This is one of the many articles in the Mercury’s 2026 Halloween Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds.
Haunted Corn Maze
THROUGH OCTOBER 30
(COMMUNITY) Every Friday and Saturday night until October 30, meander through a terrifying corn maze on the Bella Organic Farm property on Sauvie Island. Bundle up and get ready to be spooked and stalked by ghouls, goblins, zombies, and demented farmers. Don’t forget to check on the baby dolls before you leave. This one isn’t for kids, or wimps, or even those with high blood pressure or other medical conditions that could be aggravated by unexpected frights. Check out the disclaimers before you go! (Bella Organic Farm, 16205 NW Gillihan, Sauvie Island, Fri-Sat 6:30-10 pm, $35-$55, bellaorganic.com, 13+) COURTNEY VAUGHN
Portland TextileX Month
THROUGH OCTOBER 31
(VISUAL ART) Exploring a “layers of resilience” theme this year, Portland TextileX Month (PTXM) will tangle up with notions of mending, fraying, and material repair, thinking through how these textile techniques might inspire perseverance and resistance. On the docket are some interesting workshops and shows: Lan Su Chinese Garden will exhibit Joshua Sin’s mythical Chinese guardian sculptures, Portland Japanese Garden will display techy works by textile design studio NUNO, and at Portland State University, artist Freda Xinyue Xia will share an installation made of “translucent protein-based biomaterial membranes.” Rug-tufting and drop-spinning workshops are on the schedule, too. (Various locations, times, and prices, textilex.org) LINDSAY COSTELLO
Spirit of Halloweentown: The Ghostly Voyage
THROUGH NOVEMBER 1
(COMMUNITY) You’d be hard-pressed to find more Halloween events in one place than on a weekend in Halloweentown, AKA St. Helens, the town about 30 miles north of Portland where the 1998 film by the same name was made. Everything from dancing witches to pumpkin bowling to a trolley tour of filming locations is fair game, and actors from the film series will appear throughout the month. The only way to make this more exciting? Book a round-trip jetboat ride to St. Helens through the Portland Spirit. The splashy 1.5-hour trip comes complete with creepy narration and admission to several Halloweentown attractions, including the haunted house. (Caruthers Landing Dock, 110 SE Caruthers, Sat-Sun 10:15 am-5:15 pm, $115 adult, $95 12 and under, portlandspirit.com, ages 5+) KATHERINE CHEW HAMILTON
Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp.
THROUGH NOV 7
(THEATER & PERFORMANCE) In 2025, playwright Caryl Churchill pulled a project with Off-West-End London theater Donmar Warehouse because it refused to cut ties with sponsors Barclays. “Theatres used to say they couldn’t manage without tobacco sponsorship, but they do,” she announced. “Now it’s time they stopped helping advertise banks that support what Israel is doing to Palestinians.” Churchill has spent over five decades penning astonishing critiques of war and other abuses of power, so her actions remained in step with her scripts. It still feels exceptional that the 88-year-old playwright uses her clout to take a stand and that she continues to put out prescient contemporary works, like the four short dramas Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp., which beloved local envelope pushers Shaking the Tree have adapted as their opening production this season. It’s likely to be one of the most talked about plays this fall. (Shaking the Tree Theatre, 823 SE Grant, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 5 pm, $39 w/ several pay tiers, shaking-the-tree.com, 16+) SUZETTE SMITH
Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
OCTOBER 15
(MUSIC) Wait, that guy? Yes, Jeff Goldblum, his tinted lenses, and his tailored suit will slide on stage with his band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra (named after his close family friend, if you’re curious), to deliver “contemporary arrangements of classic jazz and American Songbook standards.” The world is a warmer, more charismatic place with Goldblum in it, so this show—which will include tunes from the group’s brand-new LP, Night Blooms—is sure to be a little goofy and uplifting. Take your parents. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 7:30 pm, $42+, orsymphony.org, all ages) LC
