Venues may have health guidelines in place—we advise directly checking the specific protocols for an event before heading out.

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Jump to: Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Multi-Day

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FRIDAY

CINCO DE MAYO

Cinco De Mayo Celebration at Rockwood Market Hall Past Event Like List
Gather at Gresham's newest community marketplace for a family-friendly Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring festive tunes fromMariachi Guadalajara, a performance from the dance troupeBallet Folklorico, and various local vendors offering handmade goods, face painting, and cotton candy. AV
(Rockwood Market Hall, Rockwood, free)

Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Willamette
Past Event Like List Cha-cha-cha over to a historic stretch of West Linn to learn about the origins of Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates Mexico's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Danceable tunes will float in the air all day long, and visitors can participate in a salsa-infused scavenger hunt, shop Mexican cultural wares and bites at a vendor market, and enter the raffle for a chance to win gift certificates from local businesses. LC
(Historic Willamette Main Street, West Linn, free)

FILM

Mississippi Records 20th Anniversary Film Festival Past Event Like List
In celebration of their 20th anniversary, record label and North Albina Avenue mainstay Mississippi Records will screen a series of films that stay true to their jangly, psychedelic aesthetic. The series continues with a weirdo double feature of The Secret Life of Plants and Repo Man on May 5, two of Mississippi Records founder Eric Isaacson's favorite films. (I'll sing the praises of The Secret Life of Plants to anyone who asks—the '79 flick begins as a psychedelic meditation on flora and expands to reflect on Earth, space, and consciousness, with groovy tunes by Stevie Wonder to boot. Smoke a bowl and get thee to the Hollywood!) LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $8-$10)

FOOD & DRINK

Beach Eagle Release Past Event Like List
On a recent trip to the ocean, I came closer than I ever have to a bald eagle, lounging unbothered on some driftwood, a mere 20 feet away from me. The awe-inspiring birds of prey clearly love to perch along the shore, which might be why the Astoria-based brewery Fort George has chosen to christen its new Mexican lager “Beach Eagle.” They describe it as the “perfect companion to sunny days on the beach, hanging with good friends, and tacos smothered with your favorite hot sauce,” with “slightly grainy corn flavor” and “subtle citrus and floral notes”—lime wedge optional but encouraged. Claim these enviable summer vibes for yourself at the Kenton bottle shop and taproom Mayfly’s release party, which will feature other offerings from Fort George as well as tamales from Tamales Con Amor. JB
(Mayfly Taproom and Bottle Shop, Kenton)

LIVE MUSIC

BABERS with Shy Honey and The Fourth Wall
Past Event Like List The vocalists of LA-based dark pop duo BABERS combine their unique talents to create intricate harmonies that transcend their two voices. They will celebrate the release of their sophomore EP with help from rising electro-pop outfit Shy Honey and folk rock band The Fourth Wall. AV
(Doug Fir Lounge, Buckman, $15)

DJ Timothy Bee with DJ HNST
Past Event Like List If you're looking for something a little more laid-back this Cinco de Mayo, local DJs Timothy Bee and HNST have got you covered with a free fiesta featuring a chill blend of hip-hop, reggaeton, and cumbia. Plus, there will be Milagro and Cointreau drink specials at the bar to help you unwind. AV
(Lollipop Shoppe, Buckman, free)

Soriah with Black Magdalene Past Event Like List
Get a little witchy this weekend with a celebration of the penumbral lunar eclipse featuring internationally acclaimed throat singer and ritual artist Soriah, darkwave belly dancing ensemble Black Magdalene, and ethereal synth project Other. Stick around after the show to dance along to '80s goth and new wave sets from DJs Barbie Saint and Non. AV
(Coffin Club, Buckman, $15)

READINGS & TALKS

Stats & Stanzas: A Poetry and Public Health Event Past Event Like List
In the words of Audre Lorde, "poetry is not a luxury"—it's the ultimate conversation starter, creates space to process lived experiences, and, perhaps most importantly, allows poets to resist structural racism, racialized police violence, and climate change. This free evening of poetry readings from Brianna Renae, Des Spicer-Orak, Dr. Ryan J. Petteway, and youth poets pursues racial and health justice by spotlighting the importance of both "stats and stanzas." A guest DJ will spin tracks from The Public Health MixTape, curated by Sylvia Rivera, and attendees can chow down on Filipino and Belizean bites while envisioning radical futures for public health. LC
(OHSU Waterfront Collaborative Life Sciences Building, Southwest Portland, free)

