Community❯Street Festivals

Celebrate Día de los Muertos at M&M Marketplace with two days of culture, music, food, and family fun. Join us on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 from 2 PM to 7 PM for a free community celebration in Hillsboro.

Enjoy live music, traditional altars, Calenda, Calaveritas Literarias, a Concurso de Catrinas, food, shopping, and family entertainment. Bring your family and friends as we come together to honor loved ones and celebrate Día de los Muertos traditions.

Dates: Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1
Time: 2 PM to 7 PM
Location: M&M Marketplace, 346 SW Walnut St., Hillsboro, OR 97123
Admission: Free

¡Acompáñanos con toda la familia para celebrar nuestras tradiciones, recordar a nuestros seres queridos y disfrutar un fin de semana especial en comunidad!

From the celebrated and award-winning composer Dave Malloy comes Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812, an electropop opera based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Young and impulsive, Natasha Rostova arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancé from the front lines. When she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, it is up to Pierre, a family friend in the middle of an existential crisis, to pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation. Following a critically exalted premiere at Ars Nova in New York City, a subsequent off-Broadway transfer and an acclaimed run on Broadway, this award-winning musical expands the possibilities for the genre with its daring score and bold storytelling.

Music and Lyrics By Dave Malloy

Join Portland Opera for an hour of story and song from their latest production, La Traviata.

Celebrating 20 years of cinema, culture, and community—a very special milestone celebrating two decades of building bridges between Latin America and Portland through film.

Over these 20 years, the stories have made audiences laugh, reflect, and feel deeply, while offering new perspectives on identity, collective memory, and cultural diversity. What began as a dream has grown into a vibrant community of filmmakers, artists, volunteers, sponsors, and audience members who believe in the power of cinema to bring the community closer together.

This year features the generous collaboration of musician and composer José Manuel Aguilera, who has authorized the use of his song "Confabulario"—from the album *Tinta negra y roja*—as the official theme for this anniversary edition. The official poster for the twentieth edition was designed by Gilberto Martínez and inspired by the work of renowned graphic artist Joel Rendón. Its visual power and rich symbolism reflect the creative spirit and cultural diversity that have defined the festival over the past two decades.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra is back with a spectacular new production of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More – featuring the fan-favorite holiday rock opera alongside TSO classics, and rarely performed gems.

Shows:

November 28 at 3:30pm & 8pm

Frybread Fest is coming back to Downtown Portland, and it’s going to be bigger than ever. Help celebrate Native American Heritage Month through food, culture, art, and community. Enjoy delicious frybread from several Indigenous chefs and explore a full day of Indigenous-led programming and experiences. Get an up-close look at traditional and cultural practices through salmon fillet, basket weaving, and hide tanning demonstrations, and take part in the celebration with a drum circle from Turquoise Pride.

The festival will also feature a variety of local vendors, giving you plenty of opportunities to shop, connect, and support Indigenous artists and makers. Miss Indian NW will join for a special meet and greet, too.

Come hungry, bring your friends and family, and spend the day celebrating Native culture, community, and tradition in the heart of Downtown Portland.

🍷 Your Favorite Downtown Tradition Is Back and Better Than Ever 🛍️

On Saturday, November 7 from 3:00PM to 7:00PM, Historic Downtown Hillsboro comes alive for Sip & Shop 2026, a festive self-guided stroll through the heart of the district featuring over a dozen local wineries, cideries, breweries, and mocktail makers, live music, carolers, holiday shopping, and a dining guide packed with specials from local restaurants and food carts.

This is the event that turns a November Saturday into something you'll be talking about all season. Grab your glass, explore at your own pace, and discover why this beloved Downtown tradition keeps drawing over 150 guests year after year.

Four Soaking Stations with mini-snacks are set up along the route to keep you fueled between sips. Check in at Colours Art Supply or LaHaie's to get your passport and start your adventure.