PNW Miniature Show
OCTOBER 16-18
(COMMUNITY) There’s only one thing better than regular-sized cool stuff, and that’s cool stuff that is also tiny. The PNW Miniature Show agrees, clearly. They’ll set up a slew of detailed handcrafted miniatures (a tiny dorm room, a tiny surf shack, a tiny fruit shop… you get the picture) at the Sheraton for a who’s-who of makers on the mini scene—the show mentions artists and “influencers” on site. Workshops will build your skills; plus, you can buy a dollhouse, if that’s your thing. Find a preview of the show’s exhibits online, like the curious “Calico Critter Murder Mystery” and “Jack the Ripper’s desk.” (Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, 8235 NE Airport, general admission passes $6+, early access $30, pnwminiatureshows.com, all ages) LC
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
OCTOBER 18
(SPORTS) A giant pumpkin isn’t the most seaworthy vessel out there, but that’s what makes this regatta all the more fun—watch costumed paddlers bob up and down in a hollowed-out 1,000-pound pumpkin, narrowly avoiding capsizing (or not). Established in 2004 by a cadre of giant vegetable growers, the event now typically draws over 20,000 attendees, with some paddlers coming from as far away as France. The question is, what costume do you most want to see a pumpkin paddler wearing? I’m hoping for a Charlie Brown appearance. (Lake of the Commons, 8325 SW Nyberg, Tualatin, 10 am-4 pm, FREE, parks.tualatinoregon.gov, all ages) KCH
Bo Johnson
OCTOBER 23-24
(COMEDY) If you like your stand-up comedy dry as a cat’s tongue, then you won’t want to miss Seattle-based comedian Bo Johnson when he pops into town. With an adorable smile, Johnson’s delightfully skewed observations make you want to be his best friend in the world, and willing to fight anyone who tries to get in your way. His insightful comedy has been featured on Netflix, Hulu, Comedy Central, and more; you may have also seen him at comedy festivals including Bumbershoot, SF Sketchfest, and the Big Pine Comedy Festival. Don’t miss this golden opportunity for a night full of good-natured laughs. (Kickstand Comedy, 1006 SE Hawthorne, Fri Oct 23, 7:30 pm and 9:45 pm, Sat Oct 24, 7 pm and 9:30 pm, SOLD OUT, kickstandcomedy.org, all ages before 9 pm) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Sagra del Radicchio e Fagioli
OCTOBER 24
(FOOD) If you’ve noticed radicchio all over Portland restaurant menus over the past few years, you have Lane Selman, professor of practice in horticulture at Oregon State University, to thank. The founder of the Culinary Breeding Network, she connects seed breeders, farmers, chefs, and eaters to help breed and promote fruit and vegetable varieties that grow well locally and taste good. Radicchio has been a primary focus—Selman works with Italian seed breeders to bring heirloom varieties to the Pacific Northwest, from the light green pink-speckled Castelfranco to the long-leaved treviso tardivo that resembles a burgundy-colored Buddha’s hand citrus. At the Sagra del Radicchio, attendees can sample 40 radicchio dishes from local chefs—there’s even been radicchio gelato in the past—and this year, the focus will also extend to fagioli, AKA beans. (The Redd on Salmon, 831 SE Salmon, 3-7 pm, sliding scale $55-$70, 12 and under FREE, seedalliance.org, all ages) KCH
Protomartyr
OCTOBER 29
(MUSIC) This Detroit post-punk outfit may be best known for a couple of tracks on their 2015 album The Agent Intellect—“The Devil In His Youth,” which works oddly well as an allegory for the privilege and entitlement that gives us monsters like Trump, and “Pontiac 87,” which recalls frontman Joe Casey’s experience watching the Pope deliver a mass at the Pontiac Silverdome, delivered over a bouncy guitar hook. But the band just released their seventh album, Hotel Usona, at the end of September, and some of those songs are sure to become Protomartyr classics. Check out the video for “Sounds We Cannot Hear” for a delightful storyline centered around Benihana flying shrimp. (Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, 8 pm, $40.29, aladdin-theater.com, all ages) KCH
