Explore Washington Park

Kodomo no Hi, Children's Day
2026-05-03 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Kodomo no Hi, also called Children’s Day, is commemorated each year in Japan on May 5th to celebrate the growth and good fortune of children. Kodomo no Hi is commemorated each year in Japan on May 5th to celebrate the growth and good fortune of children. Our festival will feature a range of family-friendly activities! Come listen to taiko performances, learn origami, and enjoy displays of koinobori, or cloth carp streamers. This event is included with garden admission.

Public Tour
2026-05-03 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Explore one of Hoyt Arboretum’s three nationally-accredited collections with a knowledgeable guide. Public Tours will follow seasonal routes to highlight the flowering trees and the Magnolia Collection in the spring, the Conifer Collection in the summer, and fall color and the Maple Collection in the fall. Public tours are free and coordinated by Hoyt Arboretum Friends. There is no fee to attend, but donations are appreciated and support education programs at Hoyt Arboretum. Sign up in person at the Visitor Center on the day of the tour.

Members Spring Blossom Tour
2026-05-03 15:00 - 16:30 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Join curator Martin Nicholson to experience spring blooms around the Arboretum on the annual members-only Spring Blossom Tour! The tour will occur rain or shine. Dress for the weather, and wear comfortable shoes for walking on trails. The route is less than 1 mile and will include some ups and downs along the way. Most of the tour route will travel on well-graded packed dirt or gravel trails. And while we love your dogs, we ask that you leave them home for this tour. Advanced registration through the Hoyt Arboretum website is required. Please register by May 1 at 12PM to receive important information about meeting location.

Forest Hope Through Innovation
2026-05-05 10:00 - 2026-05-10 16:00, 2026-05-12 10:00 - 2026-05-17 16:00 | Discovery Museum, 4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Forest Hope Through Innovation is an interdisciplinary art-forest-science exhibition at World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum that explores how creativity, research, and community action can shape a sustainable future for the forests we rely on. Featuring work by more than twelve innovators, the exhibition highlights the aesthetics of emerging forest-based research—from technology and engineering to design and artist-scientist collaborations. Featuring work by more than twelve innovators, the exhibition highlights the aesthetics of emerging forest-based research—from technology and engineering to design and artist-scientist collaborations. In this moment of climate uncertainty, World Forestry Center is leveraging creativity, art, and storytelling to spotlight forest-based solutions as an optimistic path forward. Forest Hope Through Innovation is designed to spark climate hope and inspire community-based approaches that support resilient forests for generations to come. Included with museum admission.

Healing Herbs of the Arboretum
2026-05-05 13:00 - 15:00 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
The plants that surround us are full of healing and nourishing properties, if we know where to look! Join community herbalist Missy Rohs for a stroll around the Arboretum to explore the medicinal trees, weeds, and native plants we encounter. You will talk about which parts to use and which plants to avoid. You may even discover a new use for a plant you thought you knew well! This event is coordinated by Hoyt Arboretum and registration is required through their website.

Member's Day and Annual Meeting
2026-05-05 13:00 - 18:00 | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Join us for an afternoon of member appreciation during Member’s Day at Portland Japanese Garden on Tuesday, May 5 from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Learn about the state of the organization and celebrate our incredible community of members! This open-house style event is fun for the whole family with activities highlighting our programming, events, and community partners. The Garden will remain accessible through 5:00pm. The afternoon will conclude with the Annual Membership Meeting from 5:00 to 6:00pm in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center. You’ll hear directly from our Co-CEOs, Board of Trustees, and executive leadership. All members are welcome to attend and hear our 2025 annual report.

Textile Workshop: Japanese Teacup Cozy/ Carrier with Judilee Fitzhugh
2026-05-06 09:30 - 16:00 | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Portland Japanese Garden is partnering with textile artisan Judilee Fitzhugh to offer a series of four immersive textile workshops. In each session, participants will relax and enjoy the rhythmic dance of needle and thread while learning the meditative art of hand-stitching to create Japanese- and garden-inspired projects. This workshop runs from 9:30am–4:00pm, including six hours of instruction and a 30-minute lunch break. Participation is limited to 20 students per workshop, and classes are open to students of all levels of sewing experience. Kinchaku (巾着) are traditional drawstring pouches used to carry personal possessions. They are often used like a handbag and can vary in size and purpose from carrying coins to bento boxes. In this session, you will create a pieced kinchaku designed to carry a teacup using traditional fabrics and techniques. Each participant will receive a teacup and everything they need to create their own kinchaku. (You are welcome to bring your own teacup, but please note this pouch won’t accommodate anything larger than 3 inches tall by 3 inches wide.)

