Performing Arts❯Variety

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!

4:30 – 6 p.m. — Free, pre-show, pop-up performances will take place throughout the Museum’s galleries. Performers are poet and rapper Dessa, bestselling children’s author Mac Barnett, Pulitzer Prize Finalist Ed Park, and Portland comedian Mx. Dahlia Belle.

Free First Thursday tickets can be reserved online one week in advance and are also available at the door.

7 p.m. — Enjoy a fully seated, ticketed Live Wire taping hosted by Luke Burbank with announcer Elena Passarello, featuring a blend of interviews, comedy, and music performed live for the audience, then edited into an episode for broadcast to over 200 public radio stations nationwide. Performers are poet and rapper Dessa, bestselling children’s author Mac Barnett, Pulitzer Prize Finalist Ed Park, and Portland comedian Mx. Dahlia Belle. Doors will open at 6:30pm.

GA Tickets are $15. Preferred Seating is $40. Discounts available to Portland Book Festival passholders.

Dessa is a singer, rapper, and writer who fell in love with language as a toddler—and just never got over it. Now, she works in fields that traffic in words: she’s recorded rap bangers as part of the fiercely independent Doomtree collective, released a live album with the Grammy-winning Minnesota Orchestra; contributed to The New York Times and National Geographic Traveler; delivered a TED Talk on the intersection of romance and neuroscience that’s notched more than 4 million views; hosted 2 seasons of behavioral science podcast Deeply Human (BBC/American Public Media); and published a memoir recounting most of the above called My Own Devices (Penguin Random House).

Mac Barnett, the 2025–2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, is a New York Times bestselling author of stories for children. Mac’s books have won many prizes, including two Caldecott Honors, three New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book Awards, three E. B. White Read Aloud Awards and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, as well as several international prizes. He lives in Oakland, California. His latest book, illustrated by X. Fang, is Tom Nancy: The Sheep Who Swapped Brains with a Boy. From two of the most exciting picture book makers today comes a hilarious trickster tale and Freaky Friday switcheroo story: a sneaky, cheeky sheep named Tom Nancy has a brain swap proposal for an innocent farm boy named Felix that will change both of their lives forever. Laugh-out-loud, subversive, and totally unexpected.

Ed Park is the author of the novels Personal Days and Same Bed Different Dreams. He is a founding editor of The Believer, and has worked in newspapers, book publishing, and academia. His writing appears in The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, Harper’s Magazine, The Atlantic, and elsewhere. Profound, wily, and beautifully wrought, his new book Three Tenses: A Transmission from the Nineties is a meeting of memory and myth, confession and obfuscation, coalescing to offer a singular picture of creativity in action.

The princess of Portland comedy, best known for her breakout performance on the popular Netflix special Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda, Mx. Dahlia Belle has been compared to a Swiss Army knife—different tools to extract sharpness, softness, vulnerability, hope, and wicked wit. She’s been declared one of “11 Trans Comedians… Funnier Than Dave Chappelle” by Out Magazine, repeatedly featured on NPR, and has written for Cosmopolitan Magazine, The Guardian, The Stranger, and Portland Mercury. Her live performances have included NW Black Comedy Festival, Upper Left Comedy Festival, SF Sketchfest, and an awkward conversation with John Waters and Piers Morgan. In the upcoming live taping of her comedy special Affirmed at Polaris Hall on November 22nd, Mx. Dahlia Belle delivers 60 new minutes of stand-up to celebrate and affirm being human in the modern world through a combination of the wholesome and mundane, anecdotes about house cats, liscivious foibles of the LGBT community, and an unapologetic account of her personal journey with gender-affirming care, all delivered with her trademark free form wit.

Free First Thursdays at the Museum and PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater aligns with the revitalization of the long-standing Portland art galleries’ tradition of opening their doors for openings, receptions, and events on the first Thursday of each month. In recent months art and culture organizations have joined to bring back this popular activity, including the Pacific Northwest College of Art and the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education in the North Park Blocks.

Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

From humble beginnings 50 years ago busking on the streets of Philadelphia, to acclaimed sold–out runs on Broadway and renown as the longest-running and one of the most-beloved resident headline acts in Las Vegas history, magic’s legendary duo — Penn Jillette and Teller — continue to defy labels (and at times physics and good taste), by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy.

Their Off-Broadway debut in 1985 electrified New York with a stage show the likes of which had never been seen. Combining magic, comedy, and social commentary in a theatrical event the New York Times said was a “A witheringly funny…Brazen assault on the temple of magic,” the show moved to Broadway in 1987, the first of three eponymously titled Broadway runs. Their efforts in New York have been awarded an Obie and a Lucille Lortel Award. Their most recent return to Broadway, hailed as “Deliciously Demented” by USA Today, was the highest-grossing non-musical for the entirety of its run, even out-grossing Hamilton for one week.

Performing nearly 300 live shows every year from the stages of America’s greatest performing arts venues as well as the Sydney Opera House and London’s Apollo Theatre, their record-breaking Las Vegas show at The Rio Hotel & Casino has an amazing 10 wins, including 2025, as “Las Vegas Magicians of the Year” and was called “The single best show in Vegas,” by the Los Angeles Times.

The current hit series Penn & Teller: Fool Us! for The CW Network, on which up-and-comers and magic veterans try to fool Penn & Teller for a chance to star in the pair’s hit Las Vegas stage show, was nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award and has been renewed for an unprecedented 12th season. The show is the longest continual American magic television series in history, introducing the art to new fans and cultivating new generations of innovators within the craft.