Death at Dusk Cemetery Tour
OCTOBER 31
(COMMUNITY) Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery offers tours most of the year, but tickets to the Halloween afternoon tours are particularly coveted. These hour-long strolls feature true tales about Portland founders, pioneers, and famous/infamous residents, allowing the stories to speak for themselves without actors or dramatization. (A tip for Halloween early birds: These afternoon tours are a way to say you got out of the house for the holiday, with plenty of time afterward for watching scary movies at home.) (Lone Fir Cemetery, 649 SE 26th, 3-6 pm, $25, friendsoflonefircemetery.org, all ages) KCH
The Portland Mercury’s Scream Queen Halloween Dance Party
OCTOBER 31
(PARTY) Get ready for a night of thrills and chills with the Mercury’s Scream Queen Halloween dance party and costume contest! When the trick or treating ends, stay up late with the Mercury and friends, and dance ’til you drop at our after-party with DJ Residual Sugar spinning tunes guaranteed to raise (and shake) the dead! While you’re there, don’t miss your chance to reign supreme as the Mercury’s Scream Queen costume contest winner. The most creative, spine-tingling costume will not only win bragging rights in this realm and beyond, you could also take home $100 gift cards from some of our favorite Portland hotspots. There will also be flash tattoos, creatively concocted cocktails, and a photo booth to commemorate your hot ‘n’ spooky outfit for all of eternity. Don’t miss the most petrifyingly fun night of the year! (Alberta Abbey, 126 NE Alberta, 10:30 pm, $15 advance, $20 door, portland.boldtypetickets.com, 21+) MERCURY STAFF
Mdou Moctar (Solo)
NOVEMBER 2
(MUSIC) Nigerian rock musician Mdou Moctar released Funeral for Justice in 2024 and followed it up with Tears of Injustice, which presents reworked acoustic versions of the songs. Recorded over a few days in New York—during which band members couldn’t return home because of a coup in Nigeria—Tears of Injustice articulates quiet grief, as opposed to the usual angry, wailing guitars of Mdou Moctar’s music. The acclaimed singer-guitarist’s intimate shows highlight his modern psych rock take on the Tuareg desert blues of the Sahara region—this solo show will set the mood right. (Polaris Hall, 635 N Killingsworth, 8 pm, $32.36, polarishall.com, 21+) SHANNON LUBETICH
Portland Book Festival
NOVEMBER 2-8
(READINGS & TALKS) Last year, Portland Book Festival sold out (!) for the first time since it began capping its audience numbers in 2016. So this year, Literary Arts has extended its storied event from a single day to a near week of bookish dinners, art shows, concerts, and so on. The big ticket 2026 guest is Ke Huy Quan, whose memoir Never Say Die follows his youth as a displaced refugee into the complexity of child stardom with The Goonies (1985), and the incredible resurgence of Quan’s acting career in adulthood via Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). There’s also going to be a lot of Wildwood this year, with Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis appearing to discuss the book and forthcoming Laika adaptation. Make sure you grab tickets for the main fest day itself (Nov 7) ASAP, because that will probably sell out again. (South Park Blocks around Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park, $20 general main day passes and additional tiers w/ $5 Arts for All tickets available, literary-arts.org, all ages unless otherwise noted) SS
Jane Schoenbrun
NOVEMBER 5
(READINGS & TALKS) Award-winning filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun (Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma) returns to one of her favorite topics, “a mysterious realm on the other side of our screens,” with her debut novel Public Access Afterworld. At this special team-up between Parallel Worlds Bookshop and the Hollywood Theatre, Schoenbrun will discuss her new book with dark fantasy author SenLinYu (Manacled, Alchemised) before a screening of Schoenbrun’s 2024 feature I Saw the TV Glow. (Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 7:30 pm, SOLD OUT, hollywoodtheatre.org, PG-13) SS
