I am not exaggerating when I state that this weekend is my favorite of the year. The Polish Festival is my favorite annual cultural event, and the Oaks Park Oktoberfest, also this weekend, is near the top of the list too. In addition there are several other Oktoberfests this weekend, a Reed College community celebration, Retro Gaming Expo, and more – something for everyone, especially those who love beer!

Ongoing

Chapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2011

Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. They spend their days eating lots of bugs. In the late afternoon the Swifts begin flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky about the school. Around sunset they swirl more tightly, like a ground pepper tornado, and begin disappearing, measure by measure, down the chimney. On the lawn below, hundreds of Portlanders gather on lawn chairs and blankets to stare at the sky, mesmerized. Boos erupt when opportunistic Peregrine falcons occasionally get lucky. The crowd cheers, however, when the predators are thwarted. Meanwhile unruly oblivious children scream and roll down the grassy hill. [more

All Weekend

Oaks Park Oktoberfest 2011

The 2011 Zenner’s Oktoberfest at Oaks Park takes place Friday through Sunday, September 23 through 25.

The authentic German beer and food (e.g. Zenner’s sausages, chicken schnitzel, braised red cabbage, sauerkraut, German Potato Salad, and Tater Tots!) is reasonably priced, and two festhallen and a multitude of outdoor picnic tables means there are plenty of places to sit down with your beers and friends. [more]

Friday-Saturday

Der Rheinlander Oktoberfest

The Rheinlander 2011 Oktoberfest takes place Friday and Saturday, September 23 and 24 at the restaurant (5035 NE Sandy).

The outdoor bier tent features beer directly from Munich, German – including Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier and Paulaner Salvator Dopple Bock. Live music in the evenings is provided by Oktoberfest band Paloma from Chicago, and participate in (or observe with a smirk) the sausage and pretzel eating contest and costume competition. [more]

Saturday

Museum Day

On the Smithsonian magazine website, you can print a free admission ticket to one of a dozen museums in the Portland area (or one of hundreds across the country). The ticket grants you and a guest free admission on Saturday, September 24, Smithsonian‘s annual Museum Day. [more]

Fun on Foster

From 10am to 5pm this Saturday, Sept 24th, Foster Road puts itself on display; an opportunity for the residents of FoPo, Lents and Mt. Scott-Arlete to demonstrate their pride; a show for the rest of Portland to see. Fun on Foster, the annual street festival organized by the Foster Area Business Association (FABA), should be bigger and better this year, just as it was the year prior, and the year before that. [more]

Reed College Centennial Community Day Celebration

The first classes at Portland’s Reed College started 100 years ago, and to celebrate this auspicious anniversary, Reed is hosting a Centennial Community Day Celebration on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 8am to 3pm, and 7pm to 9pm.

Things start off at 8am with the Reed College 5k Odyssey Run/Walk (7am on-site registration at Eliot Circle) and a pancake breakfast (price included with 5k registration, or $5.95/person) from 8:30am to 11am. [more]

North 45 Oktoberfest

4th Annual OktoberFest party at North 45 will be Saturday, September 24th from 12 noon to late. All the staff will be sporting authentic garb. We’ll have German food & drink specials all day & night. Drinking boots and vessels will be available day of the event. Live Polka/funk band starts at 7pm on the patio. Patio will be open until midnight. Minors permitted until 9:30pm. There will be a Best Dressed contest around 11pm, so pull out your lederhosen. [more]

Saturday-Sunday

Portland Polish Festival

The 16th annual Portland Polish Festival, my favorite local cultural event, takes place this year on Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25.

The fest features non-stop music (much of it featuring accordions!) and dance performances, polka contests, and a can’t-miss Saturday night street dance. Enjoy Polish food like pierogies, kielbasa, gołąbki (cabbage rolls), placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), and other delectable options – and of course delicious Polish beer! In the vendor village, check out the jewelry, clothing, Polish pottery, and sundries for sale. [more]

Portland Retro Gaming Expo

The 2011 Portland Retro Gaming Expo takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25 at the Doubletree Hotel (1000 NE Multnomah Street).

PRGE is a convention attracting fans of video games and their history. It is made up of three areas: The Freeplay Arcade, the Theater and the Vendor Marketplace. [more]

Sunday

Northeast Portland Sunday Parkways

This year’s fifth and final Portland Sunday Parkways takes place in Northeast Portland on September 25, 2011.

Spend your Sunday afternoon (noon to 5pm) winding your way on bike or foot through mostly residential streets free of car traffic, from one park to the next. [more]

Oktoberfest at Edgefield

When you imagine Oktoberfest, what comes to mind? Oom-pah bands, loads of beer, bratwurst and hamburgers and more! One and all are welcome to participate in the German celebration that is Oktoberfest! Begun as a wedding party for Germany’s Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese in 1810, today Oktoberfest is celebrated all over the world with music, singing, dancing, beer, food and revelry. [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, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.