Hundreds of outrageous appearances on everything from Fallon to Friends, The Simpsons to Colbert, Modern Family to Big Bang Theory, Dancing With The Stars to The Masked Singer, plus their own specials for NBC, ABC, PBS and Comedy Central have garnered them an Emmy, a Writers Guild Award, and their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The controversial Showtime series, Penn & Teller: BS! was nominated for 13 Emmys and was the longest-running series in the history of the network. The show highlighted the pair’s ardent skepticism by tackling the fakes and frauds behind such topics as alien abduction, psychics, and bottled water.

In recent years they have become acclaimed documentarians with the BAFTA-nominated Sony Pictures Classic release, Tim’s Vermeer, which follows Texas-based inventor Tim Jenison on his quest to discover the methods used by Dutch Master painter Johannes Vermeer. Their other films, the critically-lauded feature The Aristocrats and the Showtime short The Gambler’s Ballad, were met with wide praise.

The Olivier-nominated Magic Goes Wrong, written and created in collaboration with Mischief Theatre (creators of the Tony-nominated The Play That Goes Wrong), played at London’s West End Vaudeville Theatre, setting a box office pre-sale record. The Daily Mail hailed it as a “Spellbinding romp,” while The Sun theater critic raved, “I’ll be laughing into next week.” In 2024, they had two shows running Off-Broadway as creators and producers: the Magic Goes Wrong spin-off The Mind Mangler, which returned to London’s West End in
March, and the technology/magic/thriller Stalker.

As individuals, they are just as prolific. Teller directed versions of Macbeth and The Tempest which toured to raves from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, co-wrote and directed the Off-Broadway thriller Play Dead and has written two books. Penn has written five books, including the New York Times Best Sellers “God No!” and “Presto”. For his role in this year’s critically acclaimed Oscar-nominated film, Marty Supreme, he was nominated for an Actor Award (formerly the SAG Awards), alongside co-stars Timothee Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Twice named “Magicians of the Year” by the Academy of Magical Arts, the equivalent of the Oscars in magic, they were named the 2024 Masters Fellowship recipients, the highest honor the Academy bestows. The pair live in Las Vegas where they are engaged in their community, acting as honorary chairmen for AFAN (Aid for AIDS Nevada), raising and donating nearly $2 million and serving as grand marshals for AFAN’s annual Las Vegas AIDS Walk for the past 23 years. Through their involvement with Opportunity Village, which assists in employment placement and lifestyle betterment for those living with intellectual disabilities, they have raised over $1 million. The annual blood drive, Penn & Teller’s 13 Bloody Days of Christmas, has resulted in over 85,000 donors since its inception. In 2023, they took part in the USO’s annual Christmas tour, entertaining thousands of servicemen and servicewomen in bases across Europe.

In 2025, the pair celebrated 50 years as innovators in combining smart, edgy comedy with their unique magical style.

The Fates are spinning… do you dare give in to temptation?

After a deep slumber, EX-SPELLED! A Cabaret Tribute to the Occult finally returns to the Jack London Revue this November. Hosted by the Mad Marquis, this wicked night of magic, mystery, and mayhem summons a spellbinding collection of performers to astonish you in ways that would make even the Devil himself shiver with antici……

Step beyond the veil and surrender yourself to the forbidden, where good old debauchery mingles with the come-hither peculiarities of your wildest dreams. Prepare to explore the limits of your imagination, indulge your darker curiosities, and discover what exactly lies just beyond the bounds of everything you know.

JLR Seating Map Notes: For this show, you may reserve individual tables on the map pictured. Note that some tables have limited sightlines as noted. General Admission ticket holders note that seating and sightlines are limted and may be standing room only. All table reservations include admission.

1. For Table Reservations: Note the relative location of the stage and bar on the map. Then click a table number to see prices, or click "Show All Tickets". Click the + button to add a specific table to your cart.
2. For General Admission tickets: click the "GA Standing" area. Click the + button to add additional tickets.
3. Click "Agree & Checkout"

From humble beginnings 50 years ago busking on the streets of Philadelphia, to acclaimed sold–out runs on Broadway and renown as the longest-running and one of the most-beloved resident headline acts in Las Vegas history, magic’s legendary duo — Penn Jillette and Teller — continue to defy labels (and at times physics and good taste), by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy.

The current hit series Penn & Teller: Fool Us! for The CW Network, on which up-and-comers and magic veterans try to fool Penn & Teller for a chance to star in the pair’s hit Las Vegas stage show, was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award and has been renewed for an unprecedented 12th season. The show is the longest continual American magic television series in history, introducing the art to new fans and cultivating new generations of innovators within the craft.

Twice named “Magicians of the Year” by the Academy of Magical Arts, the equivalent of the Oscars in magic, they were named the 2024 Masters Fellowship recipients, the highest honor the Academy bestows. The pair live in Las Vegas, where they are engaged in their community, acting as honorary chairmen for AFAN (Aid for AIDS Nevada), raising and donating nearly $2 million and serving as grand marshals for AFAN’s annual Las Vegas AIDS Walk for the past 23 years. Through their involvement with Opportunity Village, which assists in employment placement and lifestyle betterment for those living with intellectual disabilities, they have raised over $1 million. The annual blood drive, Penn & Teller’s 13 Bloody Days of Christmas, has resulted in over 85,000 donors since its inception. In 2023, they took part in the USO’s annual Christmas tour, entertaining thousands of servicemen and servicewomen in bases across Europe.