Wyrd War Presents Tenebre with Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin
NOVEMBER 8
(FILM) Led by keyboardist Claudio Simonetti, Italian prog-rock ghouls Goblin stopped by Portland three years ago to live score a screening of Dario Argento’s lurid, bloody masterpiece Suspiria. The director’s ’82 murder mystery, Tenebre, falls a little further under the radar, but the band’s utterly freaky soundscapes for the film are just as heady in person. Stick around after the giallo screening, presented by underground record label/programmers Wyrd War, for a full-length concert of haunting tunes spanning Simonetti’s whole career. (Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 8 pm, SOLD OUT, hollywoodtheatre.org, not rated) LC
Kumoricon
NOVEMBER 13-15
(COMMUNITY) Leave it to Portland to host the most wholesome cosplay convention—okay, okay, “most wholesome” is hard to quantify, but as Japanese pop culture conventions go, Kumoricon feels different. The volunteer-run fest has been around for 23 years, and it now regularly draws over 10,000 attendees to a weekend of cosplay, lip sync battles, voice actor panels, and other fun shit to do with your friends—and to make new friends! There’s always a huge exhibitor area with art, fashion, manga, and collectible finds. Plus, this year’s Kumoriball theme is “Gala of the Gods,” which sounds really sparkly. If this is your thing, here be your peeps. (Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr, pass pricing varies, but it’s ballpark $60 one day, $100 weekend, kumoricon.org, all ages) SS
The Mountain That Loved a Bird
NOVEMBER 15
(MUSIC/PERFORMANCE) After attending an operatic production of The Snowy Day two years ago, I learned that I’m healed by children’s theater. Often, kids’ productions have a sort of delightful fever dream effect, and it’s only weird if you make it weird. That said, you should bring a kid to this one and expose them to some Culture! This musical interpretation of Alice McLerran’s children’s book The Mountain That Loved a Bird will include live narration, describing an unlikely friendship between (you guessed it) a mountain and a bird. The show is recommended for kids 5-12 years of age, and its hour-long runtime makes it suitable for wigglier attendees. (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, 2 pm, $16+, orsymphony.org, all ages) LC
Ron Funches
NOVEMBER 15
(COMEDY) Hometown hero/comedian Ron Funches is returning to Portland for two big shows at Revolution Hall, and we couldn’t be more pleased. After honing his comedy chops here in PDX, Funches took off for Los Angeles in 2012—and thanks to his endearing, quirky demeanor, quickly nabbed guest spots and supporting roles on New Girl and Undateable. (And let’s not forget his hilarious voice work as King Shark in the HBO animated series Harley Quinn.) His TV work has continued with appearances on Peacock’s The Traitors, as well as Apple TV’s Loot—but rest assured that stand-up comedy and Portland are still his primary loves, and we’re certain he’ll be bringing his A-game and best jokes to share with his former homies. That’s us, if I was unclear. (Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 6 pm and 10 pm, $40.83, early show SOLD OUT, revolutionhall.com, all ages) WSH
Plus Plus Festival of Tomorrow
NOVEMBER 19-22
(FILM) PAM CUT’s revamp of a one-time adult movie theater has been pretty cool to witness. Tomorrow Theater curates a consistent slate of screenings supplemented with artsy programming, and their annual multimedia festival, Plus Plus, offers more where that came from. Drop by the theater for stand-up from Fire Island star Joel Kim Booster, EMA and Tabitha Nikolai’s Memory As A Rock Out Of Reach (previously performed at the 2025 Time-Based Art Festival), and a “bizarre bazaar” art market at Portland Art Museum, among other events. (Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division, and Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park, pricing and times vary, tomorrowtheater.org) LC
