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CELEBRATE: El Grito Portland
Kick off National Hispanic Heritage Month with thousands of other fiesteros at El Grito Portland, a free annual event featuring music, food, artisans and crafters honoring Mexican and Latin American independence, as well as Indigenous and Latino/a/e/x heritage. Expect brassy mariachis, colorful dances, community resources, family activities and cultural connections to color your Hispanic Heritage Month with the beautiful hues of the Hispanic diaspora. Moda Center, 1 N Center Court St., elgritoportland.com. 3 pm Wednesday, Sept. 16. Free. All ages.
LAUGH: Geek Week Comedy Night
Part of Geek Week’s nerdy PDX takeover, this star-studded comedy show features the best, brightest and funniest nerds in the city. Hosted by Ryan Danley, this midweek geek-out is not just a comedy lineup; the show is held at Capes and Crepes Board Game Cafe, presenting layers of nerddom to all the comedy geeks basking in the afterglow of Rose City Comic Con. Capes and Crepes Board Game Cafe, 4990 SE Division St., capesandcrepes.com. 7 pm Thursday, Sept. 17. $15. All ages.
SUPPORT: Shedding Old Skins: A Name and Pronoun Release Ritual
For folx stepping into autumn in need of a rebirth, reset or ritual honoring their own personal transformations, Seagrape Apothecary presents this intimate event in the service of honoring identity as we ease into the autumnal equinox. Led by Eli Lawliet, aka The Gender Doula, the event will hold space for attendees to grieve, release and celebrate with community members who are similarly reflecting on what identity labels held for them, and navigating a new landscape together. Seagrape Apothecary, 2823 NE Sandy Blvd., thegenderdoula.com. 6 pm Friday, Sept. 18. $45. All ages.
JOG: MLK Dream Run
More than 15 years strong, Portland’s MLK Dream Run is more than a run/walk through the city’s historic Soul District. The two-day event features a vendor market, live entertainment, food, drinks and, on race day Sunday, even a Dave’s Killer Bread grilled cheese sammie for all finishers. Portland Community College, Cascade Campus, 705 N Killingsworth St., mlkdreamrun.com. 10 am Saturday and 7 am Sunday, Sept. 19 and 20. Free. All ages.
GO: Portland Weird Fest
Act like you know—Portland’s Weird Fest is an annual end-of-summer shindig celebrating all things strange and unforgettable, including over 50 unique vendors, live music and entertainment, family-friendly interactive experiences, a legendary Chicken Beauty Contest, a spectacularly adorable Kids Rave, Gigantic Brewing’s beer garden and, for 2026, the debut of the Interpretive Dance Competition. Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, weirdportlandunited.org. 10:30 am Saturday, Sept. 19. $15–$16, kids under 12 free.
EAT: It’s Britney…Brunch. A Britney Spears-Themed Drag Brunch
Get your low-rise boot cuts and layered lacy tank tops ready for this drag brunch honoring our beloved patron saint of dagger dancing and twirling hair flips, Britney Spears. Hosted by Nashville Hott, this high-energy brunch show is made for Y2K denizens who yearn for the days of business-casual clubwear, wedge platforms and candy-colored digital cameras. The Social Spoon, 550 SW Oak St., thesocialspoonpdx.com. Noon Sunday, Sept. 20. $28–$44. 21+.
WATCH: Portland Comedy Film Festival
Film aficionados hoping to lose themselves in a dazzling selection of new works of comedy, come make yourselves at home in the springy seats of the Clinton Street Theater for a day of funny filmmaking, creativity in film, meet-and-greets and even an awards ceremony. Clinton Street Theater, 2522 SE Clinton St., cstpdx.com. 3 pm Monday, Sept. 21. $50. All ages.
