Year after year, Oregon’s summer fruit bounty always awakens my inner child. Fruit is referred to by some as nature’s candy, so perhaps it makes sense that the child in me gets absolutely giddy about the idea of picking wild blackberries and being paid for that labor in blackberries. I get similarly excited about the idea of coming across locally grown, near-ripe peaches and then putting them in a bag for a couple days, slicing them up, and maybe even adding a dollop of whipped cream.
I also have some deeply rooted convictions about the superior quality of Oregon’s locally grown produce, as well as the fact that touching grass while listening to live music is healing. I also adore the consistent simplicity of summer-specific phenomena like splash pads — interactive outdoor fountain spaces where Portland kids, adults and families can enjoy free and safe play in the water on hot days — and Portland’s many artsy, open-air street fairs and festivals.
Concerts alfresco
There’s nothing pleasant about being packed like sardines into a ballroom with no windows, with the only relief from the mustiness being a sad little fan in the back of the room. And music fans will endure a lot of unpleasant venue conditions to see an artist live. On the flip side, there’s something that just feels so good and right, and almost spiritual, about experiencing live music in community with others, while also touching grass. Getting outside, and preferably into nature, is scientifically proven to make humans happier, and music also has this effect. So hearing some sweet tunes performed live while outdoors should be on everyone’s summer bucket list.
Alfresco concerts are one of the major things the often-overhyped season of summer does have going. Parking scenarios be damned, you can’t really go wrong attending an epic, weekend-long event like the Waterfront Blues Festival, the other waterfront-based Project Pabst, the free and locally minded PDX Pop Now! or the experiential, music-driven and nature-inspired escape of Pickathon (it has a cult following for good reason). If you’re keen on driving a bit further for a specific artist (cough Dave Matthews Band cough) and making a day out of it, pack a car picnic (because you don’t know how long that parking lot is going to take to get in and out of). Head to The Gorge Amphitheatre, or even Cascade Amphitheater in Ridgefield, Washington or Hayden Homes Amphitheatre in Bend.
Outside of something as magical, artistic and immersive as Pickathon, which happens every August at Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, my personal favorite venue to experience a stand-alone concert outdoors is McMenamins’ Edgefield. Concerts are held on the lawn May through September, rain or shine, typically during sunset against a serene backdrop of orchard trees and wide open sky. While I don’t love the increasingly stringent crackdown on Edgefield’s bag and seating policies — we’re measuring beach towels and bags with a tape measure now, guys — my memories of experiencing the sounds of acts like Khruangbin, Gary Clark Jr., Janelle Monae, and Anderson .Paak over a progressively darkening pink and blue sunset and (if I’m lucky) some dear friends, will forever be worth the trouble.
This summer, there’s still time to see some great acts outdoors. Catch Earth, Wind and Fire at Edgefield (Sept. 5), Eugene-raised folk rock musician Mat Kearney and Oregonian sister duo Joseph at McMenamins Grand Lodge (Sept. 11), and a PDX Live show featuring rapper Vince Staples with opener and hometown rap hero Wynne (Aug. 20) at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Portland Parks and Recreation is also hosting 17 free outdoor concerts at parks throughout the city.
Farmers markets
In a place like Portland — and Oregon in general — liking and going to the farmers market can become a major component of your personality. (My mother, for instance, attends the same farmers markets consistently, coughing up money to the folks at Twisted Croissant every weekend.) Shoppers can often speak directly with farmers, growers and makers themselves, and the produce is noticeably fresher and tastier when it doesn’t have to travel far or be stored for long.
While some of the most popular locations, like the Portland State University Farmers Market, are open year-round, most farmers markets in Portland are open from roughly May through October, drawing locals and tourists alike to shop seasonal bounties from various regional growers alongside vendors slinging delicious, ready-made items.
Those who receive WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits, should check out the seasonal WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which provides WIC participants with extra vouchers or benefits to buy fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables and cut herbs at farmers markets from June 1 through Nov. 30.
