October Events for Portland Families

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It is officially fall. Pumpkin spice lattes have been in full swing for a month and it’s time for us to tote our little darlings through the mud for pumpkins. There are lots of great family events and experiences to enjoy this October, many of them including eating and taste-testing the fall bounty around us. Sounds good to me! I hope you can get out and enjoy one of these events, and let us know if you do!

Child in front of pumpkins dressed in orange and black with a jackolantern bucket for Halloween in October

Kite Festival (October 1-2)

The Lincoln City Fall Kite Festival is held on the beach, in the center of Lincoln City, at the D-River Wayside from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend festival will include kite flying demonstrations by experts, free kids kitemaking, running of the bols, and some of the most colorful “big” kites in the world!

Visit a Pumpkin Patch (October 1-31)

There are many awesome spots to visit to pick a pumpkin, pet a goat, take a hay ride, or even eat a pumpkin doughnut, which is my personal favorite activity while at the pumpkin patch. Our favorite places have been Fir Point Farms (best doughnuts and many free kids activities) and The Pumpkin Patch at Sauvie Island. For a full list of local patches, check out our Guide to Portland Area Pumpkin Patches.

Apple Tasting (October 1-31)apple tasting

This is a favorite for our family! You can try different kinds of apples, grab an apple cider slushie, chow down on apple cider donuts, and more. Head out to Oregon Heritage Farms to join in on the delicious fun.

If picking apples is more your thing, head over to our guide for where to go apple picking around Portland.

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest (October 7-9)

Hood River Valley Harvest Festival celebrates the bounty of the county and surrounding region. This area has been a premier fruit and vegetable producing region since the start of the 20th century. Today, the Harvest Festival has grown to a family-friendly, weekend-long celebration with hundreds of art, craft, food, and wine vendors. There are games, contests, pumpkin carvings and, of course, an entertainment and education tent featuring local brews and wine.

Annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta (October 16)

Join in the spectacle at the Giant Pumpkin Regatta as people dressed like superheroes paddle across the lake in a giant pumpkin. There is also a 5K walk or run, costume contest, and pumpkin carving.

pumpkin patch

Halloween Events Around Portland (October 29-31) 

Trick-or-Treating at West Slope (Oct 29)

Booverton Halloween Festival (Oct 30)

Trick or Treat in Multnomah Village (Oct 31)

Halloween In Willamette (Oct 31)

Bethany Village Halloween Hunt (Oct 31)

Trick or Treat on Main Street (Oct 31)

More trick-or-treating alternatives here!

Community-Submitted Events 

Our community calendar is a free resource for Portland families and businesses. Have something to add to the calendar? Please submit your event here!

Did we miss any of your favorite October family events? Leave them in the comments!

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Jody
Jody grew up in a small town in Central Oregon, graduated from Oregon State University, traveled to Africa for three months and, upon returning, moved to Montana to be near her then fiancé. They lived in Bozeman, Montana for nine years working on the Montana State campus in full-time ministry. They now have lived in SE Portland for nearly eight years and work part-time with the same faith-based non-profit. She is also now a business owner and helps others find health and happiness through Plexus. She has been married for 16 years and they have two beautiful kids. Their 11 year-old daughter is a miracle biological child after years of infertility, and their son 7 is a miracle child through the gift of adoption. Jody loves living in beautiful Portland where flowers are always in bloom and there is always an adventure around the corner to be had. She loves Jesus, coffee, a good book, deep conversation with people she loves, being intentional to love those around her, hosting events in their backyard, sausage, beer, traveling, and being a wife and mom. The beach is her happy place. She also blogs occasionally at jodymccomas.com about motherhood and ministry.