Forest Stories
2026-05-06 11:30 - 12:00 | Discovery Museum, 4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
On the first Wednesday of the month, join us in the Discovery Museum’s reading nook for Forest Stories. A storytime dedicated to forests and forest-themed books that connect adults and children and engage the imagination. Coloring pages are also available. This offering is included with museum admission.

Cloud Forest Volunteers
2026-05-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Washington Park, 4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Join Portland Parks & Recreation in the Cloud Forest in Washington Park most Fridays, rain or shine. Spend a couple of hours with us, weeding, mulching, planting, and learning about invasive plant management. We will meet near the restroom building at the Oregon Holocaust Memorial and the project site is located right across from here. Registration required.

Cultural Performance: Shinobue Flute, Tsugaru Shamisen & Piano Performance by Maido Mind
2026-05-08 13:15 - 14:15 | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Join us for a free musical performance featuring shinobue flute, Tsugaru shamisen and a piano performance by Maido Mind. This cultural performance will be held from 1:15 to 2:15pm in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center. Yumi Torimaru and Nozomi Imade, who come from profoundly different musical backgrounds, formed Maido Mind in 2022. Yumi studied traditional Japanese instruments including taiko drum, shinobue (bamboo flutes), and Tsugaru shamisen (Japanese lute). Classically trained Nozomi started studying piano at the age 3 and studied vocal music at a prestigious music university in Japan. Both women were born and raised in the Kansai region of Japan. In the Kansai dialect, “Maido” is a versatile word used as a greeting, a farewell, and a thank you. The mind enables a person to be aware of the world and their experiences: to think and to feel. Maido Mind, with Yumi on shinobue and Nozomi’s piano and vocal performance, offers a wide variety of music, from tradition to modern, standard to original, and Japanese to Western.

Storytime in the Family Studio - Children's Day
2026-05-09 10:30 - 11:00 | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Join us in the Family Studio for a joyful community storytime celebrating Japanese culture and the power of nature to spark curiosity and wonder. Perfect for families and young readers, this event features a selection of stories especially chosen for children aged 3 to 8, but all ages are welcome to enjoy the fun! One Saturday each month, come share in the joy of storytelling through a new theme inspired by Portland Japanese Garden’s cultural festivals and community programs. In celebration of Children’s Day, May’s theme honors the curiosity and imagination of children, and the fun of growing up. Included with garden admission.

Botanical Crowns for your Inner Queen
2026-05-09 10:30 - 12:30 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Celebrate Mother’s Day by crowning your inner queen! In this hands-on botanical crown workshop, you’ll design an ethereal, wearable piece using Pacific Northwest native foliage, and locally sourced fresh or dried seasonal flowers, while learning why native plants matter for our connection to our Mother Earth, our pollinators, and our urban habitats. We’ll slow down, connect to nature, and craft with intention so you leave with a stunning crown, simple care tips, and a deeper understanding of how to champion native species right where you live. Perfect for moms, daughters, and anyone ready to feel grounded, radiant, and royally connected to the earth. This event is coordinated by Hoyt Arboretum and registration is required through their website.

Cultural Demonstration: Tea Ceremony
2026-05-09 13:15 - 14:30 | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Portland Japanese Garden will offer free public demonstrations of Chadō, the Way of Tea, at the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center from 1:15 – 2:15pm. The Way of Tea is intrinsically linked to Japanese gardens and understanding the kokoro (heart) of Japanese gardening. The traditional Japanese tea ceremony is a manner of preparing and drinking a bowl of tea. More than just making tea, it reflects the Japanese sense of omotenashi, or wholehearted hospitality. It involves choreographed movements where both the host and guest escape the fast pace of life and experience calm. Included with garden admission.