In 2025, the pair celebrated 50 years as innovators in combining smart, edgy comedy with their unique magical style.

Leapin’ Louie: The Upside Down Ocean. Leapin’ Louie’s new show: An ocean animal circus spectacular. It’s science, but you laugh so hard. Gastropod Cousteau (aka Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein ) is a nudibranch detective trying to figure out what happened to the missing kelp forests. Whales, sea otters, decorator crabs, giant squid and a peacock mantis shrimp help Gastro solve the mystery. And the story is told with circus and comedy. Featuring giant lasso, glow juggling, a 6 foot unicycle, enormous puppets and a slide-show of amazing ocean animals. You know him from White Album Xmas or the Rose Festival. Leapin’ Louie has performed his solo shows in 35 nations around the world, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brazil, the UK and a few dozen European tours. He has toured opening for country stars Brooks and Dunn and the rock legend Primus. He makes adults laugh with family-friendly material, and he gets audiences very excited.

The 4th Annual MOST Pageant

Saturday, November 7th

Doors 6pm, Show 7pm

Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door

The MOST Pageant returns in thanks to our sponsors The Property Weirdos, Outrage Onstage, Demand Drag, Greg Lemix, and more!

9 extraordinary drag and burlesque entertainers will push their artistry to the limits, as they compete for fame and fortune ($500 and bookings and 2 drink tickets!) The contestant who brings the most extreme, bold, extravagant, avant-garde, out of this world, over the top, never before seen, mind blowing package will win the title of The MOST! This year’s contestants were chosen for their exemplification and commitment to mostness in their approaches to fashion, performance and living art. An esteemed panel of judges will be evaluating each contestant on their creativity and presentation to determine who will take the crown. Come ready to cheer and tip your favorite performers!

Who will be The MOST?

Anna Karenema

Baby LeStrange

Boujee Cherry

Harlow Quinzel

HOTTBOXX9000

Max Little

Seven

The Artist Formerly Known As Given

Tomboy

Minors ok when accompanied by a parent or guardian

ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PLEASE, DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PURCHASING. NO REFUNDS.

2026 Cinnamon Bear Cruise Dates:
Saturday, 11/28
Sunday, 11/29
Saturday, 12/5
Sunday, 12/6
Saturday, 12/12
Sunday, 12/13
Saturday, 12/19
Sunday, 12/20
Monday, 12/21
Tuesday, 12/22
Wednesday, 12/23
Thursday, 12/24
Saturday, 12/26
Sunday, 12/27

Boarding: 9:00 am
Cruising: 9:30 am – 11:30 am

• 2-hour cruise on the Willamette River
• Plated hot breakfast (eggs, potatoes, bacon, fruit and pastries) for adults & youth, excludes infants
• Hot cocoa, orange juice, coffee and hot tea
• Souvenir photo with Cinnamon Bear for every child 12 and younger
• Signature Cinnamon Bear treat for youth
• Character storytelling, autograph sessions and magic show
• Reserved table
• Service gratuity

Boarding Location:
Salmon Springs Dock
1010 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204

Return Details: Returns to original departure point.

Tickets start at $72 for adults or $52 for children 12 and younger. Cinnamon Bear has been a holiday tradition for generations and you’re invited to make this season one your child will remember forever.

Reservations available at portlandspirit.com/cinnamonbear or by calling 503-224-3900.

Grab your gear and strap on your tunic, because The Hyrule Ball is here. A niche, nerdy, nightlife celebration of everyone's favorite action-adventure franchise, just in time for the latest release. Featuring Zelda-inspired DJ sets and drag performances, specialty cocktails, local vendors, and consoles and cabinets for playing games with friends.

Come dressed in your cosplay best, grab your wallet of rupees, and get ready to dance until the Sun Song plays.

Live Wire joins forces with the Portland Art Museum for an afternoon of roving performances ahead of an evening recording of the program. The event coincides with PAM's monthly Free First Thursday and the Portland Book Festival's expanded programming. Performers will include poet and rapper Dessa, bestselling children’s author Mac Barnett, Pulitzer Prize Finalist Ed Park, and Portland comedian Mx. Dahlia Belle.

Free pop-up performances will take place throughout the Museum’s galleries, giving visitors a chance to catch live performances and storytelling while moving through the PAM spaces. Completely free through PAM’s Free First Thursday general admission. Also, enjoy a fully seated, ticketed Live Wire taping hosted by Luke Burbank with announcer Elena Passarello, featuring a blend of interviews, comedy, and music performed live for the audience, then edited into an episode for broadcast to over 200 public radio stations nationwide.

Visitors can take in the afternoon gallery pop-ups, the evening show, or both.

The one-man band without a plan, Mattress started in 2006. To quote a sassy pal (with initials IB): “You are wildly unpopular for that amount of time.” Amen. Who cares? Art for art’s sake. For the first time ever–Mattress is putting together a full band for this show. 5 guitars? 8 keyboards? 12 drummers? Yodelers and a glass harmonica? Probably.

Mattress has made some friends over 20 years and put together this stellar bill (more of a mini-fest), bringing together acts he met 20 years ago and 2 years ago. Check this out:

Black Shelton (solo), a one-man band powerhouse of wit, sleaze and electro boogie. Songs "I'm Back in the Doghouse Again" and “White Lover” will warp your mind.

Dragging an Ox Thru Water fingerpicking melody noise glitch heart string puller.