SATURDAY

AANHPI HERITAGE MONTH

Oregon Rises Above Hate: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Past Event Like List Come together in celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month with Portland's Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander residents. The event, which offers both in-person and livestream options, commits to combatting continued anti-Asian hate (do your reading if you haven't) and celebrates the resilience of Asian American communities. Anne Naito-Campbell, Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Suzanne Bonamici, Representative Earl Blumenauer, and many other community leaders will offer speeches, and cultural performers like Devigals Filipino Dance and Portland Taiko will strut their stuff on stage. Select Old Town Chinatown cultural institutions will also offer free admission throughout the day, including Lan Su Chinese Garden, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, and Portland Chinatown Museum. LC
(Flanders Festival Street, Old Town-Chinatown, free)

FILM

Portland EcoFilm Festival
Past Event Like List The year-round Portland EcoFilm Festival's ongoing mission to showcase the best in environmental cinema will continue on May 6 with a double feature of The Last Apple and The Illusion of Abundance, two independent films spotlighting important environmental stories and struggles in Latin America.
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $8-$10)

GEEK & GAMING

Free Comic Book Day Past Event Like List
Free Comic Book Day is like Christmas for comic enthusiasts—it's when publishers shell out special issues and deals on popular titles like Spider-Man, Doctor Who, and The Avengers, along with lesser-known indie titles like Strangers in Paradise and Silver. Head to local shops to take advantage of free (or otherwise cheap) finds, attend readings, and meet people who dig comics as much as you do. Six Portland stores are participating in the annual event this year, including Future Dreams, Revolutions Bookshop, and Things from Another World. Floating World Comics will host a signing of Casey Gilly's new book, Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Lost Summer, and Cosmic Monkey Comics will host local industry "superstars" like Joshua Williamson and Aaron Humphres. At Books with Pictures, comic lovers will find a queer makers market, a pop-punk cosplay dance party, and signings with Charlie Jane Anders and Becky Cloonan.
(Various locations, free)

LIVE MUSIC

Brijean Past Event Like List
On their 2022 EP Angelo, Oakland duo Brijean evokes '70s disco, '90s house, and modern pop sensibilities for a cathartic exploration of change, loss, and relocation. The pair will support their recently released deluxe version of the album after opening sets from electro-pop artist Claire George and DJ Bryson Wallace. AV
(Mississippi Studios, Boise, $15)

¡Viva el amor!
Past Event Like List The ISing Choir will provide a feast for the senses with a concert of choral love songs, sacred music, and folk melodies from Peru, Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, and the United States. Multicultural folk ensemble Grupo Condor will also accompany the choir for a rendition of Juan Pérez de Bocanegra's “Hanacpachap” and Ariel Ramírez's “Misa Criolla." AV
(Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton, $14)

PARTIES & NIGHTLIFE

Dance Craze: Spring Shingaling Past Event Like List
Beloved all-vinyl DJ Action Slacks will welcome the changing season with a vintage mix of multi-genre tunes to make you "swing towards spring." Put a little spring in your step with a bouquet of '50s, '60s, and '70s R&B, Latin, Caribbean, and pop grooves. Don't forget to dress to impress in seasonally themed attire like pastels, elaborate hats, and florals (For spring? Groundbreaking.) AV
(The World Famous Kenton Club, Kenton, $10-20 sliding scale)

Kentucky Derby Hosted by Poison Waters
Past Event Like List Join vivacious emcee and drag queen Poison Waters for a party to watch the greatest two minutes in sports (an ideal measure of sports; I'm mainly there for the food/pomp and circumstance of it all). The occasion demands your finest chapeau—Poison will judge a best hat contest while you indulge at a mint julep bar. JW (McMenamins Kennedy School, Concordia, free)

