Art in The Pearl - Portland

Labor Day Weekend
Location: North Park Blocks, Northwest Portland
Why Participate? Busy annual three day festival features 100 plus juried artists, demonstrations, live music and food vendors. Volunteers needed for four hour shifts.
Benefits: Festival tee shirt
More Information: Art in the Pearl

Canyon Day Neighborhood Clean-up - Portland

Spring, Fall (October) 9:00am-3:00pm
Location: East side, Studio Art Building, Reed College: 3203 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard
Why Participate? 100 year plus tradition helps protect Portland's only uninterrupted passage from headwaters to the ocean by removing invasive species, improving trails, restoring natural vegetation. Drop by for an hour or the entire day.
Benefits: Tools, training and food provided. Meet others and have fun.
More Information: REED

Friends of Chamber Music concerts - Portland

Location: Portland State University's Lincoln Performance Center; The Old Church; Alberta Rose Theater
Why Participate? Quality classical musicians perform in concert series, several venues throughout the season. Ushers for concerts are welcomed; office assistance also welcomed (computer skills are a plus).
Benefits: No-cost access to quality chamber music concerts
More Information: FOCM Volunteering

Friends of Trees Neighborhood Tree Plantings - Portland metro

October - April
Location: Varies
Why Participate? A great way to do something positive for a neighborhood; meet people and get a bit of exercise helping plant trees.
Benefits: Breakfast provided at some locations
More Information: Friends of Trees

Light Opera of Portland - Portland

Location: Alpenrose Dairy Opera House & Music Hall; Multnomah Arts Center
Why Participate? Enjoy Gilbert & Sullivan focused seasonal non-professional company musical theater productions while assisting as ushers, ticket takers
Benefits: Free attendance
More Information: Light Opera of Portland

Oregon Brewers Festival - Portland

Last week in July: Wednesday-Sunday
Location: Waterfront Park, Portland
Why Participate? Be part of Oregon's largest annual and outdoor beer festival which draws breweries and visitors from across the US, overseas; features many styles of beers (including special beers made just for the festival), music, food. Shift times vary, depending on assignment and day.
Benefits: A festival tasting mug, tokens for beer tastings, water bottle, hat, and festival shirt. Must be 21 years of age to volunteer.
More Information: Oregon Brew Fest

Portland International Film Festival (PIFF) - Portland

March
Location: Different Portland theaters
Why Participate? The largest film event in Oregon offers 140+ international shorts and feature films to Portland audiences. Festival includes variety of parties, visiting artists, draws 38,000 people.
Benefits: Enjoy being part of a major film festival, see films at no cost
Access: Drive, with metered or street parking; paid garages near downtown locations + public transportation
More Information: NW Film + Volunteer@nwfilm.org

Portland Sunday Parkways - Portland

Summer weekends (dates vary annually)
Location: Various Portland neighborhoods
Why Participate? Annual day-long free celebrations of neighborhoods; highlights public transportation options, local businesses and organizations, exercise via bicycling, walking and includes music, food vendors. Volunteers are needed to help steer thousands of folks, hand out information and other tasks.
Benefits: Tee-shirt; learn about different Portland neighborhoods
More Information: Portland Gov. + Facebook

Sauvie Island Center Annual Barn Dance & BBQ - Portland

Summer
Location: 13605 Northwest Howell Park, Sauvie Island (Portland)
Why Participate? Volunteers needed to help with annual fundraising evening: farm tour, silent auction, outdoor dinner (buffet/picnic blanket or family-style table service), live music square dancing. Event supports Sauvie Island Center's educational programs to help children learn about farming, healthy food.
Benefits: After completing 90 minute-2 hour shift, partake in dinner, evening fun.
More Information: Sauvie Island Center

SOLVE Annual Beach and Riverside Cleanups - Statewide

Spring and Fall events (check website schedule)
Location: Various across the state
Why Participate? Volunteers needed to help with beach and illegal dump cleanups, plant native trees, remove invasive plants, and other environmental maintenance projects to help beautify Oregon.
Benefits: Scheduled organized clean-ups support natural settings to be enjoyed by everyone; meet others joining in the efforts.
More Information: SOLVE Oregon

Neighborhood Cleanups - Portland

Location: Various neighborhoods throughout Portland
Why Participate? Many neighborhood associations, organizations schedule regular clean-ups
Benefits: Some provide light snacks or beverages beforehand and/or afterwards, depending on the neighborhood or sponsors; meet others, have fun.
More Information: One east Portland area has several volunteer events scheduled throughout the year: Johnson Creek Watershed

Additional Resources

Lakewood Center - Lake Oswego
Annual 3-day arts festival, variety of volunteer tasks (June)

Festa Italiana - Portland
Annual 3-day celebration of Italian American culture: food, entertainment, bocce (August)

Portland Beer Fest - Portland
Annual international beer festival (June)

Portland Craft Beer Festival - Portland
Annual craft beer and cider festival volunteers (July)

Oregon Craft Beer - Portland
Fresh hops beer festival (September)