THRONES Joe Preston is coming out of semi-retirement to do this show. Hopefully this will get some elder goths and heshers out of their LazyBoys and into the show.

Joe Von Appen, the monologue performance semi-comedy satirist who has toured with Mattress for close to 10,000 miles. He will host the show; his dry wit will confuse and entertain most in attendance.

Special guest TBA, probably famous, very name-droppable.

Who is in the Mattress band? Members of Modest Mouse, The Fur Coats, Dommengang, Room, WIBG, Black Shelton and others.

Live Wire teams up with the Portland Art Museum during First Thursday and the Portland Book Festival. From 4:30 to 6 p.m., complimentary pop-up performances roam the museum galleries, no ticket needed. At 7 p.m., host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello lead a seated, ticketed taping with poet and rapper Dessa, children’s author Mac Barnett, Pulitzer Prize finalist Ed Park, and Portland comedian Mx. Dahlia Belle. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.. Portland Book Festival passholders get 10% off.

We’re celebrating two fabulous birthdays of Darcelle XV and Brandi Mae! Join us for an evening of love, laughter, and birthday magic, all while giving back to our community.

🎁 Bring an unwrapped toy or donate $10 to join the festivities and help spread a little extra joy! All donations will benefit Camp KC.

📅 November 8
🚪 Doors open at 5 PM | Show starts at 6 PM
🎟️ No reservations required | 21+ event

Come celebrate, give a little, and make someone’s holiday brighter! See you at the door!

Pass the gravy and bring on the glamour. Serving up a fabulous helping of bingo, laughs, and Thanksgiving fun at the Hi-Lo Hotel. Join the one and only Poison Waters as your host, with two fabulous queens performing and plenty of sparkle to kick off your holiday season. Gather your friends, bring your chosen family, and get ready to gobble up a good time.

Share the love: Please bring a canned or shelf-stable food item to donate to Esther’s Pantry. A little generosity can make a big difference, and we’ve got plenty to be thankful for.

Come hungry for fun and ready to give back. These queens are serving more than turkey.

Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences around the world for over 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. He is a favorite at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he has enjoyed 14 years of sell-out success.

Louis explores the breath-taking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerized. From square bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, fog-filled bubbles, giant bubbles, bubble volcanoes, tornados and trampolines to people inside bubbles, the Amazing Bubble Man conjures shrieks of laughter and gasps of amazement from all ages.

Most shows will also feature multi-instrumentalist Jet Black Pearl accompanying Louis with bubbly music to double your pleasure.

https://amazingbubbleman.com/

“Greatest Bubble Show on Earth.” – San Francisco Chronicle

“It’s a fantastic show. Louis Pearl playfully forms bubbles beyond imagination and engages the audience with his easygoing nonverbal slapstick.”

“Louis Pearl – aka The Amazing Bubble Man – truly deserves his title. Most of the show is accompanied by gasps and awes…and that’s just the adults. Kids can be heard giggling with excitement.”

“This show captivated its young audience, and the adults loved it as well. Highly recommended.” –British Theater Guide.

“The show is one giant, joyous caper” —The Wee Review

“Better Than Cirque du Soleil” – Corbin Doughy, 11 audience member. The eight-year-old seated beside this reviewer summed it up neatly during the show, proclaiming after one nifty maneuver, ‘he sure is the amazing bubble man.’

Darcelle XV and Company have been entertaining audiences from all walks of life for over 50 years with Las Vegas-style cabaret revues featuring glitz, glamour, and comedy.

TGIF! What a week, huh? Wrap up your week in a fun way and join this fabulous night of glittery entertainment.

Join us for an unforgettable evening November 14, 5:30 pm, Ironlight Event Center
525 3rd St, Lake Oswego, OR 97034. The night will be filled with incredible performances, dinner, and a live auction to benefit our Rising Star and education programs.

CLICK HERE for event info!

CLICK HERE for tickets

CLICK HERE to buy raffle tickets to win $2,000

CLICK HERE to donate an item

Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring live performances, dinner, a spirited auction, and the popular Santa’s Bag of Cash raffle. Our guest emcee will be Steve Dunn, retired KATU news anchor. Bid on exclusive vacations, wine getaways, and unique experiences—all while raising funds for Lakewood Theatre’s Rising Star and education programs. It’s a night to celebrate with friends, support the arts, and even cross a few names off your holiday shopping list. Don’t miss this festive fundraiser that makes a real impact for education and the arts in our community.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LAKEWOOD’S GALA EVENT!
Lakewood in City Lights Gala, NOV 14, 2026

We would love your volunteer support for Lakewood Center for the Arts fundraising Gala. Lakewood in City Lights will be held at Ironlight, 525 3rd Street, Lake Oswego.

Dress code is black pants or skirt, white shirt. Please CLICK HERE to sign up for available slots. THANK YOU!!!

The night will be filled with incredible performances, dinner, a live auction, the Santa’s Bag of Cash raffle and of course fundraising for our Rising Star and education programs. It’s your chance to be the winning bidder for a fun vacation or wine getaway! This event is a great opportunity to have fun with friends and support education and the arts. Plus, it’s the perfect way to complete your holiday shopping and support Lakewood!

CLICK HERE for event info!

CLICK HERE for tickets

CLICK HERE to buy raffle tickets to win $2,000

CLICK HERE to donate an item

Get ready to set sail with Portland’s own Haus of DeVille for a night of Diabolical Drag and Buccaneer Burlesque. Presenting “DeVilles of the Caribbean” At Portland’s own Peacock PDX.

