30 local nonprofits will be onsite to engage with the community, and fall fun will abound with a pumpkin-carving station, a bake sale, music from HONK PDX!, and more. Sounds like a perfectly crisp autumn afternoon. JW
(Leaven Community Center, Vernon, free)
19th Annual Thrill the World Remind Like List
Darkness falls across the land (Northeast Portland)
The midnight hour is close at hand (meet at 3 pm)
Creatures crawl in search of blood (dancing Portlanders)
To terrorize y’all’s neighborhood (Irving Park)
The era of the ubiquitous flash mob is behind us, but that isn’t stopping this thrilling 19-year-long tradition during which Portlanders join groups around the world in a simultaneous costumed get down to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Whether you’re dancing or just enjoying the entertainment, bring a few dollars to donate; it all goes to the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization. BB
(Irving Park, King, free)
Eric Howk (Portugal the Man) EP Release + Acapulco Lips Remind Like List
Portland musician Eric Howk has played guitar with indie rock band Portugal. The Man since 2015 — he actually grew up with the band’s two co-founders in Alaska, but an accident in 2007 left him paralyzed from the sternum down and postponed any conversations about joining PTM. Howk helped score the Netflix film Full Circle in 2024, which tells the stories of two extreme athletes who suffered spinal cord injuries, and he released his first solo musical project, a rollicking, reflective EP called SKYKING, this month. Howk brings the release to the stage with support from Seattle-based trio Acapulco Lips, who have been making psych-infused surf rock tunes for over a decade. The band released their second full-length (and first album since 2016) back in July. SL
(High Water Mark, Woodlawn, $12-$15)
Halloween at the Bronze!: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Tribute Event w/ live cover bands + DJ Colin Jones Remind Like List
As a 13-year-old, there wasn’t a place on the planet I wanted to go more than the fictional nightclub The Bronze from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sunnydale’s iconic underage hangout was a place where Cibo Matto played, the Scooby Gang danced and flirted, and many vampires were slain. If you dream of Angel lurking around every corner, saddle up in your best ’90s fashions and dance the night away to live band covers of bangers from the Buffy soundtrack. Just watch out for vamps! BB
(Holocene, Buckman, $16.34)
World Famous Kenton Club Honky Tonk and Chili Cook-Off Remind Like List
If you’re a fan of local country music, you’re a fan of William Surly. Celebrate the singer-songwriter’s birthday at the Kenton Club’s inaugural “Honky Tonk and Chili Cook-Off.” It’s $10 to get in and five bucks cash to sample the five homemade chilis (vegan option available). The evening will include boot scootin’ performances by Jesco Payne and the Painkillers and William Surly and the Barroom Gospel Band, followed by a vinyl set from country classics DJ Dentside. Get there early; chili will only be served until 9:30 pm (but the revelry will continue late into the night). SL
(The World Famous Kenton Club, Kenton, $10-$15)
Oregon Mycological Society’s Fall Wild Mushroom Show Remind Like List
The Pacific Northwest is home to over 750 varieties of mushroom, and we’re smack dab in the middle of peak hunting season (Shhh, don’t share the secret spots!). The Oregon Mycological Society has curated a magnificent tribute to mycelium, featuring displays of hundreds of species of wild mushrooms. While you’re there, pick up some mushroom-related goodies at the market, learn how to grow and identify mushrooms through different exhibits, and check out a blacklight room where fluorescent fungi will be illuminated! BB
(Miller Hall at the World Forestry Center, Arlington Heights, $15, Children under 12 free)
Tour the Portland City Archives Remind Like List
I live in an old ass house in Northeast Portland (built in 1926) and I’m always wondering about the history of my home. Who lived here? Who died here? Who built the terrible sun room addition with the slanted floor? The city archives might hold the answers I seek, and this weekend brings an opportunity to tour the historical house of records during American Archives Month. Stuffed with maps, plans, photographs, and curated exhibits, the archives are a wealth of knowledge, and it’s all accessible for free! BB
(Portland Archives & Records Center, Southwest Portland, Free with RSVP)
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 Remind Like List
With the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reaching a devastating turning point in recent years, Göran Hugo Olsson’s Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 lands with a haunting timeliness. Best known for TheBlack Power Mixtape 1967-1975, the archival filmmaker assembled three decades of coverage from Sweden’s national broadcaster SVT for this 2024 documentary, unearthing footage unseen since its original airings. From the tenth anniversary of Israel’s founding to the First Intifada, the film traces shifting narratives through interviews with key figures, alongside portraits of civilians and revolutionaries, as a poignant reminder of how stories are told, remembered, and contested. LT
(PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater, Richmond, $15)
Portland Flea Remind Like List
It’s the last outdoor flea of the season, and you’re encouraged to dress up (they’ll have candy)! Along with over 100 vendors on site, you can grab snacks at the Lunch Counter and enjoy Straightaway Cocktails. If you have yet to get your Halloween costume together, the flea’s the perfect place to find some inspo and chic pieces! JW
(The Redd on Salmon, Buckman, free)
Outliers and Outlaws Remind Like List
Did you know Eugene was once dubbed a “lesbian mecca”? OJMCHE’s latest exhibition, Outliers and Outlaws, explores the vibrant Jewish-lesbian Baleboostehs community that flourished in Eugene from the 1960s through the 1990s. The exhibition spotlights the stories of 83 women who were pivotal in the movement, and includes some pretty powerful moments, like the 1992 Freedom Seder. (It was organized around opposition to the state’s anti-gay Ballot Measure 9.) Go forth to learn about the often-overlooked chapter of local history and the badass women who shaped it. LC
(Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, Pearl District, $0-$10, Friday-Sunday; closing)
Yesteryear Farms Pumpkin Picking, Corn Maze & Fall Activities Remind Like List
With over 20 types of gourds for picking, including the fun-sounding warty goblin, Long Island cheese, and fireball varieties, you’re sure to find your perfect (or imperfect!) pumpkin in the Yesteryear field. The four miles of trail in the 10-acre corn maze can be navigated by the light of day, or you can up the challenge with the night maze on Friday and Saturday nights. Food carts are onsite Thursday-Sunday and the farm screens free movies on Fridays (BYO blankets or chairs!), so you can enjoy classics like Halloweentown, Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, and Young Frankenstein in the perfect seasonal setting. BB
(Yesteryear Farms, West Linn, free, Friday-Sunday)
Portland TextileX Month Remind Like List
Exploring a “legacies” theme this year, Portland TextileX Month (PTXM) is back to examine how they “offer pathways for collaboration, learning, and transformation” through diverse textile exhibitions and workshops. We’re tied up in knots about Zoe Huddleston’s gory felted installation (fittingly creepy-cute for Halloween season); the Threadlines SWANA Stitch exhibit, which includes an open stitch and a khamamiya workshop; and a natural dye workshop, but you can find a full list of the month’s events here. EVEROUT STAFF
(Various locations, $0-$60, Friday-Sunday)
Frankenstein in 35mm Remind Like List
Lauded dark fantasy director Guillermo del Toro has given us groundbreaking original films such as Pan’s Labyrinth and Crimson Peak, but he’s had his eye on adapting Frankenstein for nearly 20 years. He has assembled a star-studded cast for the project, enlisting Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth to reinterpret Mary Shelley’s classic work. I’m looking forward to Elordi’s humanising performance as the Creature and Issac’s bonkers representation of the obsessive and egotistical Dr. Frankenstein, as well as seeing how the height difference between the two actors plays out. It’s the kind of gothic romanticism we need during this Halloween season, and as with all del Toro flicks, it should be a staggering visual ride. Del Toro will visit Portland next month for a screening of the film at PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater, but unsurprisingly, tickets sold out quicker than a life-giving lightning strike! BB
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $12, Saturday-Sunday)
QDoc 2025 Film Festival Remind Like List
The only festival in the US devoted exclusively to queer documentaries, QDoc heads to Cinema 21 this year for further engagement with diverse queer perspectives on politics, diversity, sexuality, family, and more. Standouts include opening night film Boy George & Culture Club, a documentary recounting the story of the iconic ’80s, and Row of Life, which chronicles three-time Paralympian, fourteen-time Guinness World Record setter, and renowned ocean rower Angela Madsen’s unsupported solo row from Los Angeles to Hawai’i. Badass! With three days of screenings and community connection, the fest will also bring in directors and subjects to offer intimate Q&A sessions. Read the Mercury’s full preview here. LC
(Cinema 21, Nob Hill, $12-$80, Friday-Sunday)
The Haunted Eye-Haunted House + Pop-Up Bar Remind Like List
Portland is filled with many abandoned buildings that would make great bars; in fact, I’d like to see almost every stunning, century-old, architecturally interesting space transformed into a place we can all have a pint-à la Steeplejack Brewing. The team from the Lion’s Eye Tavern are bringing my haunted dreams to life by converting a 100+ year-old former pawn shop on 82nd Avenue into a pop-up watering hole. “Blood bag” drink specials and syringe jello shots will make your eerie evening complete.
