Friday March 20 we welcome the first day of Spring! If Spring is your favorite season, it reveals something about your personality, you crave new experiences and are ready to get out into the world. So who's car are we taking?

The 42nd annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival kicks off this Friday. This Saturday is also the Wooden Shoe 5k/10k and ½ Marathon Tulip Trail Run. It’s to benefit Oregon City Track and Field. Admission to the festival is included in the run registration.

The famous cherry blossoms in Waterfront Park are expected to start blooming soon, bathing downtown Portland and the Portland Japanese Garden in a sea of pink. While you're in Washington Park don't miss the Hoyt Arboretum, World Forestry Center and International Rose Test Garden with over 10,000 rose bushes! The free Washington Park shuttle can help you get around.

March Madness is coming to MODA Center Thursday 3/19 and Saturday 3/21.

Spring Fest on the Mountain is this weekend in Mount Hood. It’s a free music festival with great food and jams both this Saturday and Sunday (3/21-22.) That’s about an hour from Portland at Mt. Hood Skibowl from 1 to 5 PM both days.

Oaks Park opening day is March 22. For the first time, Oregon’s oldest amusement park will offer season passes to the general public, allowing visitors unlimited rides throughout the 2026 operating season.

The Portland Saturday Market is open for the season in Old Town. The country’s largest open-air arts and crafts market. They’ll have weekly live music and free “crafternoons” the last Saturday of every month.

OMSI's The Life of Galileo exhibit is open and the Middle Earth Film Festival continues.

March is Portland Dining Month, an opportunity for diners to sample Portland's top restaurants at two price points, $35 & $55.

Have you popped into Damian Lillard's new elevated sports bar downtown? Honorable Mention is located in The Benson.

Of age Harry Potter fans, you must check out the Harry Potter bus bar in downtown Portland.

Calling roller skaters of all ages: Secret Roller Disco takes place every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., rain or shine. Check secretrollerdisco.org to find out where the roller disco will take place next.

The Oregon Zoo's Hop Into Spring April 4 is perfect if you have littles (kids 8 and under) Spend the day enjoying lawn games, animal encounters, magic and puppet shows, coloring and crafts, a bubble party and more. Plenty of festive costumed characters will be on hand. Plus you can meet the new pair of young bongos at the Oregon Zoo.

Whale watching on the Oregon Coast. Since you're heading that way, the Tillamook Forest Center is back open to the public. With hands-on exhibits, historical artifacts and ranger-led interpretive programs, the free museum is a great family-friendly activity. The center is in the Tillamook State Forest off Oregon 6 between Tillamook and Forest Grove.

If your fam like's to keep it weird Freakybuttrue Peculiarium is a great place to start, but there’s also the Portland Puppet Museum, the Lincoln Street Kayak and Canoe Museum and, in Vancouver, the DEVIL-ish Little Things Museum.

Crispy Cones, an ice cream shop known for its cones made out of grilled dough rolled in cinnamon sugar and “specialty powder,” is coming to Vancouver Friday. Crispy Cones became popular after their appearance on Shark Tank in 2018. Starting Friday, March 20, soft-serve in a grilled cone topped with sauces and all kinds of toppings, at 14003 N.E. 10th Ave.

Wherever you're headed this spring break, GO BY TRIMET.

STACEY & MIKE WATCHLIST

Stacey: Scarpetta on Prime Video. Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis are the sparring sisters I didn't know I needed in my life.

Mike: Rooster on HBO, Great music, great cast.

Jennie James