Nautical-themed performances by
Valerie DeVille
Anna Nymph
Theoddra B. MonStar
Xo Skeleton
Prince Peanut Butter
and Princess Jelly!

Featuring Acts inspired by The Goonies, Cutthroat Island, One Piece, Disneyland’s own Pirates of the Caribbean ride and much, much more. Perhaps even a mermaid or two. So stow your weapons and bring your treasure chests for the performers to pillage your tips. Follow the treasure map to the QR code and claim your tickets for $13. Otherwise, it be $15 at the door on the night of the show, mateys. Join the crew, or walk the plank.

21+

PAM gallery pop-ups: 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Doors for Live Wire seated show: 6:30 p.m.
Live Show: 7:00 p.m.

Live Wire Radio, the Portland-based public radio variety show, joins forces with the Portland Art Museum for an afternoon of roving performances ahead of an evening recording of the program. The event coincides with PAM’s monthly Free First Thursday and the Portland Book Festival’s expanded programming.

In the afternoon, free pop-up performances will take place throughout the Museum’s galleries giving visitors a chance to catch short live performances and storytelling while moving through the PAM spaces. Performers will include genre-blending rapper and writer Dessa, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and children’s author Mac Barnett, National Book Award Finalist Ed Park, and Portland comedian Mx. Dahlia Belle among others.

The evening will feature a fully seated, ticketed Live Wire taping hosted by Luke Burbank with announcer Elena Passarello, featuring a blend of interviews, comedy, and music performed live for the audience, then edited into an episode for broadcast to over 200 public radio stations nationwide.

Visitors can take in the afternoon gallery pop-ups, the evening show, or both!

Note: Admission is free to the afternoon gallery pop-ups as part of general admission on Free First Thursday at Portland Art Museum. Tickets available on the museum website.

Ticket Prices:
$40 Preferred Seats
$36 Bookfest Pass Holder Discount – Preferred Seats (10% off)
$15 General Admission Seats
$13.50 Bookfest Pass Holder Discount – General Admission (10% off)

Chai and Roses is going Disco for this edition. From Bollywood to the Classics and everything in between. Feeling free on the dance floor is where we want you to be. Dress up or come as you are. See you on the liberation dance floor.

Doors and DJs at 7 p.m. Drag and performances at 9 p.m., Dancing til 11 p.m.Honoring the QTBIPOC folks who came before — radical ancestors who fought to be seen, heard and free to love. Honor the rich diversity of people within the QTBIPOC community. QTBIPOC folks of all backgrounds and identities, as well as allies, are invited. Come together and contribute to a fun and respectful party. Any form of prejudice or discrimination, such as biphobia, fatphobia, or transphobia, will not be tolerated.

DJs:

• Anjali
• b.d.s.m.

Drag Artists and Performers

• Anna Karenema
• Chiffon Chérie
• D-Day
• Hibiscus Lust
• Willy Wankme

Pop Ups

• ChaiWallahPdx
• Flowers for Palestine
• Jungle Candy Henna

Pop Ups

• ChaiWallahPdx
• Jungle Candy Henna

Co-hosted with Pdx Queer Lotus

5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Grounds close at 10 p.m.)

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 our 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.

• Hot Chocolate
• Donuts
• Bottled Water
• Assorted bagged salty snacks

A Few Details

The Festival of Lights is a walk-through event and visitors can expect to walk approximately one-quarter mile.

All entertainment areas are either indoors or tented, but visitors should dress for the weather. Rubber-soled shoes, warm socks, gloves, and ear coverings are recommended, especially on colder nights.

Average festival visitation times are between 60 and 90 minutes. Visitors wishing to hear a specific concert should arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes in advance of the scheduled concert time.

Accessibility

The Festival pathways and grounds are all paved, however there is some slope in a few places. Wheelchairs are available to borrow in The Grotto Gift Shop on a first come-first served basis. There are ADA parking spots in the main parking lot, but on a busy night, they can fill up. Guests are welcome to pull up at the entrance to unload their passengers before finding a spot to park. Please contact [email protected] for additional questions or assistance.

Online Ticket Pricing

General (12+): $17.95

Youth (3-11): $8.95

Ages 2 and under are free.

At The Gate Pricing (No cash)

General (12+): $19.95

Youth (3-11): $9.95

Ages 2 and under are free

Value Nights Online Pricing

(Value nights are Monday, Nov. 30 – Thursday, Dec. 3 and Monday, Dec. 7 – Thursday, Dec. 10.)

General (12+): $15.95

Youth (3-11): $6.95

Ages 2 and under are free.

Value Nights at the Gate (No cash)

General (12+): $17.95

Youth (3-11): $7.95

Ages 2 and under are free.

Ding ding ding… your room is waiting at the infamous Hitchcock Hotel. Although decades have passed since the Hitchcock family entertained royalty and influential politicians, the hotel's dubious operations continue. The hotel's supernatural allure inhabits its guests (and staff) in this dilapidated relic of the past. The Hitchcocks' latest hire is no exception. The graveyard "maitre d," quickly realizes that there has been a misunderstanding in the hiring process and that he's been mistakenly hired for the precarious “night shift” position, one unfit for pedigree. He is about to experience nothing short of a fortuitous paranormal entanglement unlike any other. An evening featuring death-defying dance, sultry songs, shimmying show girls and hauntingly beautiful new music, you’re sure to delight in this decadence of the damned.