VISUAL ART

A History of Forgetting Past Event Like List
Epiphany Couch's debut solo exhibition at Carnation Contemporary dabbles in ancestral knowledge and prods at the complicated nature of memory, assembling film photographs, artist books, and other media to envision a path between forgetting and mending. The History of Forgetting pulls from Couch's own family narratives, dreams, and archival artifacts to cultivate a "world of memorialization." The artist, who is spuyaləpabš (Puyallup), Yakama, and Scandinavian, views her work as unabashedly personal, intimate, and "heirloom-like;" we're especially attracted to her collaged artist books, which blend unexpected media like wood and human hair. LC
(Carnation Contemporary, Kenton, free)

SUNDAY

LIVE MUSIC

SUSU with La Fonda and Camp Crush
Past Event Like List Self-proclaimed "rock 'n’ roll provocateurs" SUSU continue the legacy of multi-fronted rock bands like Heart and Fleetwood Mac with their leading power-house vocalists Liza Colby and Kia Warren. They will hit the stage just after the release of their bluesy new single "Rubby Hits the Road" with support from dreamy indie rock band La Fonda and new wave-inspired pop duo Camp Crush. AV
(Mississippi Studios, Boise, $15)

SPORTS & RECREATION

Portland Sunday Parkways 2023
Past Event Like List It is officially "go outside" weather, so meander around East Portland for the first of three events celebrating the Sunday Parkways program's sweet 16. Developed by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, a 3.3-mile down-and-back route will be closed to car traffic for the duration of the event, offering a little extra encouragement to bike, walk, or even roll (their suggestion, not ours) through public spaces, including scenic Gateway Discovery Park. You can hop on and off the route whenever you choose, so you won't find a more flexible way to spend your Sunday. LC
(Various locations, free)

MULTI-DAY

CINCO DE MAYO

Cinco de Mayo Party Past Event Like List
If you haven't yet experienced the novelty of dining inside a converted car wash stall at former Autentica and Uno Mas chef Oswaldo Bibiano's restaurant Smart Donkey, here's your chance: The spot will host a Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday and Saturday, with mariachi music, nachos de pueblo, margaritas, aguas frescas, Mexican candy, and no fewer than five different types of tacos. They’ve even got you covered for the post-party hangover: return on Saturday and Sunday to soothe your aching head with the healing power of pork pozole blanco.
(Smart Donkey, Richmond, Friday-Saturday)

Portland Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Past Event Like List
This sprawling street fair will return after a three-year pandemic hiatus for a fun fin de semana of live bands, Mexican flavors, and a mariachi Mass led by the internationally acclaimed Mariachi Ciudad de Guadalajara. The Portland Guadalajara Sister City Association (PGSCA) will squeeze it all into Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where visitors will also find artisans hawking cultural crafts and a plaza de niños with face painting and games. LC
(Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Downtown, $10-$25, Friday-Sunday)

EXHIBITS

A Long Road to Travel: The Service of Japanese American Soldiers During World War II Past Event Like List
This collaborative exhibition, created by the Japanese American Museum of Oregon and the History Museum of Hood River County, centers over 400 Japanese American (Nisei) soldiers from Oregon who served in the US military during World War II. While many of their relatives were incarcerated in internment camps, these soldiers served overseas and faced intense prejudices.
(Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Old Town-Chinatown, $0-$8, Friday-Sunday; closing)

FILM

Party Girl
Past Event Like List Parker Posey stans, assemble, and don't forget your club kid accessories: Daisy von Scherler Mayer's '95 indie comedy Party Girl will screen at the Hollywood this weekend. This film has everything, and that's hardly an exaggeration. Posey stars as a devil-may-care 20-something It Girl in Manhattan's club scene, where she meets a hunky food cart vendor, dons stolen vintage fashions to die for, and grooves maniacally to a soundtrack featuring Tom Tom Club. The cult classic might also teach you something new about the Dewey Decimal system. Who could resist?! Party Girl cemented Posey as an indie darling of the era and even led to a (short-lived) sitcom, so don't miss this chance to bask in its Gen X glory. LC
(Hollywood Theatre, Hollywood District, $7-$10, Friday-Sunday)

