10 best things to do in Portland in the Fall (2024)
There are so many fun things to do in Portland in the fall. This season is particularly beautiful here in the PNW, as the world outside turns to warm shades of red, orange, and yellow. And there’s a perfect mix of cool, crisp mornings and sunny afternoons, broken up by rainy days and overcast skies in between.
Autumn is my favorite season. Apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes all bring to mind harvest and bounty, as the season reminds us to practice gratitude and creates a warmth in our hearts. No other season embodies the sentiment of hygge quite the same way.
And yet, fickle as the weather, we may find ourselves alternately entertaining darker thoughts as we contemplate the impending winter. As dark clouds roll in over head, we may fancy we see demons lurking in the deepening shadows.
Halloween offers us a chance to face these demons, to laugh and make light of them, and in the original spirit of the holiday, to frighten them away. Or perhaps, the rainy fall days aren’t quite so sinister as all that. And they simply cause us to seek solitude with a good book.
Fall is all of these things. It is complex, comprised of seemingly contradictory sentiments. It’s a whole mood. And I love it. So without further ado, this post is all about a few of my favorite things, the best things to do in Portland in the fall.
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Portland Fall Weather
But before we get into all of that, let’s talk about the weather. Fall weather can often be a bit unpredictable, and of course it’s going to vary from year to year. But here are a few averages and generalizations that might help you plan a little better.
September, and even into early October, will often still feel like summer. Although you’ll likely notice the days getting a little shorter. And even though the rainy days gradually increase from September into October, you’ve still got good chances of dry days in October.
The cooler fall temperatures typically begin around mid October, as they continue getting colder into November. And come November, you’ve probably got about a 50/50 chance for rainy days.
| Month | Average temperature | Average # of rainy days |
| September | 75°F/55°F | 5 days |
| October | 63°F/48°F | 9 days |
| November | 52°F/42°F | 15 days |
What to wear in Portland, Oregon in the fall
I love the Scandinavian saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” There’s not much that can hold you back with an attitude like that.
So what’s best to wear in Portland in the fall? I have one word for you: layers. Sometimes it feels like you can experience all four seasons in just one Portland autumn day! And wearing layers you can take on and off is the best way to prepare for that.
Make sure one of those layers includes a good rain jacket. Columbia Sportswear is a high quality, locals’ favorite, PNW-based brand. I’ve got one of their raincoats in a bold yellow that makes me smile every time I put it on.
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Ok, and maybe a nice pair of waterproof shoes might help too. Columbia also makes comfortable waterproof hiking shoes as well. Or some sturdy Hunter rain boots are always fun for jumping in puddles.
⭐️ Click here to order Hunter rain boots from Amazon.com ⭐️
Now, on to what you really came here for!
The best things to do in Portland in the fall
1. Wander through a sunflower field
Something about a sunflower field just gets me in the right mood for the coming autumn season. This bold yellow fall flower typically blooms from late summer to early fall, depending on the variety and the weather.
Many sunflower festivals in the Portland area usually run from mid August through early September. However, you will find some farms featuring sunflower fields and mazes as late as their fall harvest in the month of October.
A few of the sunflower fields that stay open into October include Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island, and Liepold Farms in Boring. However, remember that exact dates will vary from year to year according to the weather.
Most sunflower festivals offer a U-cut option and some great photo ops. And most will have a farm store where you can purchase honey, homemade jams, or farm fresh produce. Some may even offer food and beverage options, like Bella Organic.
I’ve unfortunately already seen a few sunflower festivals come and go the past couple years. But I absolutely love them, and hope in general, they’ll be here to stay. So let’s show our local farmers some support and add a sunflower festival to our fall bucket list!
2. Go apple picking along the Hood River Fruit Loop
We went apple picking for the first time last fall. It was so fun and so easy, I thought to myself, why had I not done this before?!
The best time to go apple picking is mid September through late October. And there are dozens of lush orchards and rich farmland just an hour east of Portland, along the Hood River Fruit Loop.
We stopped at Pearl’s Place, mainly out of convenience—it was the first stop along the loop. And we had a great time there! But you can find a complete list of the Hood River Fruit Loop farms and orchards here.
