City of Portland, OR

09/23/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/23/2026 15:04

September 2026: Halloween Block Parties, New Art in Plazas & More 🎃 What’s Happening on Portland’s Streets This September

Label: News article
Portland's streets are full of life this fall! As we head into cooler weather, there's still plenty happening across the city.
Published
September 23, 2026 1:40 pm

In this article

Fall in Portland: Cozy Streets, Sweet Treats

Downtown Sunday Parkways at the Cultural District Plaza

Portland's streets are full of life this fall! As we head into cooler weather, there's still plenty happening across the city. In this issue, we're spotlighting the Treats on the Streets block party initiative, the grand reopening of Pride Plaza, a look back at the Lloyd EcoDistrict's Play Street, and the brand-new Art in Plazas program, bringing colorful and creative works into Portland's public spaces. Enjoy!

Treats on the Streets! Host a Block Party this Halloween!

This Halloween, make your street the safest and spookiest place to be.

With a FREE and easy PBOT Block Party Permit, you and your neighbors can close the street to cars and open it up for community fun.

Want car-free trick-or-treating, potlucks, games, jack-o-lantern carving, or a Día de los Muertos celebration? There are countless possibilities for block parties to bring neighbors together and make streets safer.

Check out our quick guide for planning a safer, car-free Halloween celebration this year!

Learn More!

Pride Plaza Grand Re-Opening!

We're feeling proud of these new upgrades!

Pride Plaza is ready to welcome the community back!

After several weeks of painting and construction, Pride Plaza at SW Harvey Milk and W Burnside has a fresh new look. This new permanent plaza features durable, high-quality materials and represents PBOT's first example of the "permanent street plaza typology."

On Saturday, October 3, from noon to 4 PM Come celebrate the return of this community gathering space with an afternoon of music, performances, local LGBTQ+ vendors and more.

The celebration will feature DJ JRx from CAMP, a special appearance by Poison Waters and friends, live performances from Andrea Walker and Miss Honey, and recognition of the community partners who helped bring the plaza to life. Additionally, a marketplace featuring 14 local LGBTQ+ vendors will be open throughout the afternoon, from noon to 5 p.m.

Performance schedule

  • Noon: DJ JRx from CAMP
  • 1 PM: Poison Waters and friends
  • 1:45 PM: Community partner recognition
  • 2 PM: Andrea Walker
  • 3 PM: Miss Honey

Full Event Info

Art in Plazas Brings New Ways to Experience Portland's Public Spaces

Arcadia Trueheart's interactive art pop up at Rainbow Road

This summer, several Portland street plazas have become temporary galleries and places to make something of your own.

Through the Art in Plazas pilot, PBOT and the Office of Arts & Culture partnered with local artists to bring new artwork and creative activities into public spaces across the city. The goal is to highlight neighborhood identities while creating more opportunities for people to interact, participate, and spend time in their local plazas. The pilot received 42 artist submissions, with five artists selected to create projects at participating plazas.

At Ankeny Alley, artist Larry Yes has created Rainbows of Possibilities, a series of 12 colorful benches shaped like rainbows. Each bench features a different word, including HOPE, JOY, FUN, PEACE, PLAY, DREAM, and LOVE. The benches are designed to be more than something to look at. They invite people to sit down, connect with a friend, or meet someone new.

Larry in his studio with his colorful benches. Photo courtesy of Larry Yes

"I believe art in public plazas creates an open invitation to engage in community and to take a moment to explore color and possibility. I loved making these rainbow love benches and my hope is that they spark joy and connection in the people who have a seat and maybe they will start a conversation that continues beyond this moment . Thank you PBOT and PDX Arts & Culture for inviting us to foster community through art."

-Larry Yes, Partnering Artist

At Montgomery Plaza at PSU, artist Lettie Jane Rennekamp's installation features life-sized human silhouettes made from transparent, colorful acrylic. As people move around and through the sculptures, the figures overlap and create new colors and shifting views. The work explores how our interactions with other people can change the way we see the world.