Here’s how the Sip & Shop Passport works:

> You’ll be directed to pick up your passport map, Swag bag including restaurant specials and more, and tasting glass* (While supplies last) at one of two check-in locations
Sip, stroll & shop your way between 2nd and 4th Avenue and Washington to Lincoln, featuring 15+ retail locations, discovering wine, cider, and zero-proof tastings all along Main Street and beyond. Snack at four soaking stations placed along your stroll. Select merchants may offer special promotions during your visit.
Visit the retailers and restaurants noted on the passport and collect stamps at a minimum of seven shops. No retail purchase required. Our intent is to introduce you to some of the key contributors who make and keep Historic Downtown great.
Drop your completed passport at any participating retail location. Completed passports will be collected and raffle drawings for themed gift baskets valued between $30 – $70.
Wine Concierge Service will whisk your purchases off to designated pickup spots so you can keep sipping and shopping worry-free

Check-In Locations - Check-In begins at 3:00PM, Final Check-In at 6:15PM

LaHaie’s at 277 E Main Street
Colours Art at 270 E Main Street

Date: Saturday, November 7

This Year's Participating Pourers:

3 Goats Vineyard
Bull Run Cider
Patton Valley Wines
Dion Vineyards
2 Towns Cider
Résolu Cellars
DAnu Winery
Helvetia Winery
Chris James Cellars
La Randonnée
Flipturn Cellars
Scotch Church Road Vineyard
Parra Wine Co.
Urban River Spirits
Apolloni Vineyards

This year, proceeds benefit The Family Peace Center of Washington County, so every ticket you purchase supports something truly meaningful in our community.

Tickets are available now, and early bird pricing won't last. Grab yours before November 1st and save, then gather your crew, sip and shop throughout the day and stay for dinner at one of our many delicious dining spots in Historic Downtown Hillsboro.

Shout to our Community Sponsors: Le'Stuff, Lithtex Printing
💸 Refund Policy - Stuff happens! Ticket cancellations before
Nov. 4 are eligible for a refund.

Questions? Contact the Sip & Shop Team:
> Sandie Nelson, Le'Stuff Antique Mall 503-860-3663
> Kathleen Floistad, Cedar Street Antiques/ Le'Stuff Antique Mall 503-780-0785
>>Kathie Nelson, Résolu Cellars 503-803-9270

Celebrate and learn the history of the Day of the Dead at this free community event.

The event runs from 9:00am - 5:00 pm and will have:

• Food carts
• Crafts
• Live music and performers from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Face painting
• Community altar where you can bring pictures of your loved ones who have passed. Printings will be made available on site.

This event is open to everyone.

For more information please email [email protected].

YWCA Clark County will host the 2026 BIPOC Youth Summit, Vibe and Thrive, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7-8. This free, two-day event brings together BIPOC youth ages 13-18 to celebrate identity, build connections, explore leadership and discover the power of joy. Enjoy workshops led by local BIPOC leaders, interactive activities, creative expression, and conversations about social justice and personal growth. The event includes free food, games, prizes and a block party.
Learn more and register at www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/bys.

One of the most beloved operas ever written, La Traviata pairs soaring melodies with a deeply personal story of love and sacrifice. At its center is Violetta, an independent woman navigating desire, societal expectation, and the fragile possibility of happiness on her own terms. As romance and reality collide, Verdi’s luminous score reveals the emotional complexity of living authentically in a world determined to impose its rules. Tender, tragic, and timeless, the opera continues to resonate for its compassionate portrayal of Violetta’s vulnerability, resilience, courage as she chooses personal truth in the face of public judgment.

First Friday – November 6th: “Thankful for YOU (and pie :)) Multicultural Celebration!” We love the fall and we are SO thankful for you! We all come from different places and have different heritages and we want to celebrate that. Our diversity makes us special and interesting! Bring your friends and family downtown for pie tastings, pie raffles, a pie walk dance party, multicultural displays and so much more!

