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What To Do in Portland in February 2026

Posted on February 2
City Cast Portland staff

City Cast Portland staff

a parade with orange butterflies and lanterns held aloft

How Portland celebrated Mardi Gras last year. (Marypat Heineman)

City Cast

Your Guide to February 2026 in Portland

00:00:00

February is just the worst in Portland. Here are our best tips for things to do that will get you out of the house and enjoying even this month:

Clinton Street Theater is celebrating Black history with films. Some of what they’ll screen include:

Other Black History-related celebrations include Curious Comedy’s NW Black Comedy Festival (Feb. 16 - 22). And don’t miss The Sun Ra Arkestra, a pioneer of Afrofuturism, (Feb. 25 - 27).

💡 Portland Winter Lights Festival | Feb. 6 - 14

The annual city event to light up the dark month is full of Portland-style fun. It's a delightful reason to visit downtown — and neighborhood spots — all decked out in bright colors.

Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, Oregon, with lights for Portland Winter Lights Festival

Pioneer Courthouse Square during February’s festival. (Amrik Kerketta / Portland Winter Lights Festival)

♥️ Valentine’s Day Dinner | Feb. 14

If you’re looking for a night out for Valentine’s Day, there are a lot of places offering special dinners. Bridgetown Bites has the run-down, including:

  • Javelina, which serves Native American cuisine, has a 7-course tasting menu they're calling acred Fire that costs $185 per person. (They had a few reservations as of late last week.)
  • French-influenced Canard, which has a 3-course dinner, had some late times available at their East Burnside location, as of Friday.
  • Plus: Doe Doughnuts special heart-shaped “conversation starter” doughnuts you can pre-order for the occasion.

♨️ Willamette Sauna Festivaali | Feb. 14 - 15

Milwaukie will host a sauna festival on Valentine’s Day weekend. More than a dozen different mobile saunas, invited to town by SaunaGlo, will gather on the waterfront.

  • Plus: Two other options for soaking in the heat will also get you scenic views of the river. There’s a new floating sauna. Or Yacht Tubs are available for soaking and touring.

🥟 Dumpling Week | Feb. 15 - 21

Dumplings are a cozy food and a good antidote for this usually wet, cold month. Plus, they’re a Portland specialty. More than 40 restaurants across town participate in Dumpling Week and span the range of different cuisines.

🐷 Mardi Gras Parade | Feb. 17

North Mississippi Avenue hosts our own local celebration of Mardi Gras. The theme this year is Sea of Love, so we’re hoping for some fanciful sea creature costumes.

Brighten Up Your Month

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