Lettie Jane Rennekamp at PSU's Montgomery Plaza

At Rainbow Road, artist Arcadia Trueheart has taken a participatory approach with Plaza Portraits. The project includes opportunities for visitors to draw their own faces as part of a community mural, create portraits of their neighbors, and participate in other creative activities. The plaza becomes both the setting and part of the artwork, with visitors contributing to an evolving portrait of the community.

Arcadia Trueheart at her Rainbow Road Pop-up

"Fostering public spaces for art creation is so important because it allows neighbors to form relationships through a shared experience of play and experimentation. When we get to creatively contribute to shared spaces, we build belonging, purpose, and community."

-Arcadia Trueheart, Partnering Artist

Other projects are taking shape, bringing even more creative activity into Portland's neighborhood public spaces. The installations are temporary, giving artists and communities a chance to experiment with what art can look like in a street setting.

Adding art creates another reason to slow down and spend time in these spaces. A bench can become a place to meet someone. A mural can become a backdrop for a conversation or photo. An interactive project can give a child, neighbor, or passerby a reason to stop and participate.

That mix of everyday use and creative activity is part of what makes plazas different from traditional public art settings. The artwork becomes part of a place where people are already eating, walking, biking, gathering, shopping, and spending time with their neighbors.

Visit a plaza and see what's happening!

The Art in Plazas installations are temporary, with timelines depending in part on weather and the materials used. After the pilot, PBOT and the Office of Arts & Culture will evaluate what was learned and consider the future of the program.

In the meantime, take a walk, grab a seat, and see what's happening at a plaza near you.

Larry Yes's installation at Ankeny Alley

Bubbles, Beats, and a Street Full of Play

Article by: Yawen Lei of Lloyd Eco District

Photo Courtesy of Lloyd Eco District

This summer, Lloyd EcoDistrict hosted an intern from the University of Oregon's Portland Internship Experience program, Yawen Lei. If you came to any of the Lloyd Live at Dock events, POP Party, or cleanups this summer, you likely saw Yawen! She also helped plan and run a PBOT Play Streets event. Yawen reflected on her time planning and hosting the Play Street event in Lloyd:

During the ninth week of my internship with Lloyd EcoDistrict, an idea I had been working on for weeks finally came to life. Bubble & Beats was created with a goal: to turn the street outside Home Forward's The Louisa Flowers into a space where families could come together, kids could play freely, and neighbors could enjoy an afternoon outside.

For three hours, the street outside The Louisa Flowers became a space for play. Around 100 people joined us, with kids drawing on the pavement, families sharing food, neighbors talking, and bubbles floating through almost every corner of the event.

Photo Courtesy of Lloyd Eco District

I spent much of the afternoon at the button-making station. Many adults initially assumed the activity was meant for their children, and I found myself telling them, "You can make one too." Soon, I was helping people of different ages make their own buttons. One of the adults even came up with six designs of his own and eventually chose three to turn into buttons. I loved seeing how differently everyone approached the same activity.

One of my favorite moments was reconnecting with a little girl I had met at the mural painting event. We recognized each other at the button-making station and ended up chatting while she worked on her design. It was a small moment, but it reminded me how much I enjoyed getting to know people in the Lloyd community throughout the summer.

A few residents also came up to me during the events and asked, "How often do you do this?" I was really happy to hear that because it showed me that people enjoyed the event enough to want to experience it again. This was my first time helping lead a block party, so seeing people stay, talk, play, and enjoy the space made all the planning feel worth it.

As my summer internship comes closer to an end, Bubble & Beats is an event I will remember. I learned a lot from planning it, but I think my biggest takeaway was how much I enjoy meeting people through this kind of work. I came into the event thinking about activities, supplies, and whether people would show up. I left thinking about the conversations I had, the people I recognized, and how good it felt to see neighbors enjoying something we had created together. I hope we'll see more events like this in the Lloyd District next year.

Exploring What's Possible: Summer Pilot Plazas Head Into Evaluation Phase

Beaumont Crossing is just one of four Pilot Street Plazas this year. Photo by Christina Tselnik

This summer, we've been working with communities across Portland to test new street plazas, giving neighbors a chance to try out new spaces, gather, and see how a plaza can work in their neighborhood. Now, as the summer season winds down, these plazas are heading into the evaluation period.