We had filled our baskets full of Honeycrisps, Fuji’s, and Jonagolds, in no time flat. The day was warm, so we enjoyed a refreshing Gorge Glacier—a soft-serve ice cream, drenched in apple cider slushie, topped with whipped cream—while soaking up the sunshine on a picnic bench afterwards.
Before leaving, we shopped the farm store and found some fresh squash and other produce to bring home. And later that afternoon, we cooked up some homemade applesauce with the apples we had picked.
We had such a great time picking apples, I can’t wait to do it again this year. And I look forward to exploring more of the orchards along the fruit loop next time.
3. Watch the leaves change color
The East Coast isn’t the only place in the states to watch the leaves change. The trees put on a pretty decent show in the PNW as well, and the fall of 2023, they put on their best performance by far.
The warm autumn colors were stunning and vibrant around Portland. And I got out every chance I could to admire the beauty of the changing season.
One of the best places to see the fall colors in Portland is the Portland Japanese Garden. It’s certainly the most iconic spot for this. In fact, “The Tree” (pictured above on the right) draws people from all over the world to view its fiery autumn attire.
A few other great spots I recommend for falls colors in Portland include Multnomah Falls, Leach Botanical Garden, and Rood Bridge Park. And a friend of mine enjoys hiking Silver Creek Falls each October to enjoy the colors. (That’s top of my bucket list for this fall!)
You can catch the autumn colors on a fall hike or a stroll through a garden, a picnic in the park or over a meal at the Multnomah Lodge Restaurant.
4. Visit a pumpkin patch
One of the most classic and fun thing to do in Portland in the fall is to visit a pumpkin patch. One of the most popular spots for picking pumpkins is the collection of farms on Sauvie Island.
However, I prefer visiting some of the farms west of Portland, out near Hillsboro. With a few exceptions, the farms west of Portland usually aren’t quite as crowded as Sauvie Island.
Two notable farms west of Portland are Roloff Farms and Plumper Pumpkin Patch. Roloff Farms was featured in the TV series Little People Big World. It’s one of the more popular (and more crowded) pumpkin patches west of Portland. But it does offer a wide variety of fun activities, including a pumpkin canon and a haunted forest trail.
And Plumper has been a personal favorite of mine for years. It has a little bit slower pace than Roloff, but still plenty to do, including farm animals you can pet, and a great farm store. Note that both of these pumpkin patches require an admission fee.
5. Walk through a Dahlia field on Swan Island
Dahlia’s are one of the year’s latest blooms, hanging on through early fall. And there’s an amazing dahlia festival just a half hour south of Portland: The Swan Island Dahlia Fest.
This stunning dahlia farm includes 375 varieties, covering nearly 50 acres. The festival takes place each August through September, Wednesdays through Sundays, and Labor Day.
It includes a Sunday farmers market, live music on the weekends, and daily food trucks. You can even register for classes through out the festival, covering topics like dahlia care, floral arrangements, watercolor painting, and yoga.
Enjoy the food trucks or pack a lunch for a picnic on the farm. Then order some dahlia tubers for next spring, or take home a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. Note that there’s no admission or parking fee to visit the farm.
6. Get lost in a corn maze on Sauvie Island
Another classic fall time activity is to go get lost in a corn maze. Most corn mazes are adjacent or attached to a pumpkin patch, so you can knock both these fun activities off your fall bucket list in one day. And some of the best Portland-area corn mazes are on Sauvie Island.
Two notable corn mazes are The Corn Maize at The Pumpkin Patch, and Bella Organic’s corn maze. Both have good, long seasons, running from September through October. You’ll want to plan for about an hour to find your way through these mazes.
The Corn Maize covers 8 acres and has a great, family friendly atmosphere. This maze has been around for 25 years now, and this year is celebrating The Peanuts’ 75th anniversary with a Charlie Brown theme. Ticket prices range from $9.25 to $11.25.
Bella Organic has two corn maze options. Their family friendly maze covers 7 acres, and the theme this year pays tribute to our teachers and educators. Ticket prices range from $11.20 to $13.24.
TIP: All school staff get in to the (regular) corn maze for free this year!
