Festivals in Portland

February 14, 2026

Dear Liza,

Happy Valentine’s Day! But that’s not what this blog is about.

Last evening we three bundled up and bussed off to our drizzly Downtown and enjoyed a bright, warm celebration of Portland city life.

Even before we got to Pioneer Square, known as Portland’s Living Room, we could see things were going to be interesting.

Shimmering lights, crocheted tents, furious “fire swamp” explosions, and an electrified juggler made us forget the rain.

Hundreds of folks were out, enjoying the show and the community. A well-tended bonfire in a beautifully wrought fire-pit warmed chilly fingers and evoked a camping-in-the-woods vibe.

Furthering our adventure, we walked to Director’s Park and found warm coffee and sweet s’mores (By Marsh & Mallow, in their new location). A delicately carved, glowing Nautilus shell lit what is usually a wading fountain.

Refreshed with sugar and caffeine, we had one last stop : Portland’s World Trade Center. We heard it before we saw it. “Audible” was a deafening understatement!

There were artworks you could walk into, walk through, and just marvel at.

And as our own batteries were running low, we had a long, quiet look at the Willamette and then headed off to catch the bus back home.

Thanks, Portland! It was delightful.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

On Saturday, I helped Auntie Katie set up her double wide booth at Portland’s Gay Pride Festival. It was hard work, but it’s always good to help.

Auntie Bridgett drove me to Auntie Katie’s house at seven in the morning. We loaded up a van she borrowed from a friend, then went to her shop, Books with Pictures, and loaded some more. Boxes and boxes of books, bookshelves, snacks, banners, and chairs, were all tetris-ed into a space that I thought was too small for them. Then we drove to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, between the Morrison and Hawthorne Bridges, on the west side of the Willamette River.

**View of the festival from the Morrison Bridge**

A friend of Katie’s named Dot, who has a strong back, cheerful personality AND many years of book store experience, was an enormous help. I unloaded and sorted, Dot organized and shelved, and Katie figured out where everything went.

By 11:00, we were ready for business! I took a walk around the festival to see the other booths. There were so many different businesses and causes, with booths run by cheerful people. There were banjo players, bankers, car dealers, a softball league, Fred Meyer stores, and even a booth supporting the adoption of deaf dogs. There were some outrageous costumes, but mostly just really happy people enjoying being out together on a sunny day.

When the booth was ready and Auntie Katie had her lunch (of delicious pulled pork from Porklandia), I decided to head home. I had lots of snacks and water, so I walked across the Morrison Bridge and east for about 2 miles.

**The Willamette looking north from the Morrison Bridge**

By the time I got home I was so tired, I ate a big lunch and slept for two hours! But Auntie Katie was at the booth until 10:30 Saturday night, and went back for a full day Sunday, so I think I got off easy.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Tag: Festivals in Portland

Portland Festival of Lights

Portland Pride