March in Portland, Oregon brings about beautiful blooms, returning spring fun, and festivals for foodies and music lovers alike. Although March also coincides with a lot of cloud cover and some chance of rain, you can still have a great deal of fun on a Portland vacation during this month. Despite the cloudy days, the weather means you can shed your winter coat and enjoy some spring activities, like the first hikes of the year!

Planning to visit Portland in March and wondering what to do? We’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in Portland in March to help you, from festivals that celebrate the city’s craft beer scene to a community event that’s a lot more fun than its name would suggest. Pick your favorite March activities from this list, and you’re bound to have a great early spring trip!

Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 15 Best Things to do in Portland, Oregon in March

The 15 Best Things to do in Portland, Oregon in March

1. Celebrate Women in Brewing at SheBrew

If you’re visiting Portland in March, stopping off at SheBrew is one of the best things to do if you want to drink for a good cause. Not only is SheBrew a celebration of women and the LGBTQ community in brewing, but it’s also a charitable event, with proceeds going to the Human Rights Campaign.

The festival features more than 40 female professional brewers from around the Pacific Northwest, as well as several homebrewers fighting for your vote for the People’s Choice winner. Guests will also enjoy women-owned food carts, goods from local female artisans, games, raffles, and more treats.

2. Catch the End of the Biamp Portland Jazz Festival

If you arrive in Portland at the start of March, you’re here just in time for the final days of the Biamp Portland Jazz Festival, a two-week, multi-venue celebration of jazz that’s running until March 2 in 2024.

During your trip, you can see some of the greatest jazz masters in history, as well as local talents and rising stars. Especially if your trip goes from the end of February into March, you’ll want to make sure this festival is on your list.

3. Enjoy the Return of the Portland Saturday Market

March in Portland brings about the return of the Portland Saturday Market, the largest continuously operating outdoor market in the US. Meet and shop from over 150 small businesses, from leather goods to mosaic art to boba tea. You never know what kind of treasure you’ll find here!

4. Party at Kells St. Patrick’s Day Festival

Kells Irish Pub hosts one of the best St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the Pacific Northwest and one of the best events in Portland in March. The annual Kells St. Patrick’s Day Festival has gotten so big that it expanded to Tom McCall Waterfront Park for more space and fun.

Events during this two-weekend-long celebration have included an amateur boxing showdown, live concerts, and a festival with music, Irish dancing, bagpipes, local artisans, and Irish food and drinks.

5. Join in the Worst Day of the Year Ride

Looking for a day filled with fun, friends, and maybe a little exercise? The Worst Day of the Year is a costumed bike ride that benefits the Community Cycling Center. Don your silliest costume and hop on your bike for some wholesome family fun. Kids under 16 are invited to ride for free.

Following the ride, stick around for some food, a marketplace, music, dancing, a costume contest, and many more treats from the ride’s sponsors.

6. Go to the Portland Seafood & Wine Festival

Taking place the first weekend in March, the Portland Seafood & Wine Festival is one of the best festivals in Portland in spring. Tied perfectly with the peak of Dungeness crab season, this delicious event lets you enjoy fresh Oregon seafood alongside drinks from over 30 of Oregon’s best wineries and 20 other beverage makers. 

You’ll also enjoy live music, handmade goods from local artisans, and more family-friendly entertainment.

7. Watch the Trail Blazers

When you visit Portland in March, you’ll be coming during the NBA season, which means you’re in time to watch the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Cheer on the team as they play on their home court. It’s an exciting and family-friendly thing to do during a night out in Portland.

8. Race at the Shamrock Run

For another way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Portland, you can take on the Shamrock Run. This annual event is fun for the whole family, with races ranging from a half-marathon to the kids’ one-mile Leprechaun Lap. Then, rest and recuperate from the big race with the Finish Festival & Beer Garden.

9. See Cherry Blossoms at Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Seeing the cherry blossoms is one of the best things to do in Portland in spring. The cherry blossoms typically start to bloom in mid-March, painting the green spaces of the city with pops of white and pink. 

One of the best places to see the cherry blossoms is the Japanese American Historical Plaza at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, but you can also see them in plenty more places, like the Portland Japanese Garden and around the Pittock Mansion. 

10. See Tulips at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

For one of the most beautiful sights around Portland in March, head to nearby Woodburn for the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. This annual festival marks the bloom of more than 40 acres of lovely and colorful tulips. 

In addition to the blooming fields, you can also enjoy more family-friendly activities and attractions, like carnival rides, a tulip market, local food vendors, a wine-tasting room, hot air balloon rides, and farm tours! 

11. Eat During Portland Brewery Dining Month

Unfortunately, gone are the days of the Portland Dining Month, which used to take place in March. However, in 2023, nine local breweries decided to create their own version. 

These participating breweries offered three-course meals for just $35 during the entire month, even including a $10 voucher for future use. Keep your eyes peeled for the Portland Brewery Dining Month, which will hopefully return with even more participating vendors.

12. Test Your Luck with Ticket to Dine

Another event in Portland in March that you should keep an eye on is Ticket to Dine, which also served as a replacement for Portland Dining Month. 

With Ticket to Dine, you could eat at a participating restaurant during a select week in March and get a scratch-off ticket with every entree. That ticket could win you a litany of prizes, from hotel stays to restaurant gift certificates to concert and sporting event tickets.

13. Go Whale Watching

Take a trip to the Oregon Coast for one of the coolest things to do in Portland in March: whale watching. March marks the beginning of the spring whale watching season, when you can spot gray whales as they travel north to Alaska. Many tour companies operate up and down the Oregon Coast, with Depoe Bay being a particular hotspot.

14. Take a Food Tour

If you’re visiting Portland in spring, you’re going to want to take advantage of the warm days and Portland’s iconic food scene during your trip by taking a food walking tour. Companies like Forktown Food Tours and Portland by Mouth offer different tour options that allow you to see and taste the best Portland has to offer.

15. Go Hiking at the Columbia River Gorge

Coming to Portland in March means that you’re arriving at a perfect time for a spring hike. Over at the nearby Columbia River Gorge, there are hiking trails for all skill levels that will take you to some incredibly scenic spots. You’ll see wildflowers, waterfalls, and more lovely spring sights.

There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Portland in March. What’s your favorite thing to do in March in Portland? Let us know in the comments!

SHARE THIS ON PINTEREST