[Read all of the articles in our Portland Fun Guide HERE! Looking for a print copy? Look at this handy-dandy map!—eds.]

Contrary to popular belief, Portland’s Black community has a significant presence in the city, and the impact and influence of Black culture on the city’s food, arts, and music scenes is undeniable. These six events are unique for centering the Black experience while uplifting and educating through celebrating diversity. Whether you’re into girls brunch with line dancing, supporting live jazz, enjoying local hip-hop, free and family-friendly park events, or want to see an all-Black rodeo, there’s something here for everyone.

8 Seconds Rodeo

Now in its third year, the 8 Seconds Rodeo was founded by photojournalist Ivan McClellan as a celebration of Black cowboy culture and the legacy of Black rodeo. Launched June 17, 2023 and formerly dubbed the 8 Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo, it became the first Black rodeo in Portland's history and took place at the Portland Expo Center. This year, the 8 Seconds Rodeo will once again go down at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on June 15—AKA the Sunday before Juneteenth—and it’s expected to be bigger and better than ever.  As far as rodeo events are concerned, buckle up for bareback riding, barrel racing, and bull riding, as well as mutton bustin’ (which is similar to bull or bronc riding, except with children riding or racing sheep). Hosted by comedian/writer/producer/actress X Mayo (whose resume includes being a former staff writer for The Daily Show), there will also be giveaways, and “dancing on the dirt”—a quaint tradition in which people dance on the dirt floor of the rodeo arena, typically accompanied by country music (and we’re hoping the DJ will spin some bops from Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning album Cowboy Carter). Attendees can also look forward to a mechanical bull, and other fun interactive activities like boot/hat branding, roping lessons, and line dancing. It goes without saying that attendees should wear their best cowboycore.

Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 300 N Ramsay Way, Sun June 15, 7 pm (pre-show starts at 3 pm), ticket provides access to both pre-show activities and rodeo main events, 8secondsrodeo.com

Black Girls Brunch Club

In a city like Portland, where two-thirds of the population is white, being at a restaurant/bar/venue where everyone is Black is almost unheard of—it’s even more rare to attend a Black event where cis-men aren’t allowed. Monthly brunch series Black Girls Brunch Club specifically caters to all Black women, as well as nonbinary and gender nonconforming people, creating a safe space for fun, food, music, and community. The series typically takes a break for fall and winter, and returns in the spring for their anniversary event. Held at the modern Eastside sports bar Jackie’s throughout 2024, the event has become beloved by its regulars for much more than serving chicken, waffles, and mimosas—it’s all about the good vibes. The event’s focal point is on the dance floor, where the DJ is spinning lively tunes, so attendees can expect ample opportunities to get down with line dances like the Cupid Shuffle and the Wobble. It’s a fun outing to experience with friends, but going solo is also solid, because there’s always the option of meeting new people or networking. The thing with Portland’s rare Black experiences like BGBC? Tickets always sell out, so don’t dawdle. 

The next Black Girls Brunch will be held at Jackie’s, 930 SE Sandy, Sun April 27, noon, otherwise once per month during the spring and summer, instagram.com/blackgirlsbrunchclubpdx

The Thesis

Launched in December 2014, monthly hip-hop showcase The Thesis is organized and curated by co-founder/writer/activist/former rapper Mac Smiff, along with co-founder and resident DJ Verbz. As the founders explain on their website, the series “was born out of a history of over-policing at Portland hip-hop shows as well as a general lack of support of Black music and the Black community.” The show isn’t necessarily aimed at always billing Black music artists, but the series has become a staple, and is consistently popular among Portland’s rising hip-hop and rap scene, and it often attracts a diverse and ever-evolving base of young creatives and music fans. While the Thesis is first and foremost a local hip-hop showcase, the series changes things up with different themes each month, and over the last decade has increasingly grown to use its platform to tout the talents of artists from a range of genres, including soul/R&B, pop, jazz, and rock, as well as billing locals alongside out-of-towners. 

Lollipop Shoppe, 736 SE Grand, every first Thursday of every month, thethesispdx.com

Biamp Portland Jazz Festival

Presented by PDX Jazz, an arts and culture nonprofit founded in 2004 with an inaugural three-day festival, the now 20-year-old annual, multi-venue Biamp Portland Jazz Festival kicks off during Black History Month and now includes two weeks worth of programming. Last year’s festival boasted artists from stalwart local jazz band Mel Brown and B-3 Organ Group, to Erykah Badu, and Zambian singer/rapper/songwriter Sampa the Great, to Portland-based soul supergroup WRK!, comprised of Amenta Abioto, Vaughn Kimmons, and Jacque Hammond (Roman Norfleet and Be Present Art Group). In addition to both free shows and ticketed shows, the festival coincides with PDX Jazz’ education-centered ethos with programming that also includes artist talks, films, lectures, masterclasses, exhibitions, and jam sessions. 

Portland Jazz Festival, pdxjazz.org

Good in the Hood

The annual, two-day Good in the Hood Multicultural Music and Food Festival is the largest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. The nonprofit org was launched by parents and staff of Holy Redeemer Catholic School in 1990, with the mission of celebrating diversity and raising money for the school. That tradition continues today, with the festival raising funds to donate to future leaders with college scholarships. Although Good in the Hood took a break in 2024, they’re back and better this year, now with a new location, and it’s sponsored by the University of Oregon, which has fully moved into the nearby campus formerly occupied by Concordia University. The festival kicks off with a parade that travels through Northeast Portland and ends at the festival site, where there will, of course, be live music, local food vendors, and family-friendly activities.

Lillis Albina Park, N Flint & Russell, June 28-29, goodnthehood.org

Kidz Outside Festival

The Kidz Outside Festival was founded in 2019 by two fathers—rapper Mat Randol and Donovan Scribes of Gentrification is Weird—with a vision to serve North Portland youth with a fun experience and the lofty goal of raising funds and interest in reimagining and revitalizing George Park in St. Johns. Well, after many conversations and multiple annual TKO festivals, that goal has been met. In 2024 the festival celebrated securing more than $4 million for the park’s redevelopment in a first-of-its-kind deal between the City of Portland and Portland Parks Foundation. The festival historically has solid entertainment in its live music lineup—with past performers that include trumpeter Farnell Newton, youth emcee J Prodigy, and Mat Randol himself—and other kid-friendly programming like appearances from Nikki Brown Clown. The backbone of the free festival is arguably its mutual aid program organized by co-lead organizer LaQuisha Minnieweather, who handles the impressive backpack and school supply drive, which went from giving away 75 backpacks in its first year to giving away 500 in 2024. The festival has also been known to give away food, hygiene products, and even expanded to providing bicycles for youth going back to school.

George Park, 7240 N Fessenden, every August