May 15-May 17: Weekend Washington County Events! 🌷

Hello, Washington County! 🎉

Last weekend, we did the Doggie Dash in Portland, which is always one of my favorite events. We got Oliver from the Humane Society, so any excuse to support them and pet a bunch of dogs is a great day for me. It’s seriously a blast. If you love dogs, put it on your list to check out next year!

Always check the event source before heading out, as details can change last minute. I collect events and create this list by hand, so events aren’t automatically updated if there’s a change.

✅ means it’s a free event to attend. If you’re enjoying a free event, show some love by supporting the venue by purchasing food, drinks, or goods!

Friday, May 15

• Star Wars Costume Party ✅
  5:30pm-7:30pm, Cornelius Public Library, Cornelius
  Gear up for the new Star Wars movie with a fun, all-ages costume party celebrating a galaxy far, far away. Come dressed as your favorite character (or just come for the vibes) and enjoy games, activities, and a playful build-up to the next chapter in the saga. Costumes are encouraged but not required.
• Aloha Friday – Live Music & Market ✅
  6pm, 2131 Yew Street, Forest Grove
  Aloha Friday brings together an open mic night and pop-up market featuring local artists, vendors, and live performances centered on storytelling, music, poetry, and cultural expression. It’s a welcoming community space to share voices, support small businesses, and connect with others, whether you’re performing or just taking it all in.
• Sherwood Police Foundation’s 10th Annual Boots & Bling Gala
  6pm, Sherwood Center for the Arts, Sherwood
  The Sherwood Police Foundation hosts the 10th annual “Steak Out” Boots & Bling Gala, a celebratory evening supporting the Sherwood Police Department. Guests can enjoy dinner, raffles, a live auction, and more in a fun, western-themed gala filled with community spirit and fundraising.
• Oregon International Air Show
  6pm-10pm Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday and Sunday, NE Airport Rd, Hillsboro
  Get ready for an action-packed airshow featuring the USAF F-35A Lightning II Demo Team and the USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team, along with world-class aerobatics, historic warbirds, and modern military aircraft. The weekend kicks off with the signature KABOOM night show on Friday, combining flight demonstrations, fireworks, music, and drones for a high-energy spectacle you have to see to believe. Grab your tickets!
• Scarlett St. Clair in Conversation With Shayna Hodge & Laura Horowitz
  7pm, Powell’s, Beaverton
  Bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair visits for a special evening celebrating Terror at the Gates, the first book in her new romantasy series following Lilith Leviathan, a magic-wielding thief caught between powerful families, forbidden desire, and dangerous secrets in the city of Eden. Known for the wildly popular Hades x Persephone Saga, St. Clair blends fantasy, romance, and high-stakes intrigue in this dark new story, and will be joined in conversation by bookseller Shayna Hodge and audiobook narrator Laura Horowitz. Make sure to grab tickets!
• You Can’t Take It With You
  7:30pm Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30pm Sundays through May 17, Main Stage at Rise Church, Tigard
  You Can’t Take It With You, the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1937 comedy, follows the delightfully eccentric Sycamore family led by Grandpa Vanderhof, who embraces life on his own terms while his household pursues everything from fireworks to playwriting. Chaos erupts when their more conventional daughter Alice invites her high-society fiancé and his conservative parents over for dinner, leading to a hilarious clash of lifestyles that ultimately celebrates the idea that happiness comes from doing what you love.
• Julian Saporiti
  7:30pm, The Walters, Hillsboro
  Acclaimed folk musician and storyteller Julian Saporiti brings the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest to life through music, field recordings, archival film projections, and vivid storytelling inspired by places like Hoyt Arboretum, Tryon Creek, and Jackson Bottom Wetlands. Known for the acclaimed No-No Boy Project, Saporiti blends history, environmental themes, and folk music into an immersive performance that’s equal parts concert, documentary, and love letter to the natural world.
• Hayley Lynn – Live Music ✅
  7:30pm-9:30pm, Murrayhill Taphouse, Beaverton
  Join us for a lakeside set from Hayley Lynn, blending folk, indie, and acoustic favorites into an easygoing, soulful evening performance. Pair it with great food, craft drinks, and a cozy waterfront vibe for a relaxed night.
• Sudden Impact – Live Music ✅
  8pm-11pm, Zesti Food Carts, Forest Grove
  Portland-based cover band bringing a crowd-pleasing mix of soft and hard rock hits from the ’60s through the ’90s, led by a four-piece lineup featuring Jack on lead vocals and bass, Pat on lead guitar, keys, and backing vocals, John on bass and guitar, and Jeff on drums and backing vocals. Expect a full night of familiar favorites, plus food carts, a full bar, comfy seating, and a dance floor.