SNAP recipients can similarly get double their benefits up to $20 at participating farmers markets.
Fruit!
Whether you attend farmers markets or not, in the summertime, Portlanders and Oregonians at large can take advantage of convenient access to the freshest summer produce — it’s prime time for veggies like corn and green beans. Plus, juicy tomatoes are just casually growing along neighborhood sidewalks!
But my favorite thing about summer by far is getting to eat the most mouthwatering fruits on a daily basis. If you go to the farmers market, or a fruit stand, or grocer like New Seasons who buys from local farmers, you will come across sweet and juicy stone fruit like peaches, nectarines and plums. You will find deep-colored strawberries that range from tiny to large, and are actually sweet. Because they were picked recently, at optimal ripeness, you might buy an entire crate of them and just keep eating them until you land on your favorite strawberry and then try to find another that outdoes it.
Some berry enthusiasts prefer to go to one of the U-pick farms on Sauvie Island, and I wholeheartedly support that mission. There’s also free fruit which happens more than a lot of people acknowledge. Blackberries growing wildly on the side of the road taste better than the ones at the store (make sure they haven’t been sprayed with chemicals). The house I’ve been renting for eight years came with a cherry tree, plum tree, pear tree and apple tree that all produce fruit.
Yes, it’s more than we can eat or manage, and it’s a mess to clean up, but people (and animals) are welcome to take fruit from our front yard. This also seems to be the norm in my North Portland neighborhood, as many of my neighbors have fruit trees and sidewalk gardens that seem to be openly shared with anyone and everyone.
Splash pads
And for those who may have missed the boat on getting their young kids into swim lessons this summer (or whose child was vehemently against their swim lessons), splash pads are an absolute game-changer on hot days. If the temperature is over 85 degrees, I won’t even bring my kids to a park that doesn’t have a splash pad, aka a set of water features, sprayers and sprinklers designed for human interaction and cooling off in the warmest months, usually alongside a playground.
Portland Parks and Recreation typically turns on the splash pads at local parks in early June, and keeps them running until early September. Often operated with a kids-height touch sensor, Portland’s splash pad game has been increasingly awesome, as the city continues to improve and renovate its playground areas.
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Some of the most popular splash pads in town include dog-friendly Fernhill Park and the waterfall feature at Jameson Square in the Pearl District. The rock-centric splash pad at Spring Garden Park is perfect for playing “the floor is lava.” On the summer’s hottest days, see the vastly shaded Columbia Park and Annex, with an oversized flower that sprays water high into the air and a water gun.
Street fairs & block parties
Yes, block parties and the like are definitely a summer thing. In Portland, summer brings lots of chances to attend mini cultural festivals, street fairs and block parties in various Portland neighborhoods where you can shop local vendors and support the city’s thriving scene of makers.
Stroll around with an ice cream or shaved ice in hand, do some people watching, vibe out to the live music and enjoy the family-friendly entertainment at street fairs in Kenton or along Mississippi Avenue, Hawthorne Boulevard, Clinton Street and Belmont Street. Check out art walks at First Thursday in the Pearl and the arts and culture fest Last Thursdays on Alberta Street. There’s also Good in the Hood and assorted celebrations in Portland and around the state for Juneteenth.
These seasonal festivals and open-air events naturally encourage things that are good for humans on a basic level, like getting outside for some sweet vitamin D, walking around, mingling and interacting with others, and getting to know the other characters, makers, artists and entities in your own neighborhood.
Did you know it’s relatively easy to throw your own block party? After coordinating with your neighbors, apply for a free block party permit through the City of Portland at least 15 days before your open-to-the-public event. (In some special cases, barricade rentals are required. You can learn more about Block Party permits online, or reach out to the PBOT Block Party Program via email (pbotblockparty@portlandoregon.gov), or phone (503-823-4003).
This article appears in August 19, 2026.