Get ready for a side-splitting showcase of magical mayhem that’s perfect for kids and kids-at-heart! Watch in awe as objects disappear, reappear, and sometimes even do the cha-cha-cha! Stefano promises a laugh-a-minute extravaganza that’ll leave your cheeks sore from smiling.

Bring your little ones, bring your grandparents, and bring that neighbor who insists on being the life of the party – this is an event for everyone! It’s not just a magic show; it’s a whimsical journey into a world where the impossible becomes possible, and laughter is the ultimate potion.
First Sundays November through March.

All ages. Doors at 130pm. $8 (or $25 per family at the door)

Get ready to laugh, get ready to learn, get ready to make some new nerdy friends.

Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in 100+ cities across the globe during which folks give 20-minute fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines – while the audience drinks along!

There are often bands, trivia, speed-friending, and other shenanigans as well.

Imagine learning about math feuds, the emu war of Australia, the genealogy of Godzilla, or zombie insects, while having a few drinks.

Can Can’s first show in its restored Old Town home is a haunted-hotel cabaret. The Hitchcock Hotel once hosted royalty and politicians, and its dubious operations and supernatural pull still linger. Its newest hire, a graveyard-shift maître d’, learns he’s been mistakenly put on the perilous night shift, and a paranormal entanglement follows. Expect dance, burlesque, sultry songs, and an original score over three acts, with craft cocktails and bites served during the show. Evening performances are 21+ with valid ID.

21+ · <p><strong><em>UMBRAE NOCTIS​ 2026 - WEEKEND PASS</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>onsale Sept 1- Sept 30</em></strong></p><p><em>single day passes will be available Oct 2</em></p><p></p><p><strong><em>FRIDAY NIGHT HEADLINER:</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>*MOSCATO SKY</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>FRIDAY NIGHT FEATURE:</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>*ASTERIA ATOMBOMB</em></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><em>SATURDAY NIGHT HEADLINER:</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>*THROB ZOMBIE</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>SATURDAY NIGHT FEATURE:</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>*HALO AS HELL</em></strong></p><p><br>We will gather in the glorious confines of The Coffin Crypt to witness a spectacular showcase of resplendently decadent performance art by creatures from all walks of life.</p><p>You will find gloriously ghoulish drag and burlesque performances that will transfix your senses all weekend, all set to the feelings and sounds of darkwave, post-punk, goth, deathrock and punk. Artists from all walks of life and from all parts of the world will gather to share their beauty with you with performances that will leave you breathless.</p><p></p><p>- Friday and Saturday, November 13 & 14 at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://thecoffinclubpdx.com/"><u>The Coffin</u></a> (421 SE Grand Ave) - performances from 8pm-11pm each night (doors at 7), with after party and dancing til 2 AM.<strong><em>​</em></strong></p><p></p><p>- Sunday, November 15 we will hold a Dark Market at THE COFFIN<strong><em>​</em></strong></p><p></p><p>- Saturday & Sunday you will have the opportunity to take <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.umbraenoctisfestival.com/workshops"><u>workshops </u></a>with our special guests, including our headliner Throb Zombie!</p>

An uplifting evening designed for women brings together humor, teaching, personal stories, and live music at Warren Community Fellowship. Three featured guests share the stage: author and speaker Barb Roose, comedian Michelle Miller, and singer and worship leader Mia Koehne. Arrive early for a brief 15 minute panel with the speakers. Ticket options include General Admission for $30 and VIP Reserved for $40, with VIP seating and a snack bag. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more by calling 480-812-1100. Prices increase at the door. Tickets are nonrefundable, and transfers can be arranged by contacting the office at 480-812-1100.

Monday Mic Night is an open mic event. Bring whatever you’d like to share—music, poetry, a soliloquy, a painting, even a magic trick. All ages and talent levels are welcome. Non-performing audience members are welcome too.

This event is free, all ages, and open to the public.

Date: Monday, November 9
Time: 7-9pm (Signups start at 6:30pm)
Location: Sherwood Center for the Arts, Maera Boughey Theatre
22689 SW Pine Street, Sherwood OR 97140

More information at our website: Monday Mic Night | Sherwood Center for the Arts

At the Oregon Convention Center, fans of the strange, the unusual, and the bizarre can explore a curated market of vendors, artists, dealers, and small businesses devoted to oddities. Expect taxidermy, preserved specimens, original art, horror and Halloween-inspired creations, antiques, handmade curiosities, vintage medical oddities, eerie apparel, distinctive jewelry, skulls and bones, funeral-related collectibles, and more. All merchandise is legal to own and responsibly sourced. Beyond the marketplace, the event features sideshow performances on stage and offers the chance to learn the craft of taxidermy with classes held during the expo. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and children 12 and under are admitted free without a ticket. Presented with a DIY approach and a focus on oddities vendors and dark artists, the expo aims to provide a welcoming space to discover new creators and connect with a community of like-minded people.

Knowing that there is beauty to be found in the shadows of the night, Natasha Riot, the producer of the monthly show Burlynomicon, called the coven together to create a weekend-long festival to celebrate all things dark and decadent and on the fringes...and thus the Umbrae Noctis Festival was born.

Now in its 3rd year, you will find gloriously ghoulish drag and burlesque performances that will transfix your senses all weekend, all set to the feelings and sounds of darkwave, post-punk, goth, deathrock and punk. Artists from all walks of life and from all parts of the world will gather to share their beauty with you, including 2026 Saturday night headliner Throb Zombie with performances that will leave you breathless.