Member Only Mindfulness Tour
2026-05-10 09:00 - 10:00 | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
This intimate tour focuses not on meditation, but instead on learning to bring mindful awareness to oneself, and the world around us, through intentional observation and connections. An experienced guide will provide a foundation for the art of contemplative exploration throughout various Garden spaces, and gently guide awareness away from the busyness of everyday life, back toward the connection to nature and experience of peace. Each tour will be slightly unique to focus on the current season, weather (occurs rain or shine), and garden spaces. However, these tours are designed and intended to help members continue to enhance future Garden visits through independent mindful practice through all seasons. Reservations required.

Flower Pressing Workshop
2026-05-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Connect with nature in a new way through flower pressing! In this beginner workshop, artist, Bri Rossi, will guide you through her tips and tricks for creating beautiful pressed plants. Each workshop attendee will receive a handmade reusable flower press and we’ll fill it up with plants! We’ll cover how to use a flower press, what plants press best, where to find plants and fun ideas for how to use the plants you preserve. If the weather permits we’ll take a short walk around the arboretum to identify plants that press well. This event is coordinated by Hoyt Arboretum and registration is required through their website.

Forest Field Day: Tree ID
2026-05-13 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Hoyt Arboretum has over 2,300 types of trees – can you tell one tree from another? This can take many years to learn, but we want to help get your tree ID journey started! Join our Forest Field Day in May to learn the basics of how to know what tree you are looking at. Is it tall? Does is have big, flat leaves? Is the bark smooth or rough? There are so many characteristics to observe and explore as you become a tree ID expert! This event is coordinated by Hoyt Arboretum and registration is required through their website.

Cultural Performance: Koto by Mitsuki Dazai
2026-05-15 13:15 - 14:30 | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Enjoy a free koto performance by Mitsuki Dazai at 1:15pm at the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center. Mitsuki Dazai is a graduate of Tokyo’s Kunitachi College of Music, studied koto with virtuoso Kazue Sawai, and received her koto instruction certificate at Sawai Koto Institute. She moved to Oregon in 2002, served as a guest lecturer, and toured throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Japan. In 2010, Dazai was featured on Oregon Art Beat and released two CDs — Autumn, Music for Solo Koto (2007) and Far Away…Romances for Koto (2010) with Grammy-nominated composer Michael Hoppe. She also appears on Shanti Samsara: World Music for Environmental Consciousness, produced by Grammy-winning Ricky Kej. In 2016, she performed at the 21C Music Festival in Toronto. This event is included with garden admission.

Eras
2026-05-15 19:30 - 21:00 | World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, OR, 97221, United States
World Forestry Center is honored to partner with Oregon Repertory Singers Youth Choir and Third Angle New Music to present Eras—a world premiere wildfire oratorio exploring the intersection of past, present, and future for both people and planet. The creative journey of Eras began in April 2025, when students from the ORS Youth Choir and Third Angle Ensemble visited our exhibit Following Fire, a powerful collaboration between photographer David Paul Bayles and ecologist Frederick J. Swanson. Guided by Bayles and Swanson, the students reflected on images of charred landscapes and the resilient signs of regrowth. Inspired by their experience, the students wrote original poetry while seated on the exhibit floor—poetry that later became the source text for composers Iman Habibi, Michael-Thomas Foumai, and Kirsten Volness. Their resulting oratorio for youth choir and small ensemble now stands as the heart of this moving program.

Saturday Crew
2026-05-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Volunteer to care for Hoyt Arboretum’s trees and trails with the Saturday Crew! With 189-acres and more than 6,000 trees along 12 miles of trails, volunteers are incredibly important to maintaining Hoyt Arboretum’s tree collection and trail system, and it’s a unique opportunity for volunteers to learn about and care for rare and unusual trees and plants from around the world. No previous stewardship crew experience is required; training, tools, gloves, and volunteer parking passes are provided. Registration is required through the Hoyt Arboretum website.

