Still plenty of festivals and fun to take in before fall completely takes over (i.e. the rain returns with a gusto).
Ongoing
Chapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2012 – final weekend!
Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. After spending their day eating bugs, the Swifts coalesce in Northwest Portland, flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky above the school. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of Portlanders stare mesmerized at the sky, from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets. Boos erupt when opportunistic Peregrine falcons get lucky. [more]
All Weekend
Portland Juggling Festival and Vaudeville Extravaganza 2012
The 20th annual Portland Juggling Festival takes place Friday, September 28 through Sunday, September 30 on the Reed College Campus (3202 SE Woodstock).
Attendees can choose from numerous Juggling and Vaudeville Extravaganza features a family-friendly assortment of local and national juggling and variety acts in one live performance, and highlights the festival on Saturday night. [more]
Friday
Portland Art Museum Free Day (5-8pm)
Admission to the Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park) is free on Friday, September 28, 2012 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
The museum offers free admission ever fourth Friday (5 p.m.- 8 p.m.) of the month, so if you can’t make it this week, mark October 26, 2012 on your calendar! [more]
Saturday-Sunday
The 2012 Portland Retro Gaming Expo takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30 at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE MLK Jr.).
“Retro Gaming Expo, Inc. is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)4 non-profit cooperative organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for classic video and arcade games through the presentation of events and conventions that celebrate the historic contribution video games have made and continue to make in popular culture.” [more]
Saturday
The 2012 Fun on Foster festival and art walk takes place Saturday, September 29 on Southeast Foster Road from 49th to 93rd.
The multi-block party features all the usual suspects: vendors, artists, live music, food and drink; and also DJs, face painting, Tango, bicycle fun, a cruise-in, and more. [more]
Portland Timbers vs. D.C. United
Your Portland Timbers (7-15-8) defend Jeld-Wen Field Saturday from the visiting D.C. United (15-10-5). Kick off is at 7:30 p.m.
Portland’s form on the road is still awful, but at home this season they’ve mostly held their own. D.C. United are a likely playoff bound Eastern Conference team making the long trek across the country to possibly underestimate how tough Portland can occasionally play at home . . .
A Pair of Oktoberfests, and Fresh Hop Season!
2012 Occidental Oktoberfest – Noon until 10 p.m. at 6635 N Baltimore Ave.
North 45 Pub Oktoberfest – noon until close at 517 NW 21st (at Glisan).
Hood River Hops Festival – Between 5th & 7th Streets and Cascade and Columbia Streets in downtown Hood River.
And check out the impressive 2012 Fresh Hop Beer Guide at The New School
Sunday
The final 2012 Sunday Parkways takes place this Sunday, September 30 in East Portland.
The 7 mile traffic-free route connects part of the Springwater Corridor with Glenwood, Lents, Bloomington, and Ed Benedict parks. Bike, skateboard, jog, or walk from park to park. [more]
And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.
The 2012 