• Ribbon Cutting at 6pm for the new expansion at Evergreen Vinyl! 321 NE 4th Ave.
• Enter Pie Raffles all around town!
• Yummy pie tastings at Fuel donated by Lore Tea + Coffee
• “Pie Walk Dance Party”–try to win a delicious pie! at 7:30pm inside of Journey, 304 NE 4th Ave. The Pie Walk is generously sponsored by Synkwise!
• Complete the “Gratitude Passport” throughout downtown businesses & be entered to win!
• Learn about your neighbors and our diverse backgrounds, cultures and histories!
• Drop off your unwrapped toys at registration at Fuel Medical for the Toys for Tots drive!
• Kids’ autumn art, crafts, games and treats
• S’mores roasting, weather permitting
• Art Shows and Receptions in Attic Gallery, 419 NE Cedar; Gallery 408, 408 NE 4th; RedDoor Gallery, 411 NE Dallas; and Second Story Gallery, 625 NE 4th Ave, upstairs at the Camas Library.
• After hours shopping, dining, live music, more!

Start your evening at the DCA tables in the Fuel Medical lobby, 314 NE Birch St. See you in beautiful Downtown Camas for all the fall fun!

Experience the twinkling, magical wonderland of ZooLights— without any kids. Brighten the season at BrewLights. This ZooLights beer festival experience is for folks 21+. Cut loose without kids or daytime crowds and enjoy dozens of the Northwest’s best breweries and cideries, plus live music, food carts and more.

With an animal lantern train ride, vibrant sparkling tunnels and a variety of wildlife-inspired displays, BrewLights is the region’s most impressive light display. This is the perfect event for gathering friends, raising a glass and snapping selfies.

Tickets include a souvenir cup and 10 three-ounce pours. Choose from dozens of beer, seltzer and cider options from the finest Northwest craft beverage makers. Nondrinking tickets are available for those preferring to enjoy BrewLights alcohol-free.

Enjoy a vibrant outdoor street gallery that features 150+ artists who transform NW 13th Avenue into a bustling pedestrian scene that welcomes thousands of attendees each month. You’ll find an inclusive and dynamic mix of talented creatives, ranging from fine artists with decades of experience to emerging makers and designers sharing their work for the very first time. Guests can expect an upbeat, welcoming vibe where they can talk directly with artists, discover one-of-a-kind pieces, and connect with fellow art lovers while enjoying delicious foods from the neighborhood’s many bars and restaurants. The Pearl District comes alive with music, movement, and artist energy and with different artists cycling through, every month is a little different, making it the perfect event to keep coming back to.

First Thursday in the Pearl, started in 1986, is a district-wide celebration held on the first Thursday of each month, initiated by the founding members of PADA (Portland Art Dealers Association). Originally a gathering of art collectors and dealers, the celebration has grown into a monthly event attended by over 10,000 people, including art enthusiasts, wine aficionados, and scenesters looking to see and be seen. During this year-round, monthly event, galleries in and around the Pearl District and Northwest host opening receptions for new exhibitions. Many PADA members continue to follow the First Thursday schedule—keeping the tradition alive—while also hosting events throughout the month.

Parking gets very difficult in the area on First Thursday. It is recommended to take public transportation to the Pearl or park nearby and walk into the neighborhood.

Celebrate Dinovember with dinosaur trivia and crafts! Play solo or as part of a team. Test your knowledge and win bragging rights!

Step into a slippery world where the line between truth and fiction is all in the packaging. It’s 1936, and a pair of passionate filmmakers has landed their next big project: a sweeping Spanish Civil War film with the potential to change American hearts and minds. It just happens to be bankrolled by the KGB. Spain by Jen Silverman is a seductive and tense thriller about the power of art to change the world — for better and for worse.

by Jen Silverman, directed by Josh Hecht

One of the most ambitious productions in recent Profile history, Spain is a grand cross-disciplinary spectacle featuring multiple partnerships with arts organizations throughout Portland, including live opera developed in partnership with Portland Opera, and both recorded and live music performed by musicians with 45th Parallel.

Speed Dating Tonight!
Music & Libretto by Michael Ching
Based on a concept by Dean Anthony

Portland State University’s Opera program kicks off its 50th anniversary season with Michael Ching’s “Speed Dating Tonight!” (2013). Set over the course of a single evening at a local bar, this clever, heartwarming opera follows a revolving cast of singles searching for that elusive spark. There's the dreamer, the hopeless romantic, the bashful, the over-sharer, the chronically distracted, and everyone in between, each getting their moment in the spotlight through music that is equal parts tender, heartbreaking, and hilarious.

