October in Portland 2026: Fall Things to Do Near PDX
October is when Portland finally exhales. The rain comes back, the cottonwoods go gold, and every farm within an hour of town opens its gates for pumpkin season. As growers, it's our favorite month too: harvest is wrapping up on our 60-acre Southern Oregon farm, and the new crop is starting its slow cure.
This year it's extra special, because our Portland dispensary on NE Columbia Blvd, just minutes from PDX, is opening its doors this fall. Here's our crew's short list of fall things to do in Portland this October, with dates we've double-checked, plus a few spots close to our corner of North Portland.
Portland Night Market: October 2–3
First up, and it's happening right now: the Portland Night Market sets up at 100 SE Alder St in the Central Eastside on Friday and Saturday, October 2–3, from 4pm to 11pm. Admission is free, and close to 200 local makers bring food carts, clothing, art and home goods.
It's one of the best ways to see what Portland's small businesses are up to in a single evening. As a small, grower-owned shop ourselves, we're fans. Missed it? The next dates are in December.
Kelley Point Park: Where the Rivers Meet
If you only know NE Columbia Blvd as "the road to the airport," take a short drive west. Kelley Point Park sits right where the Willamette River, the Columbia River and the Columbia Slough meet. It's more than 100 acres, most of it native black cottonwood forest, and in October those trees turn the whole place yellow.
You'll find paved and unpaved trails, picnic areas and access to the 40-Mile Loop. Keep an eye out for bald eagles, deer and beavers. The park is open 7am to 10pm daily.
Two heads-ups. First, a trail project is running through late fall 2026, so the canoe launch and its small lot near the entrance are closed; the main lot and most paths are open. Second, stay out of the water. The city warns that the currents here are dangerous, and it means it.
Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes
Sauvie Island is Portland's fall backyard: farmland, barns and big skies just northwest of downtown. Two farms anchor the season:
The Pumpkin Patch & The MAiZE (16511 NW Gillihan Rd) runs through October 31. October hours are 10am to 6pm daily, with last tickets at 5:30pm. Maze admission is $10, and there's U-pick pumpkins and a farm market.
Bella Organic (16205 NW Gillihan Rd) has its corn maze open daily through October 31, free hayrides, and a haunted maze on Friday and Saturday nights for anyone who likes their fall with a scream in it.
Weekends get busy, so go early or try a weekday. And bring boots. It's Oregon.
Portland Open Studios: October 10–11 and 17–18
For two weekends, more than 100 Portland artists open their working studios to the public. It's free and self-guided, running 10am to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, October 10–11 and 17–18.
Grab the tour map, pick a neighborhood and wander. You'll see painters, printmakers, ceramicists and sculptors in the rooms where they actually work. It's a very Portland way to spend a gray Saturday, and you can easily stack a few studios into one afternoon.
Day Trip: Hood River Valley Harvest Fest, October 9–11
Want to chase the leaves up the Columbia River Gorge? Hood River is roughly an hour east of PDX, and its Harvest Fest takes over the Hood River Event Site from Friday, October 9, through Sunday, October 11. A $10 ticket covers all three days.
Expect local makers, food, music and a farmers market loaded with fall produce: apples, pears, squash and honey from the valley's orchards and farms. The drive along I-84 is half the reason to go.
Pumpkins on the Water: Tualatin's Giant Pumpkin Regatta, October 18
This one has to be seen to be believed. At the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, people in costumes climb into hollowed-out pumpkins weighing more than 1,000 pounds and paddle them across the Lake of the Commons in Tualatin (8325 SW Nyberg St).
It's free, runs 10am to 4pm on Sunday, October 18, and race heats are at noon and 2pm. As people who grow things for a living, we have deep respect for anyone who can coax a pumpkin past 1,000 pounds. Those are some serious gourd times.
Why Fall Is Our Favorite Season at TKO
Most of what's on this list ties back to the same thing: Oregon's harvest. That's our world too. We've been growing since 2010, when we started as TKO Reserve in Seattle, and in 2015 we earned the first recreational grower license in Jackson County. Today our 60-acre Southern Oregon farm is also home to a sanctuary for rescued steer and alpacas, who mostly spend October eating and supervising.
Our Portland shop is the newest chapter. Because we grow a lot of what's on our shelves, we skip the middleman and keep everyday prices fair. Tax is included in every price, so the number you see is the number you pay. Alongside our own flower, you'll find a curated shelf of Oregon brands we know and trust.
Planning Your Visit to Our Portland Dispensary
A few practical notes before you head out:
Where: 851 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97211, a few minutes from PDX.
Hours: Monday through Friday 7am to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 7pm.
Easy stuff: free parking, an accessible ramp, cash and card, and an ATM on site.
Bring your ID. You need to be 21 or older with a valid government-issued ID.
One more thing, because we care about getting you home: if you're out exploring, plan your day so nobody drives impaired. Keep any purchases closed and stashed until you're back home, and remember that cannabis stays in Oregon.
Come Say High
Whether you're grabbing pumpkins on Sauvie Island, walking the trails at Kelley Point or just landing at PDX and heading home, we're right on your way. Swing by, meet the crew and ask us anything about this year's harvest. Come say high at 851 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97211.
Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults twenty-one years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.