In total, four sites have been piloted this year: Woodlawn Yards, Beaumont Crossing, Schiller Plaza, and Parkrose Plaza. Each pilot plaza operates for about 8 to 12 weeks. During that time, PBOT works with community partners to observe how the space is being used, gather feedback from neighbors and visitors, and learn more about what is working well and what could be improved.

The evaluation helps PBOT and community partners answer some important questions: Is the location working? Are people using and enjoying the space? What kinds of activities and programming are happening? What would it take to maintain and manage the plaza over the long term?

The goal is to learn from each pilot and understand what works best for the community. A pilot plaza continuing as a permanent space is one possible outcome, but it isn't the only measure of success. A pilot may also reveal that another approach to placemaking could better serve the community. The experience of testing new ideas, gathering people together, and hearing from neighbors can help build community and inform a shared vision for the neighborhood's future.

Several 2026 pilot plazas are now moving through the evaluation process, with results being shared as they become available. Evaluations are currently open for Beaumont Crossing and Woodlawn Yards, and we'd like to hear from people who have experienced these spaces, including nearby residents, business owners, visitors, and others who spend time in the area.

Visit the Pilot Street Plazas webpage to learn more about this summer's pilots, take the Beaumont Crossing or Woodlawn Yards survey, and see evaluation results as they are published.

Other Opportunities for Feedback

Have you visited the Cultural District Plaza in the South Park Blocks recently? The Portland Art Museum is gathering feedback on current and future use of the new plaza.

Cultural District Plaza Feedback

By popular demand from our partners we've extended the 2026 Plaza Surveythrough October. This annual survey helps us understand how people use Portland's Public Street Plazas and what improvements would make them even better. Your feedback helps shape future programming, design, and investments in these community spaces. Take a few minutes to share your experience and help improve the plazas that bring neighbors together across Portland.

Take the Plaza Survey

Placemaking Grant Final Reminder!

Metro Community Placemaking Grant Open Through October 2!

Metro Community Placemaking grants support community-led, equity-centered, arts and culture efforts that strengthen people's connections to each other and places they care about. Up to $450,000 will be awarded in grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. No matching funds are required. Awards for the next cycle will be announced in January. Read the application handbook below to learn more about eligibility and grant requirements.

Learn More

The Public Realm and Street Activation team is committed to helping community partners bring placemaking ideas to life. Our new grant opportunities page highlights local, regional, state, and federal funding resources that may support plazas, public spaces, and other community-driven initiatives. Explore available opportunities and find resources to help turn your vision into reality.

Explore The Grant Opportunities Page

Upcoming Events on Portland's Streets

Here's what's on our radar for this next month. New events from our partners are also regularly re-posted on the PBOT Instagram page.

Friday, September 25

  • Black&White BandPDX Concert @ Beaumont Crossing: 5:00 PM-7:00 PM. An evening of live music featuring Black&White BandPDX, a local kid's band bringing their energy and talent to the neighborhood! Bring the family, grab a bite or drink nearby, and support the next generation of local performers. Hosted by Black&White BandPDX.

Saturday, September 26

  • Oregon Symphonic Band Sounds of Summer @ Beaumont Crossing: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM. A concert for the community, John Philip Sousa style. This is a 50-piece adult community band that plays music you will recognize and love! Hosted by Oregon Symphonic Band.
  • Patina Performance @ Beaumont Crossing: 4:30 PM. Live music from Patina, a six-piece Portland band bringing their original Americana, folk-rock, and roots-rock sound to the neighborhood. Hosted by Patina.
  • Concordia Fall Garden Fair @ Concordia Commons: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. Meet your neighbors and help make a greener world! Receive free expert advice on trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs. Plants are available for purchase from local nurseries. Hosted by Concordia Neighborhood Association.
  • Saturdays in the Square @ St Johns Plaza: 11:00 AM-4:00 PM. Weekly artisan and music showcase featuring local businesses and talent. Hosted by St Johns Boosters. 
  • Work Party @ Arleta Triangle Square: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. Help weed, paint, and support the community. Tools and drinks provided! Hosted by Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association. 
  • Free exercise classes and music @ Ankeny Rainbow Road: 10:00 AM-2:00 PM  Outdoor fitness and music sessions. Hosted by Kernside BA and Lone Fir Fitness. 

