Oregon spring break: 20 things to do in Portland and beyond

Published 4:45 am Friday, March 21, 2025

OK everybody, it’s time for Oregon’s spring break. Kids are out of school. Parents are trying to find things to do with their kids. Families are wanting to just have fun.

So, let’s take a journey, including road-tripping, through a lot of things to do in Portland and beyond during Oregon’s spring break, which basically starts Friday night, March 21, and goes through Sunday, March 30:

Oaks Amusement Park

The carnival and rides at Oaks Amusement Park in Southeast Portland will be open for spring break, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day, March 22-28 and then again in May in time for Multnomah County Fair and kids being out of school.

For updates, see oakspark.com.

OMSI

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry’s regular hours have been extended to 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 23 to Monday, March 31. There’ll be exhibitions to see — “Jurassic World by Brickman,” “Knowing Nature: Stories of the Boreal Forest” — as well as OMSI Science Demos, Science Circus, VR experience with Hungry Mantis and Worlds Beyond VR and more (omsi.edu).

Markets

Portland Farmers Market — It’s almost full-fledged farmers market season. The Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University is open Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m through March 29 and 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. April 5-Oct. 25 (updates at portlandfarmersmarket.org).

Portland Saturday Market — Known as the largest continuous open-air arts and crafts market in the United States, and celebrating 51 years and also its designation as an Oregon Heritage Tradition, the Portland Saturday Market, 2 S.W. Naito Parkway (portlandsaturdaymarket.com) is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday through December. At the market, which attracts tourists and locals, small businesses have a chance to show off their handmade arts, crafts and foods from the Northwest.

Beaverton Farmers Market —  One of the best westside outdoor markets can be found across from the Beaverton library at 12375 S.W. 5th St., operating year-round every Saturday through November. Located in the heart of downtown Beaverton, the Beaverton Farmers Market is a destination market in the Portland-metro area (beavertonfarmersmarket.com).

Multnomah Falls

A short drive east of Portland, and off Interstate 84, the Northwest’s natural beauty is in full view at Multnomah Falls. Tourists worldwide have visited the falls, which are considered the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. Multnomah Falls is fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain. (multnomahfallslodge.com).

Whale watching

The spring Whale Watch Week on the Oregon Coast is March 22-30. Watch gray whales migrate north from several spots on the coast (orwhalewatch.org).

Tulip Festival

You’ll want to keeps tabs on things via the website, but prepare for a trip to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, which opened Friday, March 21 and stays open till early May — the peak time for the beautiful colors on the tulips. It’s located at 33814 S. Meridian Road in Woodburn (woodenshoe.com/events/tulip-fest).

Gorge museum

A great many people travel east up the Columbia River Gorge to visit the Maryhill Museum of Art, just outside Goldendale, Washington, and it’s open for the 85th season, featuring paintings, European fashion, ceramics, murals, and updates to the permanent collection gallery. The exhibitions celebrate a wide range of artistic and cultural expression displayed in a Chateau-like setting overlooking the river (maryhillmuseum.org).

Bard on stage

Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland (osfashland.org) is celebrating a milestone season, its 90th season. The first four shows have opened: “Julius Caesar” (through Oct. 26), “The Importance of Being Earnest” (through Oct. 25), August Wilson’s “Jitney” (through July 20) and “Fat Ham” (through June 27).

Desert museum

At High Desert Museum in Bend, the popular indoor flight demonstration Sky Hunters returns to the E. L. Wiegand Pavilion in the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., March 22-29. Visitors experience powerful predators close up as raptors fly just overhead, showcasing the birds’ agility and grace while learning about their lives in the wild (highdesertmuseum.org).

‘Tootsie’

Stumptown Stages presents the musical based on the comedy film starring Dustin Hoffman, “Tootsie,” March 21-April 13 at Winningstad Theatre. It once received a staggering 11 Tony Awards nomination (stumptownstages.org).

Gabriel Iglesias

Portland welcomes the comedy of Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias to Moda Center, 8 p.m. Saturday, March 22 (rosequarter.com).

NW Dance Project

Ibsen’s iconic play comes to life as NW Dance Project performs “Hedda,” 7:30 p.m. March 28-29 at Newmark Theatre (nwdanceproject.org). Not performed in Portland since 2018, “Hedda” is by NW Dance Project founder and Artistic Director Sarah Slipper and it’s the contemporary dance telling of Henrik Ibsen’s incomparable 19th century play “Hedda Gabler,” a classic of realism and world drama.

Food fest

The first annual Portland Tacos, Tequila and Tamales Festival will take place at Portland Expo Center, noon-8 p.m. March 29 and noon-6 p.m. March 30 (expocenter.org).

Sports

Portland Winterhawks — Portland native Kyle Gustafson’s Winterhawks are back in the Western Hockey League playoffs, and they’ll start playoff games during spring break, but not before concluding the regular season, including versus Tri-City at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Friday, March 21 (winterhawks.com).

Portland Trail Blazers — The team is shooting for a spot in the NBA playoffs, led by the likes of Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan, and you can’t ask for better games at Moda Center than the next three: Friday, March 21, Denver; Sunday, March 23, Boston; Tuesday, March 25, Cleveland (blazers.com).

Timbers and Thorns — Catch pro soccer play in the spring at Providence Park with the Portland Timbers (timbers.com) and Portland Thorns (thorns.com). Upcoming home games: Thorns vs. Angel City, March 21; Thorns vs. North Carolina, March 29; Timbers vs. Houston, March 30.

Oregon history

Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1726 Washington St., in Oregon City, the End of the Trail Interpretive & Visitor Information Center is a window into the history of our state (historicoregoncity.org).

Wine country

France and Italy are known for their wines, but Willamette Valley and other areas — Columbia River Gorge, Washington County — are giving those countries a run for their money. Whether you’re in the mood for pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay, or riesling or many fine reds, drop by one of the many wineries this region of Oregon has to offer. Check out willamettewines.com for Willamette Valley winery information.