Cinco de Mayo leads a lineup of Portland spring festivals
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It's spring festival season, rain or shine, with Cinco de Mayo kicking things off Friday through Sunday at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Context: At the celebration put on for more than three decades by the Portland Guadalajara Sister City Association, you can watch a naturalization ceremony, cheer at youth boxing rounds or attend mariachi Mass.
- The mainstays are music and dance shows, including regional Mexican folk dancing.
- Mexican techno group Banda Zeta, dance band La Chomba and singer-songwriter Edna Vazquez each close out a night with a show.
- Tequila tasting, bingo and a plaza de niños with face painting and a petting zoo of Mexican critters round out the lineup.
Details: Tickets online or at the door; passes available.
Crafty Wonderland Spring Market
What: This "shop local" festival happens twice a year.
When: Friday–Saturday.
Where: Oregon Convention Center in NE Portland. Timed tickets required; $23 for Friday night; $4 for Saturday.
Sunday Parkways starts its season this weekend with a route between Gateway Discovery Park and Lincoln Park.
What: Streets are closed to cars; walk, bike or roll through the Hazelwood and Mill Park neighborhoods. Bonus: live music, free roller skating, circus play, food vendors.
When: May 7, June 25, Sept. 10.
Where: East Portland, Cully, Southwest.
White Salmon Wildflower Festival
What: A new Gorge festival. Guided walks, art workshops, a photography contest, talks and a half-marathon.
When: All through May.
Where: White Salmon, Washington.
What: Tours, art, stories and conversation to learn, remember and repair the damage done when floodwaters destroyed the diverse and lively community of Vanport 75 years ago.
When: May 18–29.
Where: Portland; various locations.
What: Put on by McMenamins to commemorate the 1950 reported sighting of UFOs over McMinnville. Music, talks, film and alien costume contest.
When: May 19-20.
Where: McMinnville. $125 for a festival pass.
Asian American Pacific Islander Food and Wine Festival
What: During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, enjoy food and drink by Oregon AAPI chefs and vintners.
When: May 20–21.
Where: Stoller Family Estate, Dayton. $65 for a two-hour tasting; shuttle from Portland available.
What: Parades, clowns, rides, a treasure hunt, music. Annual civic fest.
When: May 26 through June 11.
Where: All over Portland.