Sunday, September 27

Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4

  • Portland Craft Chocolate Festival (PDXCCF) @ Olympic Mills Building: PDXCCF is an annual event celebrating small-batch chocolate makers, sustainable sourcing, and the vibrant community of craft chocolate lovers. Indulge your sweet tooth during this 3-day festival of bold pairings, local makers, hands-on discovery, and one very serious cookie competition. Located at 107 SE Washington St. Hosted by Ranger Chocolate Co.

Friday, October 2

Saturday, October 3

Sunday, October 4

Wednesday, October 7

  • Tour de Ladd @ Ladd's Addition: 6:00 AM-4:00 PM. Bike, ride, and scoot through Ladd's Addition during this annual bike-a-thon benefiting Abernethy Elementary School! Starting location at 2421 SE Orange Ave. Hosted by Abernethy PTA.

Sunday, October 18

Saturday, October 24

  • Siempre Bailando / Still Dancing @ New Deal Distillery: 2:00 PM-7:00 PM. Celebrate Día de los Muertos at this all-ages cumbia community dance event. Located at 900 SE Salmon St. Hosted by Savina Monet in partnership with Ideal PDX, Travel Portland, and Central Eastside Portland.
  • Spooktacular 2026 @ Sellwood Community House: 4:00 PM-7:00 PM. Sellwood's favorite Halloween festival returns, with tricks and treats for all. All ages are welcome at this annual celebration of all things Halloween! A frightfully sweet variety of treats will be available for purchase, with proceeds to benefit Sellwood Community House's After School Enrichment Program. Located at 1436 SE Spokane Street. Hosted by Sellwood Community House.

Tuesday, October 27

  • Monthly Market @ Ankeny Rainbow Road: 12:00 PM-7:00 PM. Meet local artists and makers! A little something for everyone. Hosted by Jag Shop.

Saturday, October 31

  • Work Party @ Arleta Triangle Square: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM. Help weed, paint, and support the community. Tools and drinks provided! Hosted by Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association. 

Other Regular Recurring Events

Every Wednesday in 2026

  • People's Food Co-op Farmers' Market: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM. At this year-round market, you'll find produce, local craft goods, live music, and so much more. Visit the market every Wednesday in 2026 (with a few exceptions) and enjoy! Located at SE Tibbetts Street between SE 20th and SE 21st Avenue. Learn more.

Every Wednesday between June 3 and September 30

  • Kenton Farmers Market: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Attend this Portland Farmers Market in the historic Kenton neighborhood for fresh produce, prepared foods, and specialty goods. Free and family friendly! Located at N McClellan and N Denver. Learn more.

Every Thursday from June to October

  • South Waterfront Farmers Market: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Find more fresh produce, prepared foods, live music, and other events at this waterfront market. Located at S Moody Ave in Elizabeth Caruthers Park. Learn more.

How Can I Host Events?

PBOT provides many ways to activate city streets, depending on the size and nature of the event.

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!

Community Events in Plazas: Our system has changed. Plaza reservations now fall under the Community Events in a Plaza Permit, making the process more streamlined and accessible. Most Community Events in Plazas are still completely free to host for community groups.

Larger Community Events: Looking to throw something larger? Apply for a Community Event with Portland in the Streets!

Play Streets: If you are part of a nonprofit, neighborhood association, or business association, and would like to host a Play Street series in Summer 2026, reach out to [email protected] and we'll be happy to talk.

Street Paintings: Street paintings are large, decorative paintings installed directly on the street to beautify neighborhoods and build community. Learn how to apply on the Street Painting Permit page.

Where Can You Find More of PBOT's Street Plazas?

PBOT has numerous active plazas that are ready for you, your friends, and family to enjoy. They are great places to grab a bite to eat, relax, enjoy live music, meet up with friends, and so much more.Check out our directory to find out about plazas near you!

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 spaces for 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 Plazas

Learn More About Portland In the Streets

City of Portland, OR published this content on September 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 23, 2026 at 21:04 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]