But those looking for a good scare this fall season should visit Bella Organic’s haunted corn maze. Be prepared to be chased by chainsaws, zombies, and goblins as you try to find your way out of this labyrinth! These tickets range from $35 to $45, and the maze is for those 13 years or older.
7. Warm up in a McMenamin’s Soaking pool
There’s something so cozy, and at the same time rejuvenating, about taking a hot soak in the cool, crisp fall air. And one of the best places to do this in Portland is at a McMenamin’s hotel.
McMenamin’s soaking pools each have their own unique charm and flare, some lush and luxurious, others decidedly bohemian. They create a whole mood that will make you want to linger and relax just a little bit longer.
Their pools are often open to the sky above, letting in the fresh air. These soaking pools utilize mineral salts rather than straight chlorine. That means there’s less scent, your skin feels softer afterwards, and it’s gentler on your hair.
McMenamin’s Portland-area soaking pools are located at the Kennedy School, the Grand Lodge, and Edgefield. Note that if you’re not already a hotel guest, there is a $10 fee, and you do have to make an appointment to visit their soaking pools.
8. Pick up some new rainy day reading material at Powell’s Bookstore.
There’s nothing like cozying up with a good book, a cup of tea (or coffee), and getting lost in the plot as the rain pours down outside. It’s one of my favorite things to do in the fall.
And you can get prepared for the cooler, fall Portland weather by stocking up on your rainy day reading material at Portland’s beloved Powell’s City of Books. This iconic bookstore covers an entire city block, with roughly one million books to choose from.
If you’re like me, you probably can’t wait to start reading your new books. So before you head home, wander over to Guilder Cafe, Powell’s in-house coffee shop.
Fit for the location, this coffee shop is themed after a cult classic, The Princess Bride. Order your favorite hot drink and crack the spine of one of your new books!
9. Oktoberfest
Bratwurst and pretzels, polka music, and German beer…your fall bucket list isn’t complete without Oktoberfest! The largest and most popular Oktoberfest in the Portland area, in the PNW in fact, is about an hour south in Mt. Angel.
Mt. Angel is a small and charming town of roughly 3,400 people. But come mid September, its streets are teeming with lederhosen. And one of the biggest highlights of this little town is the four-story tall glockenspiel.
With a height of 49 feet, it’s the largest glockenspiel in the States. You’ll want to make sure you’re at the intersection of Charles and Garfield street at either 11 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, or 7 pm, to watch the glockenspiel’s hand-carved figures come to life!
This weekend-long Oktoberfest event includes a farmers market, as well as local artisans and vendors. There’s various sports and races, including a 5k and 10k. And, of course, some great German food, beer, and music.
There are also a few other excellent, although smaller, Oktoberfest events closer to Portland as well. Prost is a German pub in the Mississippi District that puts on a great event. And the Portland Oktoberfest is a newer event held at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
10. Get ready for Spooky Season
Now, what would fall be without Spooky Season and a few good scares? Luckily, there’s no shortage of fun, unique, and quirky ways to celebrate Halloween in Portland. Two of the most popular festivals are the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta and the Spirit of Halloweentown.
One of the most unique celebrations in Portland is the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. Participants gather to race these giant, hollowed out pumpkin-turned boats across the Tualatin Commons Lake.
This weekend-long festivity includes a 5K Regatta Run, pumpkin bowling, food, and more. And it’s every bit as fantastic as it sounds.
Another popular way to celebrate Halloween in the Portland area is to visit St Helen’s, the city where the movie Halloweentown was filmed. Although the parade no longer takes place, the Spirit of Halloweentown festival continues on, with plenty to do and see.
The festival includes a haunted house, music and live performances, fun photo ops, food trucks, artisans and vendors, and so much more. It’s a great family-friendly way to enjoy the season.
Final thoughts on things to do in Portland in the fall
With Oktoberfest and Halloween, from hayrides and corn mazes, to pumpkin patches and autumn leaves, fall is the coziest season of them all. And there are so many amazing things to do in Portland in the fall. Add a sunflower field and a trip to Powell’s City of Books to your fall bucket list, and you’ll be set for a festive fall experience!
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