Written with duets and ensembles for up to 45 voices, “Speed Dating Tonight!” has a flexible modular structure that can be customized to fit any cast size, voice type, or gender identity. PSU Opera’s version of “Speed Dating Tonight!” features 35 song selections and arrangements specifically chosen to reflect the unique assortment of voices in the 12-member cast.

At its heart, this is a show about the universal human longing to be seen and cherished by another person. Woven through the interactions is another question: can a genuine connection actually happen in five minutes or less? With Michael Ching’s delightful opera, the answer is decidedly yes.

Visit the Speed Dating Tonight! web page to learn more about this production, including additional dates, cast and crew information, photos, and more as we get closer to opening night.

Learn more about the Opera program at Portland State University's School of Music & Theater.

Presenting the sights, sounds and sensations of the season, The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights is the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. The festival features nearly 160 indoor holiday concerts performed by many of the region’s finest school, church and civic choirs. Offering a family-oriented blend of traditional celebration and serene reflection, the festival theme captures the special season of hope that Christmas brings to many thousands of families across the Pacific Northwest.

• Choirs in the Chapel: Enjoy the amazing sounds of local schools, churches and civic groups as they perform inside the Chapel of Mary, with its cathedral-like acoustics.
• Fun for Everyone: Continuous entertainment for all ages is offered in The Grotto’s plaza area, including outdoor caroling, puppet shows, and an assortment of musical guests.
• Puppet Show: At the top of each hour in the plaza tent, enjoy a puppet show.
• Caroling: The Grotto Carolers perform every hour at the bottom of the hour in the plaza tent. Sing along to your favorite Christmas songs.
• Snacks and Drinks: Find snacks and drinks available for purchase inside the Interpretive Center, next to the Chapel.

The Festival of Lights is a walk-through event, and visitors can expect to walk approximately a quarter of a mile. All entertainment areas are either indoors or tented; however, visitors should dress accordingly for the weather. Rubber-soled shoes, warm socks, gloves, and ear coverings are recommended, especially on colder nights. The average festival visit lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. Visitors wishing to hear a specific concert should arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled concert time.

Grimoire Academy will host the Gothic Market from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15 at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield. Inspired by pop culture shows like “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” classic horror films and spooky folklore, this sale showcases artisan goods celebrating Halloween, horror, witches, vampires, monsters, goth couture, the supernatural, strange things and dark fairytales with crystals, plushies, candles, herbs, fragrances and metaphysical products and services. Gothic attire is encouraged. Tickets start at $3 online but increase up to $15 as the date approaches. Buy tickets at events.humanitix.com.

Recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the “Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi”, Winter Wonderland will grab your attention with glimmers and glows around every corner. Since 1993, a journey through Winter Wonderland has become a holiday tradition for many families, friends, and social organizations, celebrating the spirit of the season. Spectators can enjoy the region’s most spectacular drive-through light show, viewing over 250 colorful light set pieces and many fully animated scenes from the comfort of their own vehicle. Studded tires and chains are not allowed at Portland International Raceway.

Bike the Lights is reserved for cyclists. Take a lap or five and see over 250 holiday light displays up close on Sunday, November 29. This event has a dedicated following of bike lovers who attend year after year, decking out their rides in holiday lights and rocking their favorite holiday gear — from Santa suits to reindeer onesies. Bike the Lights is a pedal-power-only event (speed limit is 10mph). E-bikes are allowed as long as they have pedals. Safety gear is highly encouraged for all participants, though kids 16 and under must wear a helmet.

Lights and Leashes, sponsored by Country Financial, is a dog-friendly walking event where anyone can experience the magic of Winter Wonderland at their own pace on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Take a leisurely stroll and see over a million holiday lights up close. Holiday outfits are encouraged for humans and dogs alike. Dogs are not required to attend this crowd-favorite event. Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Strollers are allowed for kiddos, but for safety purposes, no bikes, scooters, skates, or motorized vehicles are allowed at this event. There is also no designated dog potty area, so please pick up after your pups.

Presented by the City of Lake Oswego and Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce!