Please see the website for each night's cast.

Live Wire Radio is an independently produced radio show that artfully blends unpredictable conversation, live music, and original comedy featuring all types of cultural talent and creative minds, from emerging artists to established acts. Join host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello for a live recording of this popular radio show, heard nationwide by thousands of listeners every weekend.

Please see the website for guest information and locations.

Music, comedy, performance, solo, groups, etc. Sound system available

Portland's Wildest Storytelling Experience Returns!

Take a break and treat yourself after a long Turkey Day and join us for Portland's wildest and most interactive comedy and storytelling entertainment event: the annual Best Of Pants On Fire! Party at the historic White Eagle Hotel & Saloon.

Each Pants On Fire! show features eight of the Northwest's premier storytellers, comedians, artists, writers, celebrities & musicians telling some of the most outrageous, hard-to-believe, 100% true stories you've ever heard - except that one of our storytellers will be lying to your face, telling a complete whopper that never happened. Our annual Best Of show, always held over Thanksgiving weekend, brings back our best performers of the past year, as voted on by our fans.

And as always, if you can guess which of our storytellers is the liar, you could win an overnight stay at the Edgefield Winery on us. Or you can try to win the Bag O' Somewhat Valuable Prizes with our Two Truths & A Lie Audience Cage Match!

Pants On Fire: Family/Friendly is an all-ages show, featuring eight of the most amazing, hard-to-believe s stories you'll ever hear - one of them, of course, being entirely made up. Please note that although the show is all-ages, some stories will likely be more PG-13 than G. (Our later show, Pants On Fire: Filthy/Freakyat 9:00pm, will be 21-and-over only, and will feature eight incredibly sinful, decidedly not-safe-for-work stories; you can get tickets to that show at the White Eagle or 7 Deadly Sins website. )

Featuring new (mostly) true stories from thenovelist and voice of OPB Jason Sauls; comedian and CHURCH: Wrath producer Star Dell'Era, Moth Radio Hour alumni and ROUGH DRAFT host Kahlie Towle; legendary storyteller and host of It's Not Me, It's You Alina Aliyar, voice actor, producer for The Portland Moth and Iron Man Dave Williams; schoolteacher and 7DS: MainStage and Saturnalia alum Pat McCreery; writer, activist, and U of O professor Alison Gash; private detective and creator of ROAR: Fierce Female Storytelling Erika Worth; and more!

This show sells out every year, so get your tix now and come out for a wild night of funniest, craziest, most unbelievable stories you'll ever hear on stage - most of which will actually be true.

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Over the past decade, 7 Deadly Sins has built a reputation as one of the most innovative live storytelling collectives in the country. Each of our shows blend comedy, tragedy, inspiration, and redemption into riveting stories from real people that remind us all what it means to be human. Our regular shows include the interactive comedy shows 7DS: Pants On Fire!,The Absolute Worst Best & Weirdest Show, and Daria's Confessional Cabaret at McMenamins White Eagle, as well as7 Deadly Sins: MainStageand 7 Deadly Sins: Saturnalia!at the Mission Theater.

Our newest show 7 Deadly Sins: Church, a seven-part heathen's exploration of sin and the human spirit, was commissioned by the Portland Art Museum's PAM-CUT program and will begin this December at the Tomorrow Theater. Check us out at 7DeadlySinsShows.org.

Chatter PDX is a performing arts series in Portland inspired by the success of the innovative Chatter series in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which has captivated audiences for over 15 years. Chatter PDX brings a unique blend of music, spoken word, coffee, and reflection to Portland's vibrant cultural landscape. Chatter performances take place weekly and offer audiences the opportunity to hear a wide variety of classical chamber music and spoken word, performed by local artists. Coffee and mingling with the audience and performers before and after the show are an essential part of the Chatter PDX experience.

Each week, join a unique program of music and poetry.

PLUS PLUS Fest invites you to dissolve your boundaries, question everything and reimagine what could be.

PLUS PLUS is a 4-day festival celebrating bold storytelling across mediums. It is an exploration of art forms converging, where art, music, comedy, film and conversation collide. Join PAM CUT at the Portland Art Museum, the Whitsell, and the Tomorrow Theater for this yearly festival of unbound storytelling.

Voted by BURLESQUE MAGAZINE as one of the Top 10 Burlesque shows in the USA!

A sinful circus of burlesque, fire-dancing, DJs & debauchery. Every Sunday night for 20 years...the longest-running weekly cabaret show on the west coast!

SEATING IS LIMITED and is first-come, first served. Seating IS NOT GUARANTEED for General Admission ticket holders!

21+

12 performers bring to life their favorite characters from the movie with acts of drag and burlesque. From Jareth to Ludo!

Seating is open. We suggest getting there early to get the best seats. Tipping is encouraged for all drag and burlesque shows!

Doors at 7:00 PM; show at 8:00 PM. 21+ only.

Cited by The Portland Mercury as "One of the funniest (and most educational) comedy shows in town": Comedy, queer history, and dangerously delightful shenanigans collide at Be Gay Do Crime.

July features a Know Your Rights presentation by community activist Frances Portillo, with scenarios acted out in sections by the featured BIPOC improv troupe Brown Sugar.

**This presentation is specifically geared towards allies wanting to know more about how to support their immigrant and BIPOC neighbors and community members.**

Also featuring the talents of local comedians and performers, including:

• Stand-up comedy from Lindy Tongol (Host of qu eer, BIPOC show House Party)
• Improv from Brown Sugar
• Stand-up from Julia Corral (host of Comedy in the Park, House Party, and Bruja-ja)

July's show will be hosted by Jane Dillinger and Jenna Britann.

