There’s a lot to celebrate in June! The summer solstice, national Pride Month, Juneteenth and the end of the 2025–26 creative season have our cultural calendars packed with plays, concerts and movie screenings. Thanks to the Regional Arts and Culture Council’s Arts for All program, people with an Oregon Trail card can get $5 tickets for some of the Portland area’s top artistic offerings. Unless otherwise noted, patrons will have to do little else but show their Oregon Trail cards or purchase a special ticketing tier to access discounts.

Ongoing and outdoors 

The Lan Su Chinese Garden in Old Town is an artfully manicured traditional Chinese garden escape from the city. A proud reminder of the historic Chinatown neighborhood, Lan Su regularly hosts art classes, tea tastings and a rotating roster of cultural experiences such as calligraphy, tai chi and Chinese folk music. It also hosts seasonal celebrations including the midsummer Lotus Festival, the Chrysanthemum Festival in November and the Dongzhi winter solstice. 239 NW Everett St., 503-228-8131, lansugarden.org. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily.

The sprawling Portland Japanese Garden covers 12.5 acres near the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park. It opened in 1967 as part of a larger national effort to heal post-WWII Japanese-American relations, and has been called one of the world’s most authentic Japanese gardens blooming outside Japan. The Portland Japanese Garden hosts regular artistic and cultural experiences with its tea house, onsite art galleries and natural wonders. 611 SW Kingston Ave., 503-223-1321, japanesegarden.org. 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday, noon–5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Present Oregon Trail card in person for two $5 tickets per adult and free admission for up to four children ages 17 and under.

Leach Botanical Garden celebrates 90 years of growth this year. Its free Garden for All program doesn’t require an Oregon Trail card, just ask for it by name in person on entry. First opened in 1936 by John and Lilla Leach and bequeathed to Portland following Lilla’s passing in 1980, the 16-acre botanical garden offers amenities including an aerial tree walk, four Heritage Trees of Portland and a year-round native pollinator garden. 6704 SE 122nd Ave., 503-208-6030, leachgarden.org. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday–Thursday.  

Want to get hyped for the upcoming Wildwood movie, or beat the crowds likely to flock to Pittock Mansion after its release? Go now while the weather’s good! The historic 16,000-square-foot mansion — which appeared briefly in exterior for Madonna’s “Body of Evidence,” by the way — is an architectural marvel with stunning views of Portland. Built by The Oregonian publisher Henry Pittock, the namesake mansion is more than a century old. If only those walls could talk. 3229 NW Pittock Dr., 503-823-3623, pittockmansion.org. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday–Monday, noon–5 p.m. Tuesday. Present your Oregon Trail card in person.

Calendar

MUSIC

  • Frequent collaborators Edda Glass and Max Hatt perform for The Old Church’s free Lunchtime Concert Series, bringing the kind of bossanova jazz that caught NPR’s attention. The Old Church Concert Hall, 1422 SW 11th Ave., 503-222-2031, tocportland.org. Noon on Wednesday, June 3. Free.
  • The Oregon Symphony’s June program is headlined by Danny Elfman’s “Percussion Concerto,” but includes other modern and contemporary works including Steve Reich’s “Music for Pieces of Wood,” John Adams’ “The Chair Dances: Foxtrot for Orchestra,” and Respighi’s “Pines of Rome.” Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 503-248-4335, portland5.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4. 2 p.m. June 6 and 7. Apply for tickets at orsymphony.org/bridge-arts-for-all three to five weeks ahead of showtime.
  • Dawn, a collaborative concert between Portland’s Aurora Chorus and guest choir The Tucson Girls Chorus, celebrates spring’s transition to summer. United Methodist Church, 1838 SW Jefferson St., aurorachorus.org. 7 p.m. Friday, June 5.
  • Paul Knauls, the Mayor of Northeast Portland, KBOO personality Yugen Rashad and art historian Calvin Walker host Black Music Month: Legends Music Showcase. The Legendary Beyons, The Norman Sylvester Band & The PDX Jazz All-Stars featuring the Ron Steen Trio, and Julianne Johnson join together for a night celebrating the legacy of Portland’s Black music history. Alberta Abbey, 126 NE Alberta St., albertaabbey.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 6.
  • Award-winning opera and jazz vocalist Madeline Ross entertains for The Old Church’s Lunchtime Concert Series. The Old Church Concert Hall. Noon on Wednesday, June 17. Free.
  • Black Music Month: Ladies Night sees Portland musicians and singers honor the legacies of R&B’s leading ladies. Expect tributes to Sade, Chaka Khan, Alicia Keys and more. Alberta Abbey. 8 p.m. Friday, June 20.
  • The Portland Lesbian Choir gets in the Pride spirit with a revue of tunes from artists including Carly Rae Jepsen, Dua Lipa, Shea Diamond, Joy Oladokun, Brandi Carlile and drag artist Pattie Gonia. Parkrose Performing Arts Center at Parkrose High School, 12003 NE Shaver St., plchoir.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, June 21 (Saturday, June 20’s Arts for All seating is sold out).