Celebrate the holiday season at Lake Oswego’s 62nd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Festival! Join family and friends for an evening of festive fun, community traditions, live entertainment, and holiday cheer. Big thanks to our presenting sponsor Visiting Angels.

• Holiday Marketplace featuring local food, artists, makers, and holiday-themed vendors
• Local Winery Row
• Photos with Santa
• Timberview Farm Reindeer
• Write letters to Santa with the Lake Oswego Police Department
• Holiday performances by the Lake Oswego High School and Lakeridge High School Show Choirs
• Festive music from the Millennium Concert Band
• The Millennium Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

Bring the whole family and join us as we celebrate the season and light up Lake Oswego!

For more than 20 years, Portland Opera to Go (nicknamed POGO) has shared opera experiences with communities around the region. The Crown Maker is a world-premiere opera inspired by the life and legacy of Eva Castellanos, a Mexican American healer, artist, educator, and tireless advocate for immigrant rights. Rooted in Oregon history and shaped by the traditions of community storytelling, the work explores how creativity, compassion, and cultural knowledge can transform lives across generations.

Told as a traditional corrido, The Crown Maker blends poetry, history, and music to explore how one woman’s vision empowered generations through art, healing traditions, and fearless community leadership. Through an evocative score and intimate storytelling, The Crown Maker honors Castellanoz’ lifelong dedication to uplifting others through art, healing practices, and grassroots activism. Her work created spaces where identity, heritage, and belonging could thrive, even in the face of social and political barriers. The opera examines the lasting influence of those who build community not through power or prestige, but through care, vision, and persistence.

Created especially for Portland Opera to Go audiences, The Crown Maker blends poetry, history, and music to explore how one woman’s vision empowered generations through art, healing traditions, and fearless community leadership. This production brings a uniquely Oregonian story to life, while speaking to universal themes of resilience, memory, and self-determination. The Crown Maker celebrates the power of cultural inheritance and the people who preserve it, inviting audiences of all ages to reflect on how stories, traditions, and acts of courage continue to shape communities today.

Nov. 14 — Two performances at Walters Cultural Arts Center in Hillsboro at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Dec. 4-5 — Three performances at the World Trade Center Theatre.

Jan. 10 — Watch at the historic Clatskanie Cultural Center at 2 p.m.

Jan. 24 — Join the Happy Valley Library at 2 p.m.

Portland Opera To Go (POGO) proudly presents the latest installment of the Our Oregon series--a collection of original youth operas that examines Oregon history by highlighting the lives of extraordinary Oregonian women through a variety of lenses.

11/7 from 2:30-4pm at Vancouver Community Library

Celebrate Dinovember with dinosaur trivia and crafts! Play solo or as part of a team. Test your knowledge and win bragging rights!

11/14 from 2-4pm at Cascade Park Community Library

Celebrate all things Dino. It will be a rawring good time!

11/21 from 3-4pm at Three Creeks Community Library

Bring the whole family to celebrate Dinovember with dinosaur crafts and activities!

As young musicians passionate about opera and about their hometown, Emily Nelson and Bethany Schweitzer Goshorn thought, "What better place for an Opera on Tap chapter than our fair city known for its beer, wine and cocktail culture?" Thus Opera on Tap PDX was born - one of 16 nationwide chapters of Opera on Tap. Northwest native Sadie Gregg joined the Managing Diva team in 2016, after singing with the Boston chapter.

Why are we so passionate about opera? Opera speaks to the human condition. It expresses human emotion and relationship in a very unique and profound way. The human voice in all its glory has a visceral effect on us. In a culture focused on instant gratification with short attention spans, opera demands your full attention and rewards you with a wild ride on the emotional roller coaster.

Chances are that people who say they don't like opera have never heard it live! Opera on Tap seeks to change this by bringing the genre back to the people in familiar places: community gathering spaces, restaurants, and bars - much how music was historically enjoyed in Germany pubs. We seek to share, educate and bring simply fabulous music to an audience that might not otherwise be able to enjoy the art form. So grab your friends and your favorite pint, and join us for Opera on Tap!