Tickets are GAYAF — give as you’re able, friend. Ticket sales will go towards compensating the hosts and performers. All additional tips collected during the show will support a different local community non-profit organization each month.

(Please note, this show is about history and adult themes, and adult content is often included, including themes of violence, racial discrimination, homophobia, sexual violence, sexual content, drug use, mature language, etc. There are also "dishonorable guests" whose comedy or artistic material could include similar themes. Recommended for ages 14+ and parental discretion for those under age 18.)

Join the 20th year anniversary for a beloved holiday event for kids and grandparents alike. The whole family will enjoy reserved seating and a plated breakfast while whimsical characters entertain the kids with storytelling, music and magic. Cinnamon Bear has been a cherished holiday tradition for generations.

Enjoy reserved seating and a plated breakfast while a cast of fanciful characters entertains the kids with storytelling, music and magic.

Tickets include:

• 2-hour cruise on the Willamette River
• Plated hot breakfast (eggs, potatoes, bacon, fruit and pastries) for adults and youth, excludes infants
• Hot cocoa, orange juice, coffee and hot tea
• Souvenir photo with Cinnamon Bear for every child 12 and younger
• Signature cinnamon cookie for youth
• Character storytelling, autograph sessions and a magic show
• Reserved table
• Service gratuity

Each month, embark on a journey where you showcase your talents. Whether you are a singer/songwriter, a poet, or a solo instrumentalist, here's your opportunity to shine on the stage. Feel free to start a jam as well. The stage is yours.

Get ready to take the stage, cheer on local creatives, and soak up an unforgettable evening of art, music, poetry, and community. The space into a vibrant hub of expression with a monthly Open Mic Night—and you’re invited. Whether you’re an experienced performer or just itching to share something new, the mic is yours. Singers, songwriters, poets, instrumentalists, comedians, storytellers, and more—everyone is welcome to sign up for a chance to shine. Sign-ups begin at 6:00 p.m., and the show kicks off around 6:30 p.m. with short (~10 min) performance slots.

Hosted by Joshua Bennett. All ages, all abilities welcome—bring friends, family, and neighbors.

Whether you’re strumming your guitar, reciting your latest poem, sharing a story, or simply enjoying the show from the crowd, this night is about connection, performance, and inspiration.

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.

SICK: A Year in Our Bodies

Our bodies may be sick. Our lives are not over. Our stories deserve to be seen.

SICK: A Year in Our Bodies is a fundraising showcase centering Portland-area sex workers living with chronic illness and disability—and the ways we have learned to survive in a world that wasn’t built in our favor.

For many disabled and chronically ill people, traditional employment demands something our bodies cannot always promise: the same energy every day, rigid schedules, eight-hour shifts, limited rest, and the ability to simply push through. Sex work can offer something different—the ability to build work around our bodies instead of constantly punishing our bodies to fit the expectations of work.

We are dancers. Performers. Artists. Providers. Mothers. Hustlers. Creators. Disabled people. Chronically ill people. Survivors.

This night brings our community together for performances, vendors, entertainment, and unapologetic visibility while raising funds for Rose and Pistolita to create SICK: A Year in Our Bodies—a calendar featuring 12 iconic Portland-area sex workers living with chronic conditions.

Each month will put a real body and a real story behind invisible illness. Not as tragedy. Not as inspiration porn. Not as bodies to pity.

As bodies that adapted. Bodies that worked. Bodies that survived. Bodies that are still fucking here.

This project is about what survival actually looks like when your body refuses to cooperate with the rules of an able-bodied world. It is about the ingenuity of people who found another way when conventional systems failed them. And it is about refusing the shame that so often surrounds both disability and sex work.

We are taking the bodies society tells us to hide—and putting them on the fucking calendar.

Twelve workers. Twelve bodies. Twelve stories of adaptation, resistance, sexuality, illness, labor and survival.

Come celebrate the people who learned how to make a living on their own terms. Come support chronically ill and disabled sex workers telling their own stories.

Sick people are strong people.
Disabled bodies are worthy bodies.
Sex workers are workers.
And survival deserves to be seen.

SICK: A Year in Our Bodies
November 21 • 8 PM • Dante’s • 21+

Join Portland's most charmingly titillating vintage dinner experience in the city at The Belle Supper Club: A Burlesque Dinner Cabaret. Escape the everyday and delve into cabaret dreams at The Belle Supper Club (located inside the covered garden gazebo) while enjoying dinner, cocktails, and delightfully dishy entertainment within the historic Art Nouveau surroundings of The Victorian Belle Mansion.

Lacy Productions brings together sauciness, sophistication, intelligence and sexiness to all their shows. Join the most seductively delicious dinner experience in the city at The Belle Supper Club. (The mansion will be open to explore inside before and after the show for one hour.) Ticket prices are for the show only and do not include food/ drink. All food and drink items may be purchased separately from The Belle’s dinner menu.

• This event is 21 and over only.

Disfruta un espectáculo chistoso lleno de magia, comedia, malabarismo y payasadas graciosas. Perfecto para niños de todas las edades y sus familias.

Cupo limitado –la asistencia será por orden de llegada.

Enjoy a wacky show filled with comedy, magic, juggling & silly antics. Perfect for children of all ages and their families.