Top 10 Local Art Attractions

Our Local Expert Says:

The Saturday Market is one of the best spots to spend a weekend morning in Portland. It is deceiving however; the Saturday Market actually takes place on both Saturday and Sunday.

Description:

The Saturday Market is a great place to explore the local arts and crafts of Portland. From homemade soaps to glassblowers, this craft fair is one of the most unique on the West Coast. HOURS: Sa 10a-5p and Su 11a-4:30p.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is a perfect place to spend an afternoon wandering in and out of galleries and boutiques.

Description:

Portland's Pearl District is home to fine art galleries, trendy city dwellers, and upscale dining. The art galleries and cobble stone streets alone make this a worth-while stop on any trip. On the first Thursday of each month, these galleries are open to the public well into the night, making it a trendy nighttime destination.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Hawthorne District is the heart of Portland's infamous counterculture.

Description:

With thrift stores, funky cafes, and local oddities galore, the Hawthorne District is a must-see for all those in search of authentic Portland culture. The Hawthorne District is home to Portland's mix of bohemian adults and hip 20-something's. It is here you'll find record shops, floating meditation chambers, and non-profit magic stores. Go explore!

Our Local Expert Says:

Old Town is the best spot to explore Portland's dark and dangerous past. When you're finished touring, this spot has the city's best night clubs.

Description:

Old Town contains the majority of Portland's strip clubs, wild nightlife, and general debauchery. Not to be missed if you're in the mood for a party, Old Town is hopping by night and historical by day. Voodoo Donuts absolutely must be visited, day or night, for a truly creative donut.

Description:

This small, neighborhood park is a good place to sit back and watch the day dissolve. With grassy knolls and lots of greenery, the urban getaway is a cultural mecca. In the middle of blossoming North Portland, this neighborhood is a good example of how many races can come together and live peacefully. On the northeastern-most corner of the park sits the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center where you can view art depicting racial harmony. There are no fees charged.

Description:

Every Labor Day weekend, this craft fair celebrates art Portland style. Held in the Pearl District, more than 100 art booths fill the North Park Blocks. From paintings to pottery, festival-goers find a unique collection of local artists plying their wares. The art of food and theater is also celebrated; enjoy a broad selection of ethnic dishes and performances by the Portland Area Theater Alliance. You will also find hands-on art exhibitions that allow you to explore your own creativity. Admission is free.

Description:

Artist-owned since 1979, the Blackfish is a large space featuring contemporary images. Since this gallery is a cooperative, it doesn't have the same constraints as a commercial art gallery and thus can present more cutting-edge and thought-provoking work.

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All the concerts performed by the Portland Festival Symphony are conducted at different parks and are free. A European tradition continued this side of the Atlantic. The founder of this musical ensemble is a Hungarian, Lajos Balogh, who also triples as a music director and conductor of the Portland Festival Symphony. He has performed as a soloist with the Nuremberg, Munich and Gottingen Symphonies. So the level of professionalism is definitely not below the bar. Cathedral Park, Peninsula Park, McCoy Park and Washington Park are the various venues for Portland Festival Symphony. See website for yearly particulars.

Description:

Every last Thursday of the month, Alberta street erupts in creativity, fire, and music. Lining the streets are hundreds upon hundreds of local artists, from those well established to those that recently climbed out of a van. From punk rock clowns to bands of stilt walkers to fire eaters this is bar-none the best artistic party and fair in Portland. It starts around 5pm and rolls on into the wee hours of the night, getting wilder as it progresses.

Description:

This is a sensational gallery to visit during the first Thursday of each month when local galleries keep their doors open late to the public. Paintings are not all they showcase at this trendy little gallery. Check out the ceramic and poster reproduction exhibits, poignant art by Z.Z. Wei and nature scenes by April Richardson. Be sure to visit the other gallery, Attic Gallery, located just across the street.