(The Old Pawn Shop, Mount Scott-Arleta, $10, Friday-Saturday)
The Bed Trick Remind Like List
Tired of dusty Shakespeare revivals? Then you may fall in love with Seattleite Keiko Green’s sparkling, modern version of All’s Well That Ends Well — now called The Bed Trick — which updates the farcical tale with a sexy, youthful, and thoughtful spin. Three college freshmen engage in a wild plot of revenge and trickery when they discover that one of their boyfriends is a cheater — leading to a hilarious series of events that include catfishing, deception, and romantic betrayal. While hilarious, this effervescent story also promises to be an eye-opening treatise on consent, modern romance, and the “problematic” plays of the Bard. MERCURY EDITOR IN CHIEF WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
(Artists Repertory Theatre, Goose Hollow, $5-$40, Friday-Sunday)
Peggy Chiang: barn burner Remind Like List
With a list of unexpected sculpture materials, including oil, wire hangers, bandsaw blades, shirt collars, roll-up gates, and bone(!), Peggy Chiang’s new exhibit barn burner is meant to be an exercise in destabilization. Objects hang, balance, tip, and are generally devoid of the standard narratives of physics. Chiang’s work is full of these “discrete objects that explore a distinctly American narrative” with the goal of subverting conversations around value, labor, and memory. Don’t miss your final chance to see the 2024 Joan Mitchell Fellow’s first West Coast solo show. BB
(Adams and Ollman, Northwest Portland, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)
People’s History Museum of Lloyd Center Mall Remind Like List
The Lloyd Center opened on August 1, 1960 with an open-air layout, and was the largest mall in the Pacific Northwest at the time. Its iconic ice rink also has a claim to fame as one of Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding’s local training grounds.However, its glory days as a bustling shopping center have waned in the past decades. But after a foreclosure in 2021, redevelopment and revitalization have led to indie retailers occupying storefronts, and community gatherings like the Food Court 5000, a retro mall walking experience. The future continues to look bright as plans for a highly anticipated Monqui/AEG music venue are underway on the property. All told, the Center has a whole lotta lore — learn more at this “crowdsourced” art show where over 20 local artists celebrate the past, present, and future of the Lloyd Center. BB
(ILY2 too, Lloyd District, free, Friday-Sunday)
Waters of Body Exhibition at PNCA Remind Like List
Exploring transness through soft, quilted terrain, Waters of Body pairs works by Portland artists Yana Sternberger-Moyé, Molly Alloy, and Michael Espinoza with Transmissions Quilts Project, artist Cordy Joan’s quilt-making initiative for trans and gender-queer people countrywide. The exhibition joins other interesting shows installed at PNCA: Portland Textile Month’s Warp Speed: Contemporary Conversations in Fiber showcases vibrant, fuzzy fiber works from the former Museum of Contemporary Craft’s collection, and Angelo Scott’s Time-Based Art Festival installation Omni Rail transforms the building’s railings and cable systems into an echoing, vibrational instrument. (The performance was on September 4, but you’ll find video footage projected in the Mediatheque.) LC
(PNCA, Pearl District, free, Friday-Saturday; closing)