Saturday, May 16

• Champs Run Club Portland powered by HOKA ✅
  9am, Rood Bridge Park, Hillsboro
  Champs Sports Run Club heads to Rood Bridge Park for a community-focused 5K powered by HOKA and led by the Deadstock Run Club. Whether you’re racing the clock or just there for the good vibes, the event includes trail running, live music, recovery zones, breakfast and refreshments, giveaways for FLX members, and free Run Club tees for the first 150 runners.
• Kids Market at Beaverton Farmers Market ✅
  9am-1pm, Beaverton City Park, Beaverton
  Got a kid with a big idea? The Kids Market gives young entrepreneurs a chance to set up shop, sell their creations, and experience real-world business with thousands of market visitors. It’s a hands-on opportunity to earn money, build confidence, and practice talking to both kids and adults in a lively, supportive setting.
• Public Works Day on the Plaza ✅
  9am-1pm, Tom Hughes Civic Center Plaza, Hillsboro
  Grab your hard hat and head downtown for Hillsboro’s 15th Annual Public Works Day, where the Parks & Recreation, Water, and Public Works departments team up for a hands-on community celebration. Held during the Saturday Farmers Market, the event offers a fun look at the people and equipment that keep the city running.
• Volcano Day
  10am-2pm, Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro
  Things are getting fiery at the Rice Museum’s Volcano Day, where visitors can watch explosive Trashcano eruptions, handle real volcanic rocks from the Pacific Northwest, and create their own volcano-themed art. The day also features live presentations from museum educators and an immersive Mt. St. Helens experience that transports guests back to the moment of eruption for a fun, hands-on dive into the power of volcanoes.
• Kate Carter and The Herbert Sherbet Show! ✅
  10:30am-11:30am, Southminster Presbyterian Church, Beaverton
  Meet Herbert Sherbet and enjoy a family-friendly show where kids learn social and emotional skills through playful puppet interaction and live music. After hanging out with Herbert, the performer shares original songs on plugged-in classical acoustic guitar that bring the lessons to life, blending humor, heart, and music in a way that entertains both kids and adults.
• Local Author Fair ✅
  11am-2pm, Beaverton City Library, Beaverton
  Celebrate local storytelling at a lively literary event featuring meet-and-greets with local authors, quick-fire author talks every 15 minutes, and chances to browse and discover new books. Writers will be around to sign books, chat with readers, and share excerpts along with behind-the-scenes insights into their creative process.
• Community Block Party ✅
  11am-2pm, Guardian Veterinary Care, Sherwood
  Hazel’s House Rescue joins a family-friendly Community Block Party with plenty of ways to connect, learn, and cuddle some kittens (donation-based). Stop by their tent to meet adoptable kittens, hear about the rescue’s work, and find out how to get involved, while also enjoying behind-the-scenes vet tours, a kids’ teddy bear clinic, and booths from local favorites like Scenthound, Mud Bay, OnPoint Community Credit Union, and Didi’s Cafe.
• Pop Up Bike Park Event ✅
  11am-3pm, Future site of Kyle Park, next to B Street Storage at 1610 B Street, Forest Grove
  Get ready to catch some air at a mountain bike jump session with Coach Robbie at the future Kyle Park site in Forest Grove, featuring inflatable airbags for safe practice and big-air fun. No registration needed, just show up, sign a waiver, and ride while getting a sneak peek at the final park and pump track designs from the project team. Riders must bring proper safety gear and bikes that meet requirements, and minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the event.
• Home, Garden, and Paws Show ✅
  12pm-4pm, 9170 NE Turing Ct, Beaverton
  Spend the afternoon exploring home and garden inspiration while meeting adorable adoptable dogs and rabbits from local rescues including Street Savvy Dog Rescue, Golden Bond Rescue, Pacific Pug Rescue, and more. Alongside the furry stars of the event, you’ll find vendors offering everything from landscaping and home décor to wellness services and organizing help, plus food available from Cocina Mexico Lindo. It’s a family-friendly community event with plenty of ideas, local connections, and very good animals.
• I Am An American Live: Stories of Exclusion and Belonging (pay what you like)
  7pm, The Reser, Beaverton
  The Reser, in collaboration with The Immigrant Story, presents a powerful evening of storytelling, music, and performance honoring Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Featuring deeply personal immigrant stories from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, and Burma, the program explores identity, resilience, and shared humanity, culminating in a world premiere musical performance by Talilo Marfil that reflects his own journey and work mentoring Portland youth. Now in its fifth year, this event also includes a pre-show happy hour with drinks, snacks, author Elizabeth Mehren, and partner organizations sharing immigrant experiences and resources.
• Rick Biordi Band – Live Music ✅
  7pm-10pm, Beach Hut Deli, Tigard
  Catch the Rick Biordi Band taking over the outdoor Sunset Bar for a night built around live music and good energy. The lineup brings together Brian Harris on vocals and keys, Willy Barber on bass, Jerry Jacques on drums, and Rick Biordi on guitar for a high-energy mix of blues rock, classic rock favorites, and soulful originals. Expect great food, cold drinks, and an easygoing outdoor show with strong vibes all around.
• Ian Joe Bailey – Live Music ✅
  7:30pm-9:30pm, Murrayhill Taphouse, Beaverton
  Ian Joe Bailey brings an intimate, high-impact night of live music with his blend of folk, rock, and Americana. Known for heartfelt lyrics and strong storytelling, he moves between stripped-down ballads and more upbeat crowd favorites, delivering both originals and reimagined classics with a raw, authentic style.