Brainy Birds: Spring
2026-05-16 10:30 - 12:30 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Birds are incredible and have adapted to survive in dynamic & changing environments. Every species has unique traits and sometimes quite specialized strategies. Using the backdrop of seasonal changes at Hoyt Arboretum, Dr. Kiki Sanford will facilitate discovery of the many ways it is connected to its avian inhabitants. Winter classes will center on adaptations for surviving intense seasonal conditions. Spring brings the frenzy of breeding season. Summer includes juvenile development and the onset of the next annual cycle. And, Autumn classes will focus on the fall migration. Each seasonal class will highlight the various birds present in the Arboretum, and include observation & discussion of specific aspects of how their brains & bodies lead to certain behaviors useful in the Hoyt habitats. Short informal lectures and group discussions will be followed by exploratory bird-watching hikes to observe these processes in action. This event is coordinated by Hoyt Arboretum and registration is required through their website.

Cultural Demonstration: Tea Ceremony
2026-05-16 13:15 - 14:15 | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Portland Japanese Garden will offer free public demonstrations of Chadō, the Way of Tea, at the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center from 1:15 – 2:15pm. The Way of Tea is intrinsically linked to Japanese gardens and understanding the kokoro (heart) of Japanese gardening. The traditional Japanese tea ceremony is a manner of preparing and drinking a bowl of tea. More than just making tea, it reflects the Japanese sense of omotenashi, or wholehearted hospitality. It involves choreographed movements where both the host and guest escape the fast pace of life and experience calm. This event is included with garden admission.

Cultural Demonstration: Kashintei Tea Ceremony
2026-05-16 13:15 - 14:15 | Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR, 97205, United States
Portland Japanese Garden will offer a free public demonstration of Chado, the Way of Tea, in the Kashintei Tea House (in the Tea Garden) from 1:15 – 2:15pm. The Way of Tea is intrinsically linked to Japanese gardens and understanding the kokoro (heart) of Japanese gardening. Kashintei (literally “Flower-Heart Room”) is the name of the authentic Tea House that sits in the heart of our Tea Garden. The structure was made in Japan, shipped in pieces, and reassembled in the Garden. Tea houses are composed of several strictly defined spaces: the anteroom [mizuya], where the utensils for the ceremony are readied beforehand; the sitting room [zashiki], where the tea ceremony is performed; the alcove [tokonoma] where flowers and a calligraphy scroll are displayed. Four-and-a-half tatami mats, which are the standard dimensions of a traditional tea house, cover the floor. Included with garden admission.

Early Member Morning
2026-05-17 08:00 - 08:45 | Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the animal kingdom before the zoo opens to the public! Grab a coffee or breakfast from the Cascade Cafe and stroll through the grounds at your own pace as the zoo wakes up around you. This members-only experience is available on select weekend dates from May 17 through August 29. Early entry ends promptly at 8:45 a.m. Guests arriving later must wait until the zoo opens at 9 a.m.

Be Wildfire Aware: Free Day at the Discovery Museum
2026-05-17 10:00 - 16:00 | Discovery Museum, 4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
As wildfire risk continues to increase across our region, understanding how to prepare has never been more important. Be Wildfire Aware is a free, community-focused event designed to help individuals and families learn practical ways to reduce wildfire risk and build resilience. Whether you live in an urban neighborhood, a suburban community, or a rural area, this event will offer useful tools and information to help you protect your home and loved ones. This day is part of our Free Day Series at the Discovery Museum celebrating 60 years of World Forestry Center.

All About Angiosperms: Walk and Talk
2026-05-17 10:30 - 12:30 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Spring flowers abound in the Arboretum! Depending on bloom time, we’ll explore the rose or magnolia collections to learn the reason for flowers and dive into how flowering plants evolved across the globe.
Bring a camera or a sketch book on this slow-paced stroll to stop and enjoy the flowers. This event is coordinated by Hoyt Arboretum and registration is required through their website.

The Art and Science of Tree Care: Pruning
2026-05-17 10:30 - 12:30 | Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR, 97221, United States
Thinking about pruning your trees but unsure where to begin? Join Hoyt’s Nursery and Planting Specialist Brett Rousseau to discover the next steps. Brett will walk you through why we prune, what to prune, and how to adjust your pruning technique depending on the type of tree and season. We’ll look at tree structure, types of growth patterns, and how to make good pruning cuts. She’ll discuss proactive vs reactive tree care and how to ensure your trees are living their best life. This event is coordinated by Hoyt Arboretum and registration is required through their website.