THEATER

  • Before productions like “Wicked” retold classic stories for a fresh audience, the “Once Upon a Mattress’” writing team thought nearly 70 years ago that Hans Christian Andersen’s story (just over a century old at the time) could use some tweaking, ramping up the absurdity in a story about hypersensitivity. Broadway Rose Theatre Company, 12850 SW Grant Ave., Tigard, broadwayrose.org, Arts for All available at 503-620-5262 or in-person starting 90 minutes before a performance’s start. Arts for All not offered for matinees or the production’s final week. June 3–21. 
  • “The SpongeBob Musical” explores not only the oceanic depths of Bikini Bottom, but the depths we sink to in times of crisis. An underwater volcano threatens to wipe the pineapple under the sea off the map, and not everyone reacts to their pending doom in the way they should. But rather than aiming for a Broadway recreation of the classic 21st century Nickelodeon cartoon, “The SpongeBob Musical” aims for its spirit to stir emotions. Portland Playhouse, 602 NE Prescott St., 503-488-5822, portlandplayhouse.org. 7:30 p.m. June 3–7. 2 p.m. June 6 and 7.
  • Alistair McDowall’s “X” imagines the terror of being stranded on Pluto. A group of scientists and explorers try to keep their wits after contact with Earth is severed, but the visitors they face make them question reality. Third Rail Repertory Theatre, 2259 NW Raleigh St., 503-235-1101, thirdrailrep.org. June 3–7.
  • Barbra Streisand, Debbie Gibson and Lea Michele have each brought something new to “Funny Girl,” the biographical musical about early 20th century entertainer Fanny Brice. Now Lake Oswego gets to be inspired by this tale of surviving heartbreak and WWI-era Hollywood.  Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S State St., Lake Oswego, lakewood-center.org, call 503-635-3901 to verify Arts for All showtime availability. 7:30 p.m. June 4–6. 2 p.m. June 7.
  • “Arbus & West” follows what might have happened during photographer Diane Arbus’ shoot with legendary Hollywood sex symbol Mae West. Triangle Productions, 1785 NE Sandy Blvd., 503-239-5919, trianglepro.org. Arts for All tickets available in person 15 minutes before showtime. June 4–20.
  • Jen Silverman’s “The Roommate” follows Sharon and Robyn, two middle aged women effectively starting their lives over and realizing through each other’s pasts how much work lies ahead of them. Portland Center Stage, 128 NW 11th Ave., 503-445-3700, profiletheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. June 4–6, 11–13, 17, 18, and 20. 2 p.m. June 7, 14, and 21. Arts for All available in person. 
  • “Antíkoni” — the Native American take on the ancient Greek play Antigone — sees a Nez Perce family caught between tradition and survival inside a museum filled with Indigenous artifacts. The Vault Theater, 350 E Main St., Hillsboro, 503-345-9590, thirdangle.org. June 4–21.
  • Eastside Theater Company, the children’s theater company most centrally located for East Portland families, takes on the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” that follows Tevye, his wife, and their five daughters in pastoral Russia in the czarship’s twilight. Eastside Theater Company, 3445 SE Hillyard Rd. Gresham, 971-231-5032, eastsidetheater.com. 7 p.m. June 5, 6, 12, and 13. 1 p.m. June 6 and 13. 4 p.m. June 7 and 14. Call for Arts for All tickets, or email info@eastsidetheater.com.
  • Hand2Mouth’s “Home/Land” is part of The Price of the Ticket, the 2026 Oregon Contemporary Artists’ Biennial anchored at the Kenton neighborhood art gallery Oregon Contemporary. “Home/Land” imagines an apocalyptic scenario that sees them navigate Zidell Yards amid an uncertain future. 3121 South Moody Ave., hand2mouththeatre.org. June 18–28.