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda
Past Event Like List Ryuichi Sakamoto, Oscar-winning composer, unparalleled style icon, and one of the three melodic geniuses behind the Tokyo electronic outfit Yellow Magic Orchestra, passed away in April after a battle with cancer. (Chances are good that you've heard YMO's arty electro-pop tunes, but if not, throwthis on before continuing.) Directed by Stephen Nomura Schible (whose taste is solid—he co-produced Lost in Translation), Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda traces Sakamoto's prolific career, but digs deeper into his social activism in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. As he navigates his cancer diagnosis, Sakamoto's understanding of the precarity of life leads to an "ambient-as-restorative" solo album. LC
(Fifth Avenue Cinema, Downtown, $0-$7, Friday-Sunday)

SHOPPING

Crafty Wonderland Past Event Like List
Cool kids in checkered fleece will flock to one of Portland’s OG indie markets this month, snatching up gloopy ceramics, organic soy candles, artisanal salt, and beaded earrings that look like trout. Reader, this could be you. Crafty Wonderland, which has blossomed since its 2006 inception to become the largest handmade craft show in the Northwest, will return to the Oregon Convention Center with over 225 booths of artisanal goodies. Diehard fans of the shindig should snag tickets to the Friday preview night, where they'll get first dibs on merchandise and a free drink from the bar.
(Oregon Convention Center, Lloyd District, $4-$23, Friday-Saturday)

VISUAL ART

chimaera.site/afk Past Event Like List
Fanciers of monsters, cyborgs, dystopias, and glitchy madness may already be lurking at the Lloyd Center Hot Topic, but they should make their way next door, where chimæra.site/afk, a "creative community space," has activated an empty storefront. Organized by Daelyn Lambi, a current MA/MFA candidate at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, the temporary space will host an art exhibition, market, public workshops, and music, drag, and dance performances. Geared toward those considering "chimeric qualities of hybridity and (im)possibility" (who isn't?!), chimæra.site/afk's jam-packed schedule boasts a collaborative monster drawing project on May 6, a "lexiconspiratorial" writing workshop on May 7, and much more throughout the weekend. Bonus: you can hit the ice rink afterward. LC
(Lloyd Center, Lloyd District, free, Friday-Sunday)

Jessica Jackson Hutchins & Justine Kurland: Killer Maker Past Event Like List
If you're already enmeshed in the Portland art scene, you've likely heard the name "Jessica Jackson Hutchins" float around. Jackson Hutchins' tactile works transform everyday objects into art forms that are both intimately familiar and reverently heightened, and her ambitious, playful style is instantly recognizable. For Killer Maker, a "conversation with art objects," she's paired with Justine Kurland, an NYC-based artist and photographer whose motherhood-inspired series Of Woman Born depicts nude women dotting a verdant landscape. (The series, created nearly 20 years ago, feels prescient in the wake of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade reversal.) Jackson Hutchins' bodily assemblages of ceramics, furniture, and "pulped paper growths" respond to Kurland's photographs, but offer "discordant unions."
(Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Pearl District, free, Friday-Saturday)

Mishka Henner & Vaseem Bhatti: Energy Goast Past Event Like List
UK-based creative duo Vaseem Bhatti and Mishka Henner's Energy Goast is a "nature awareness brand," designed to question the commodification of the planet in our dystopia-adjacent era of synthetic landscapes and nuclear, military, and energy infrastructures. Inspired by Northern England's West Coast, the project pulls from West Cumbria's energy Masterplan, which was "produced by a regional consortium that sought to attract further energy and infrastructure investment to the Cumbrian economy." Energy Goast takes the form of "great outdoors" advertising, Instagram posts, and #outdoors content creation, but elevates the medium to construct a critique of the so-called Energy Coast. (Get her, Jade!) LC
(Blue Sky Gallery, Pearl District, free, Friday-Saturday)

Robin Friend: Bastard Countryside Past Event Like List
British-Australian artist Robin Friend "upends the archetypal British landscape" in Bastard Countryside, scanning the terrain for the familiar oranges and yellows of his Australian childhood. Throughout the course of the project, Friend found what he describes as modern ruins—monumental piles of abandoned cars, heaps of broken satellite dishes, and more. The resulting body of photographs is anxious, pensive, and more than a little cynical, depicting a disfigured land torn asunder by its rapid industrialization. (If this kind of critique perks up your ears, don't miss Mishka Henner & Vaseem Bhatti: Energy Goast, also on view at Blue Sky.) LC
(Blue Sky Gallery, Pearl District, free, Friday-Saturday)