Opera On Tap Nationwide
Opera on Tap (OOT) was born in 2005 at Freddy's Bar and Backroom in Brooklyn and incorporated in 2007 to promote opera as a viable, living, and progressive art form and to support the developing artists who continue to keep the art form alive. What began as a small monthly gathering of ambitious, classically trained singers looking for more performance opportunities has grown into a producing organization that has gained a loyal audience base and national recognition as an innovative force on the classical music scene. Through its Chapter program, which now has sixteen vibrant national chapters, OOT has created a large network of performers, creators, and supporters.

Speed Dating Tonight!
Music & Libretto by Michael Ching
Based on a concept by Dean Anthony

Portland State University’s Opera program kicks off its 50th anniversary season with Michael Ching’s “Speed Dating Tonight!” (2013). Set over the course of a single evening at a local bar, this clever, heartwarming opera follows a revolving cast of singles searching for that elusive spark. There's the dreamer, the hopeless romantic, the bashful, the over-sharer, the chronically distracted, and everyone in between, each getting their moment in the spotlight through music that is equal parts tender, heartbreaking, and hilarious.

Written with duets and ensembles for up to 45 voices, “Speed Dating Tonight!” has a flexible modular structure that can be customized to fit any cast size, voice type, or gender identity. PSU Opera’s version of “Speed Dating Tonight!” features 35 song selections and arrangements specifically chosen to reflect the unique assortment of voices in the 12-member cast.

At its heart, this is a show about the universal human longing to be seen and cherished by another person. Woven through the interactions is another question: can a genuine connection actually happen in five minutes or less? With Michael Ching’s delightful opera, the answer is decidedly yes.

Visit the Speed Dating Tonight! web page to learn more about this production, including additional dates, cast and crew information, photos, and more as we get closer to opening night.

Learn more about the Opera program at Portland State University's School of Music & Theater.

Every year, ZooLights dazzles visitors of all ages with wildlife-inspired light displays and a whole lot of seasonal fun. It’s the ideal place to gather friends and family, snap photos and make lasting memories. Looking for the perfect holiday date night? Bring that special person in your life to ZooLights.

See the zoo in a whole new light! Hop on the zoo train and see dozens of life-size animal lanterns along the route. Walk through vibrant tunnels of glittering lights and take in the glowing festive atmosphere.

Enjoy delicious treats like Elephant ears, hot chocolate, popcorn and s'mores. Or raise a toast with beer, wine and a range of non-alcoholic options. It’s all available at ZooLights.

Last Thursday on Alberta Street in Portland, Oregon happens 12 months a year every last Thursday of the month indoors with art gallery opening parties, live music, DJs and other indoor performances at venues, bars and event spaces.

Last Thursday is a community-grown event, free for all artists and art vendors, musicians, performers and visitors.

On Last Thursday, galleries hold opening parties, and performance venues and bars often host live music and performances. If the weather is nice enough, then vendors take to the street.

June, July and August Last Thursday 6-9 p.m. is outdoors and indoors with 15 blocks closed to traffic, hundreds of diverse arts and crafts vendors, art gallery opening parties, street performers and musicians, and other outside events.

Bring the whole family to celebrate Dinovember with dinosaur crafts and activities!

One of the most beloved operas ever composed, La Traviata combines sweeping emotion with some of the most recognizable music in the operatic repertoire. Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece tells the story of Violetta Valéry, a woman determined to live freely and authentically despite the rigid social expectations that surround her. When she falls deeply in love, she is forced to confront the painful realities of class, reputation, sacrifice, and the cost of pursuing happiness on her own terms.

Adapted from Alexandre Dumas fils’ La Dame aux camélias, the opera broke new ground in its portrayal of a contemporary woman whose emotional life is treated with dignity, complexity, and compassion. Verdi’s luminous score captures both the exhilaration of love and the devastating consequences of societal judgment, moving seamlessly from moments of intimacy and joy to heartbreaking tragedy.

More than a romantic drama, La Traviata remains a powerful reflection on personal freedom, vulnerability, and the tension between public expectation and private truth. Its enduring resonance lies in its humanity: the opera asks what it means to truly live according to one’s own values in a world eager to define worth through convention, status, and appearance.