CIRCUS

  • “Gnome Sweet Gnome” sees Reverb Training Company, Echo Theater Company’s adult circus training company, give an acrobatic peek behind the garden wall into the real lives of garden gnomes. Echo Theater, 1515 SE 37th Ave., 971-267-3246, echotheaterpdx.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6. 5 p.m. Sunday, June 7.

FILM

  • Werner Herzog executive produced Yana Alliata’s “Reeling” (2025), a thriller about a woman who uncovers secrets about her life-changing accident while home at a luau on Oahu. Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division St., 503-221-1156, tomorrowtheater.org, Arts for All available as walk-up only, recommended arrival at least 30 minutes before showtime. 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 3. 
  • Local artist and educator Lisa Jarret chose “Chez Joile Coiffure” (2019) to screen in conjunction with her work “Tenderhead” at Portland Art Museum. “Chez Joile Coiffure” follows the world inside a Brussels hair salon specializing in Black hair. Tomorrow Theater. 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4.
  • Local drag queen Violet Hex hosts cinematic bingo honoring now-local horror icon Cassandra Peterson’s legendary character by showing her first full-length namesake movie “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark” (1988). Tomorrow Theater. 7 p.m. Friday, June 5.
  • Milagro Theater’s June Film Shorts series shows three short films that won the Latine theater company’s Milagro Artist Fund: Ricardo and Veronica Alvarado’s “Mora,” Dawn Jones Redstone’s “Hostile Work Environment” and Tatiana Maria Corbitt’s “Dreamland.” Milagro, 525 SE Stark St., 503-236-7253, milagro.org. 8 p.m. Thursday, June 5. Free. 
  • Those prestigious 20th anniversary showings are coming in hot and fast, Millennials. “She’s the Man” (2006) sees Amanda Bynes lead a gender-swapped post-Y2K take on Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Tomorrow Theater. 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6.
  • Chloe Sevigny narrates “John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office” (2025), which sees its titular character trace through surrealist cinema icons including Alejandro Jodorowsky, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary and Scott McVay to find the mind’s furthest reaches. Tomorrow Theater. 4 p.m. Sunday, June 7.
  • “Delicatessen” (1991)’s 4K restoration means this gristly dark romantic comedy about a star-crossed couple’s meeting in a post-apocalyptic butcher shop will show its metaphorical and literal guts with even more vulnerable clarity. Tomorrow Theater. 7 p.m. Sunday, June 7.
  • The queer nightlife documentary “Shakedown” (2018) traces the legacy of certain 2010s queer Bay Area parties back to their roots in 1980s trans culture. Tomorrow Theater. 7 p.m. Thursday, June 11.
  • Climax (2018) follows a drugged dance troupe’s unintended trip through an abandoned school, and the darkness they face along the way. Tomorrow Theater. 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13.
  • The Lisbon Sisters live on in “The Virgin Suicides” (1999), the emotionally arresting portait of sisters in the 1970s. Tomorrow Theater. 3 p.m. Sunday, June 14.
  • “Blue Is the Warmest Color” (2013) follows Adèle’s sexual maturity as she meets the blue-haired Emma and changes forever. Tomorrow Theater. 7 p.m. Sunday, June 14.
  • Local artist Kalimah Abioto curated a Juneteenth experience around “Seeds” (2025), a portrait of three generations of Black farmers and their stories. Tomorrow Theater. 7 p.m. Friday, June 19.

DANCE

  • Oregon Ballet Theatre’s season finale and encore show celebrates the company’s year of accomplishments and artistic achievements. Reser Center for the Arts, 12625 SW Crescent St., Beaverton, 971-501-7722, thereser.org. June 11–14. Available in-person starting two hours ahead of the show, or by calling 503-222-5538.

STORYTELLING

  • Backfence Storytelling’s “Mixed Media Pride Show” splits time between Powell’s City of Books’ Pearl Room and the nearby Hoxton Hotel. Drag queen Savannah Bennington and comedians Ash Allen and Arlo Weirhauser lead a roster of local talent opening up and sharing stories about the LGBTQIA2S+ experience. Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., and The Hoxton, 15 NW 4th Ave. backfencestorytelling.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, June 14. Email info@backfencepdx.com for Arts for All tickets.

This article appears in June 3, 2026.