Summer isn't over yet! Come Play in Portland's Streets
Welcome back to Portland’s Public Street Life! September brings exciting updates, with creative events continuing to pop up across around the city we call home. Read on to see what’s happening in your neighborhood!
Upcoming Plaza Events 🎉
Here is what's on our radar for the month. New events from our partners are also regularly re-posted on the PBOT Instagram page.
Need help finding a PBOT Street Plaza? Check out the Plaza Directory!
Thursday, September 11
- Free Music Series (Rose Gerber) at Hawthorne Plaza: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Enjoy a mix of rock and country while hanging out in the plaza. Hosted by the Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association
Saturday, September 13
- Free Workout Session at Rainbow Road: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Come get your pump with Lone Fir Fitness and friends!
- Push Movement Skate Event at SE 7th & Sandy Plaza: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Come Skate! Live music to pair with free pizza! All skill levels at this family friendly event.
Sunday, September 14
- Live Music at Rainbow Road: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM. Enjoy live local sounds while hanging in the plaza. Hosted by Rose City Guitar
- Free Music Series (Lee Walker) at Hawthorne Plaza: 5:00PM – 7:00 PM. Enjoy some live music in one of Portland's newest plazas. Hosted by the Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association
Friday, September 19
- Park(ing) Day at SE 7th & Sandy: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Come join DePave and other friends in a day where people are invited to turn parking spaces into people places. Join them in celebrating the final day of the summer plaza!
Saturday, September 20
- Free Workout Session at Rainbow Road: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Come get your pump with Lone Fir Fitness and friends!
Sunday, September 21
- Live Music at Rainbow Road: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Enjoy live local sounds while hanging in the plaza. Hosted by Rose City Guitar
Monday, September 22
- Tea-Quinox Party at Spokane Plaza: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM. A BYOT (Bring your own teacup) tea party on the fall equinox. Celebrate with free tea readings, tea, and biscuits. Hosted by Make Portland Weirder.
Friday, September 26
- Viking Day of Service at Montgomery Street Plaza: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM. Looking to meet other PSU students, get outside, and make a difference on campus and in the greater community through volunteering? Join us for Viking Day! Hosted by PSU Student Sustainability Center.
Saturday, September 27
- Free Workout Session at Rainbow Road: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Come get your pump with Lone Fir Fitness and friends!
Sunday, September 28
- Live Music at Rainbow Road: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Enjoy live local sounds while hanging in the plaza. Hosted by Rose City Guitar
Thursday, October 2
- First Thursdays: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM. The First Thursday Street Gallery is April to October, on the first Thursday of each month. City blocks are closed off in NW Portland on 13th street between Hoyt and Kearney. Hosted by the Urban Art Network
Saturday, October 4
- The Arts and Crafts Kaleidoscope at Arleta Triangle Square: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The Arts and Crafts Kaleidoscope is a vibrant celebration of creativity. This family-friendly event brings together local artists, makers, and musicians for a market day filled with art, music, and delicious food.
Sunday, October 5
- The Arts and Crafts Kaleidoscope at Arleta Triangle Square: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The Arts and Crafts Kaleidoscope is a vibrant celebration of creativity. This family-friendly event brings together local artists, makers, and musicians for a market day filled with art, music, and delicious food.
Hot Community Events This Month 🔥
Beyond plazas, PBOT permits a number of large-scale events on streets across the city. Here are four big events you won't want to miss!
Saturday, September 13
- Belmont Street Fair: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. This annual street fair event has delicious eats, activities for kids, local vendors, live music, and so much more! Hosted by the Belmont Area Business Association on SE Belmont between SE 30th and Caeser Chavez Blvd. Learn more.
- Cullyfest: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. You are invited to this all-day celebration of community and family fun! There will be food, live music and entertainment, art and activities all day. Hosted by the Cully Association of Neighbors on NE Cully and Prescott. Learn more.
Sunday, September 14
- Downtown Portland Sunday Parkways: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Presented by Kaiser Permanente, Sunday Parkways has a new downtown route! The route will create a block party experience that highlights many of the unique amenities of Portland’s city center — its public spaces, cultural destinations, and vibrant local businesses. Led by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), people are invited to walk, bike, and roll on car-free streets and embrace all that Downtown Portland has to offer! Learn more.
