Welcome to Summer!
Each summer, Summer Free For All Cultural Events (SFFA) partners with community groups, artists, nonprofits, culturally-specific groups, and more to produce free concerts, movies, and cultural events throughout Portland. If you are looking to bring an amazing event to your community, our team is ready to help!
Types of Events
SFFA has three types of events to choose from:
Concert/Performance Events
- Traditionally known as “Concerts in the Park”, these events feature a local band, artist, or performer
- Concert/Performance Events start at 6:30pm and end at 8:30pm
Movie Events
- Traditionally known as “Movies in the Park”, these events feature a screening of a movie
- Movie Events start at 7:30pm. Movie screenings begin at dusk and/or when it is dark enough to see the movie onscreen.
Other Cultural Events
- Other Cultural Events are events that don’t fit exactly into the “Concert” or “Movie” model. These types of events can include dance, theater, comedy, spoken word, mini-festivals, community gatherings, etc.
- If you have an idea for an event that doesn’t fit into the “Concert” or “Movie” category, we would love to hear from you!
Where and When?
- Summer Free For All Cultural Events are held at city parks. For all events, partners will provide their top three park locations and dates.
- Available dates for the 2024 season are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from July 11th – August 31st.
- SFFA events are traditionally held in the evenings. If you have an idea for an event that takes place earlier, please get in touch.
Requesting Music Genres or Movie Titles
- For concert/performance events, partners will provide their top three music genres and/or performance types.
- For movie events, partnes will provide their top three movie choices.
All programming requests for events are made in consultation with SFFA and are subject to final approval by the SFFA team. This is to ensure that partners’ programming requests are available, logistically feasible, meet safety guidelines, and are in compliance with City rules and regulations
How Much Does It Cost?
- The Community Contribution for all partners hosting SFFA events begins at $1,000.00 and is due by Friday, June 7, 2024.
- For more information on the community contribution and onsite fundraising, take a look at our Community Partner Handbook or contact us at sffa@portlandoregon.gov
What Does Summer Free For All Provide?
Summer Free For All provides the following for each event:
Performers
- Booking, contracting, and paying the band, artist, or performer
Permits
- Park Permit
- Noise Variance
- Movie license (movie events only)
Event Production
- Onsite staff/crew to setup, produce, and break down the event
- Port-a-potties (standard and ADA-accessible bathrooms)
- Trash collection and removal
- Movie screen and sound system (movie events only)
- Stage and/or performance area (concert/performance and cultural events only)
- Sound system and sound engineering (concert/performance and cultural events only)
Food Vendors
- Booking of onsite food vendor(s)
Marketing
- Event-specific banners
- Day-of onsite signage
- Promotion of the overall Summer Free For All Cultural Events program via websites, social media, radio and TV ads, and printed materials
What Does My Group Need to Do?
- Offer activities that enhance the event! Examples include: arts and crafts area, face painter, free haircuts, bouncy house, goat party, balloon animals, field games for adults and kids, and activities that tie into the theme of your event.
- Promote your event!Engage your community to ensure everyone has a chance to enjoy the event.
- Showcase groups that serve your community! Each group will have two “tabling” slots available to showcase social service groups, nonprofits, volunteer organizations, or other groups that support your neighborhood and community.
Parks Levy
- In keeping with the commitments of the passage of the 2020 Parks Levy, groups will help Summer Free For All Cultural Events support and advance the following levy goal:
- Provide park and recreation services to diverse populations including communities of color, seniors, teens, households experiencing poverty, immigrants and refugees, and people living with disabilities.
Demonstration of current/past work that supports and advances the goals of the Parks Levy will be a key factor in our evaluation of your application.
Community Partner Handbook
For important information on the expectations, roles, and responsibilities of a partnership with Summer Free For All Cultural Events, please read the Community Partner Handbook.
Application Timelines
- Applications Open: December 4, 2023
- Applications Due: January 15, 2024, 11:59pm
- Acceptance Notifications: UPDATE - Week of January 22-26, 2024
- Community Contributions Due: June 7, 2024
How to Apply
Applications for the 2024 Summer Free For All Cultural Events season are now closed.
f you have questions about an application that was already submitted, please contact us at sffa@portlandoregon.gov
Join Our Community Partner Mailing List
If you are a community group that’s not ready to apply this year but would like to stay up-to-date with the Summer Free For All program, join our mailing list!
Summer Free For All Community Partner Mailing List
2023 Summer Free For All Program Report
For a full picture of the 2023 season, check out our 2023 Summer Free For All Program Report.
Artists and Performers
Find more information about performing as part of the Summer Free For All program, visit our Opportunities for Local Artists and Performers page.
Food Vendors
Find more information about opportunities with the Summer Free For All program, visit our Opportunities for Local Food Vendors page.