Sunday, May 17

• Makers Market ✅
  11am-4pm, Downtown Station Food Carts, Hillsboro
  Join the Makers Market for a spring day of shopping and community. Browse unique local artisan goods, support small businesses, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy a relaxed Sunday atmosphere filled with handmade finds and good vibes.
• Pink! Rosé Festival!
  12:30-3:30pm, Hillsboro Ballpark, Hillsboro
  Celebrate spring at the 5th annual Pink! Rosé Festival, featuring tastings from more than 50 Tualatin Valley wines, including rosés, whites, and orange wines poured by award-winning local wineries.
• Family Caregiver Resource Fair ✅
  1pm-3pm, Beaverton City Library, Beaverton
  In honor of Older Americans Month, Washington County Disability, Aging & Veteran Services hosts a caregiver resource event connecting families and friends with more than 20 local organizations offering support, services, and guidance for caring for aging loved ones. Attendees can browse resources, speak with experts, and learn about community programs designed to make caregiving more manageable. Short educational sessions will be offered at 1:30, 2:15, and 3:00pm in the auditorium.
• Pints for Pugs/Adoption Event ✅
  1pm-3pm, Central Station Taps, Beaverton
  Head to Central Station Taphouse for a laid-back afternoon of beer, good company, and very squishable faces. Meet adoptable pugs, hang out with fellow dog lovers, and maybe even leave with a new best friend.
• Orchestra Nova Northwest Presents By Nature: Resilience & Triumph
  3pm, The Reser, Beaverton
  ONN closes its season with a powerful program celebrating resilience, artistry, and authenticity through works by LGBTQ+ composers. The concert features Leonard Bernstein’s The Age of Anxiety, performed with returning soloist Sara Davis Buechner, a reflective and restless piano concerto inspired by W.H. Auden’s poetry about modern searching and uncertainty. The evening concludes with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, a sweeping and emotionally charged work that moves from struggle to triumph, bringing the season to a bold and expressive finish.
• Family Matinee Series: The Glensiders
  3pm-4:15pm, Sherwood Center for the Arts, Sherwood
  The Family Matinee Series presents The Glensiders, an Oregon-based Celtic folk band known for energetic Irish and Scottish tunes, sea shanties, and original songs. This lively trio blends vocal harmonies with traditional instruments like the Irish bouzouki, bodhrán drum, and classical guitar for a foot-stomping afternoon of music and storytelling inspired by the Celtic nations.

If this newsletter has become a consistent part of your event planning for the week, it would mean the absolute world to me if you could donate or subscribe. A little support goes a LONG way in keeping this newsletter free for everyone, and reminding me that it’s worth all of the hours picking events by hand each week. If you’re able please consider supporting the newsletter HERE! Thank you! 😊