Saturday and Sunday, September 20-21
- Polish Festival: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Sunday. The 29th Portland Polish Festival features delicious food, live music, folk dance performances, exhibits about Polish culture, activities for children, polka contests, local vendors, and a beer garden. This is a free, family-friendly event where all are welcome! Located at N Failing and N Montana Ave. Learn more.
Upcoming Play Streets Events⛹🏽♀️
A Play Street transforms neighborhood streets into recurring pop-up community hubs for intergenerational socializing, play, and physical activity. They create a fun, active space, especially in places where recreational areas are scarce. Play Streets are hosted by nonprofits and are free and open to everyone!
Visit our webpage to learn more or check out the calendar below to attend a Play Street near you!
- Dream Big City
- Dream Big City's Fam Jam brings the community together through skateboarding, games, music, art, and free food. All ages and people are welcome!
- Every Tuesday in August and September
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- SE 9th between Taylor and Yamhill, including the beautiful Dream Big Plaza!
- Playworks
- September 14th, September 28th, and October 19th, 2025
- 10 am to 12 pm
- SE 79th between Stark and Pine, adjacent to the beautiful Montavilla Plaza!
How Can I Host Events?
PBOT provides many ways to host events on city streets, depending on their size and nature.
Block Parties: A fun and easy way to build community and get to know your neighbors. With this free permit, you can host a small block party on your neighborhood street!
Plaza Reservations: The Small Plaza Activation Process is intended to remove barriers for small-scale (less than 100 people) neighborhood-based activities that build social and community connections in PBOT plazas. Permits under Small Plaza Activation are 100% free.
Larger Community Events: Looking to throw something larger? Apply for a Community Event with Portland in the Streets!
Play Streets: If you are a part of a nonprofit, neighborhood association, or business association, and would like to host a Play Street series in Summer 2026, reach out to PBOTplaystreet@portlandoregon.gov and we’ll be happy to talk.
Park(ing) Day Is Back!
Calling all Portland residents, artists, designers, students, businesses, and community groups—PARK(ing) Day is back! On Friday, September 19th, transform an ordinary on‑street parking spot into a playful public space. Think impromptu parklets, pop‑up galleries, interactive installations, or creative seating.
Learn more about PARK(ing) Day
Roll, Stroll, and Plaza Hop at Sunday Parkways Downtown
Downtown Portland Sunday Parkways, presented by Kaiser Permanente, is coming on Sunday, September 14! PBOT will transform 2.3 miles of city streets into one big block party. This route connects many downtown destinations including plazas like the Cart Blocks, parks, businesses, and more. Ride your bike, take a stroll, and soak up the best of downtown along the route.
The Public Realm & Street Activation team will be set up on the Park Blocks near Park Avenue and Montgomery. Swing by to say hello, explore our current projects, and learn how you can bring placemaking to your own neighborhood. You’ll also discover more about the Green Loop, a future signature pathway linking Portland’s inner core. What is it, and how can you help shape it? Read on!
Share Your Thoughts: Portland's Green Loop Survey
The Green Loop is a concept for a 6-mile linear park and multiuse path connecting the Central City. We want you to share your feedback on the Green Loop vision, how you'd use it, priorities, and trade-offs. Take the Green Loop survey by Monday, September 15th.
Your input will inform the work to come in the Green Loop Concept Plan: refining the Green Loop route, cross-section, and implementation strategies.
Help Shape Portland’s Transportation Future: Take the 2045 Vision and Goals Survey!
We have one more very important survey for you!
Portlanders are invited to share their input on the 2045 Transportation System Plan Vision and Goals Survey through October 1. Your three wishes for the future of our transportation system will help the Portland Bureau of Transportation shape the city’s long-range transportation plan, guiding future policies and investments that support safety, equity, climate action, and access for everyone across Portland.
What is the Public Realm and Street Activation Team?
PBOT’s Public Realm and Street Activation team (PRSA) oversees programs that transform streets into inclusive community spaces. From the Public Street Plaza Program, which turns streets into plazas for markets, performances, and gathering, to Portland in the Streets, which supports block parties, street murals, banners, and more, the team helps Portlanders activate the right-of-way in ways that build connection, culture, and public life.
Learn more about Portland in the Streets
Contact Us
Feedback, suggestions, partnerships, photos, or event ideas? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at PBOTPlacemaking@portlandoregon.gov