Performing Arts

When:

THUNOV 5

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Performing ArtsLive Podcasts & RadioMusicBooksAuthor TalksTalks & Lectures

BACKFENCE Unhinged podcast LIVE!

Powell's City of Books1005 W Burnside St

The BACKFENCE Unhinged podcast records their first ever live show with incredible guests Mitchell S. Jackson and Nicole Hardy sharing delightfully unhinged stories. Hosted by Andrew Dicson and Frayn Masters, and presented by Portland Mercury and...

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THUNOV 5

10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

FilmMuseumsGalleriesPoetryBooksAuthor TalksPerforming ArtsLive Podcasts & RadioVarietyStand-UpHip-HopCultural HeritageTalks & Lectures

Free First Thursday with Live Wire Radio

Portland Art Museum1219 SW Park Ave

Overview Portland Art Museum invites the community to join a Free First Thursday event, offering free admission to the museum for all, plus a Live Wire event as part of the Literary Arts Portland Book Festival. Visitors can take in the afternoon gallery pop-ups, the evening show, or both! Free First Thursday + Museum pop-ups 4:30 – 6 p.m. — 4:30-6:00pm — Free, pre-show, pop-up performances will take place throughout the Museum’s galleries. Performers are poet and rapper Dessa, bestselling...

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SATNOV 7

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

BooksPerforming ArtsTalks & LecturesKids & Family

Illustrator Draw Off: Chapter One

The Judy: Judy Stage1000 SW Broadway

Have you ever seen a group of acclaimed illustrators face off to showcase their art? Now is your chance! Join Steph Littlebird, Scott Campbell, Vashti Harrison, Julia Kuo, Pedro Martín, Huda Fahmy, moderated by Breena Bard, Jonathan Hill for an...

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Multi-day events

Book Bar: The Social Hub of Portland Book Festival Week

Nov 4-8 · Book Bar, 723 SW Salmon Street ↗ Downtown (SW)

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

Nov 6-Dec 20 · Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S State St ↗ Lake Oswego $30

Multi-day events

Book Bar: The Social Hub of Portland Book Festival Week

Nov 4-8 · Book Bar, 723 SW Salmon Street ↗ Downtown (SW)

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

Nov 6-Dec 20 · Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S State St ↗ Lake Oswego $30

The Outsiders

Nov 17-23 · Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St ↗ Cultural District (SW) $85+

Leave Your Troubles At the Door

Nov 6 · Funhouse Lounge, 2432 SE 11th Ave. ↗ Southeast (SE)21+ $12+

MONNOV 16

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

BooksAuthor TalksMusicTalks & LecturesPerforming ArtsMusicals

High School Musicals: A Book Talk and Performance

Location Lincoln Recital Hall (LH75) 1620 SW Park Ave Portland, ORMap

Join scholars Dr. Lindsey Mantoan, author of It's All Happening: How Musical Theater Does High School (Oxford, 2026), and Dr. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, author of Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist (Simon & Schuster, 2025) for a free...

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SUNNOV 8

7:00 PM · Doors 6:00 PM

FolkPerforming Arts

SOUVENIRS – Celebrating the Songs of John Prine

Alberta Rose Theatre3000 NE Alberta St

Alberta Rose Theatre presents the sixth annual Souvenirs: Celebrating the Songs of John Prine. Backed by an all-star house band, The Prine-Time Players , featured vocalists from the region will perform their favorite John Prine songs. Led by Jeff...

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FRINOV 6

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

MusicPerforming ArtsDrag, Burlesque & CabaretLGBTQ+BooksReadings

Live Music: Derek Eisel: songs of Lesbian Potlucks and Husbands Who Fix Tractors

Rose City Book Pub1329 Northeast Fremont Street

Farm Fresh Cabaret and mischief with Derek Eisel, aka Beto Renaud. Eisel sings the good news from Lopez Island with songs of Lesbian Potlucks and Husbands Who Fix Tractors, and performs from his book A Little Spanish by Beto Renaud, a fable about a five inch tall gay troll who migrates to a family farm in Mexico. This performance is in conjunction with the Portland Book Festival’s Cover to Cover Program.

Farm Fresh Cabaret and mischief with Derek Eisel, aka Beto Renaud.

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SATNOV 7

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM

ReadingsBooksMuseumsPerforming ArtsComedyTheaterDrag, Burlesque & CabaretTalks & Lectures

Pop-up: Anthony Hudson

Portland Art Museum: Main Building1219 SW Park Ave

Anthony Hudson reads from his new collection of performance works at Portland Art Museum in the American Art gallery.

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SATNOV 7

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

PoetryBooksPerforming Arts

Householding: Poetry Reading with Tom Blood, Shannon Baird

Mother Foucault's Bookshop715 Southeast Grand Avenue

Join us for a poetry reading from Householding with Tom Blood, Shannon Baird, and Brian Hebb. Tom Blood is the author of the sky position which was awarded the Oregon Book Award for Poetry. Published the raccoon, dot dot, the act, if ever then...

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FRINOV 13

6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

BooksPoetryMusicPerforming ArtsTalks & Lectures

Book Launch: Junebug by Paul Maziar

Mother Foucault's Bookshop715 Southeast Grand Avenue

Join us for a reading and celebration of Paul Maziar’s Junebug. The evening with feature musical guests Kelli Schaefer and Drew Grow. When asked for eight words to describe Junebug, Maziar channeled Agent Cooper: “Everyday, once a day, give...

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FRINOV 13

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

ReadingsBooksCultural HeritagePerforming Arts

Anthology Reading: Constellations

Bold Coffee & Books1755 Southwest Jefferson Street

BOLD is thrilled to host an anthology reading for Constellations: Selected Tales from Muslim Storytellers. Join Muslim storytellers as they relay tales of family, community and belonging. This anthology was inspired by 13th-century poet Jalāl...

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