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What To Do in Portland This May

Posted on May 1, 2024   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
City Cast Portland staff

City Cast Portland staff

Rows of green plants, carrot tops, onions, and a tomato in the background, in Portland, Oregon

Get your garden started! (Rachel Monahan / City Cast Portland)

City Cast

Your Guide to May in Portland

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It’s May, and the rain should start slowing down soon 🤞 Here’s what else is happening in Portland this month:

💐 Find Local Flowers for Mother’s Day

If you’re looking to bring your mom the traditional Mother’s Day bouquet, consider some locally grown flowers from a market stand like Hav Paj at PSU’s market or a florist like Hilary Horvath. Or maybe Mom would enjoy being brought to the flowers at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden or International Rose Test Garden. Or maybe she’ll take herself on an amazing wildflower hike. (At least don’t forget to call Mom on Sunday, May 12.)

🥬 Plant Your Summer Veggies

May is a key month in gardening. You can start planting your tomatoes and eggplants, though Portland Nursery advises keeping them covered until it’s consistently 50 degrees out. And it’s not too late to plant broccoli, kale, cabbage, and other leafy greens. (We have advice on how to start a garden, with picks for good local gardening shops.)

✅ Don’t Forget To Vote

The primary is May 21. This election may decide who the next Multnomah County district attorney will be, along with whether Portland gets gas tax money for road maintenance. Your ballot should arrive by the second week of May. (Stay tuned; we’ll have more election coverage in the coming weeks.)

🪦 Visit the Oldest Mausoleum in the West

On Memorial Day, Wilhelm's Portland Mausoleum opens its doors to the public. It’s been around since 1901 and is the final resting place of 97,000 people. It has stained glass and Italian sculptures — in its eight miles of hallways. You’ll learn a bit of Portland history along the way if you go for a tour.

For more ideas of what to do this month, check out the City Cast Portland podcast’s Guide to May in Portland.

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