Shamrock Half Marathon Run Fest is Portland’s longest running tradition. With a fast, scenic course through downtown and roaring crowd support. Of course the dancing, green beer and shenanigans will be going down at Waterfront Park.

The Kells Portland Irish Festival! Experience the best of Irish culture at Kells Brewery, Kells Irish Pub, and Tom McCall Waterfront Park. A weekend of music, food, and fun awaits!

Portland’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade brings all the charm back on Sunday, March 15, stepping off at 1:30 p.m. from Beverly Cleary School. You can grab a spot along the 1.2‑mile neighborhood route or jump right in and walk it. Expect local groups, bagpipers, Irish wolfhounds and the beloved “Truck o’ Pats,” where anyone named Pat or Patricia gets to ride along. It’s free.

You can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Saturday and Sunday with a scenic steam train ride in Portland. The Shamrock Express Steam Train with family activities for St. Patrick’s Day.

PBOT is offering discounts for safe rides home over the St. Patrick's Day celebration period. So Friday through Tuesday: 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. each day. Download coupons for Uber, Lyft, and taxis from the PBOT website.

Get your tickets now for the NARI PNW Remodeled Homes Tour this Saturday, March 14 featuring two whole house remodels by Mountainwood Homes. This is the link to get you $10 off your tickets. We got an exclusive sneak peek into one of the Mountainwood Remodels and it's a shame someone already lives there because I was ready to move in!

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.

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.

SPRING BREAK FUN:

Oaks Park opening day is March 22.

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.

While you're at Washington Park there is plenty to see including Hoyt Arboretum, Portland Japanese Garden, International Rose Test Garden and World Forestry Center, as well as playgrounds, trails and other attractions. The free Washington Park shuttle can help you get around.

Pack up the kids, a picnic lunch and go 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.

Or go in search of spring blooms. The famous cherry blossoms in Waterfront Park are expected to start blooming by the week of spring break, bathing downtown Portland and the Portland Japanese Garden. And opening day (tentatively)at Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn is March 20.

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.

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

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Oregon filmed 80’s classic Stand by Me is turning 40 this year and some of the stars are coming to town: Jerry O'Connel, Wil Weaton and Corey Feldman March 29th at the Schnitz.

Short Circuit, also filmed in Oregon, is turning 40 with the stars Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg returning to Astoria June 7 for the celebration. Johnny 5 the robot and his puppeteer Tim Blaney will also be there.

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 later this month. 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.

STACEY & MIKE WATCHLIST:

Hoppers debuted at #1 last weekend making $88 million globally. The beaver-themed animated movie is set in the fictional town of Beaverton. Last Thursday, the real city of Beaverton welcomed Disney and Pixar for a celebration at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, and March 5 was declared “Hoppers Day.”

The Oscars are Sunday at a new time. 4pm on ABC/Hulu hosted by Conan O'Brian The 2026 Oscar nominations are led by Sinners (16 nominations), One Battle After Another (13), and Frankenstein (9). Presenters include: Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Paul Mescal and Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Maya Rudolph and Zoe Saldaña. Red Carpet starts at 3:30.

Stacey: Harry Styles. One Night In Manchester. Harry Styles doing double duty on Stacey: Harry Styles: One Night in Manchester on Netflix and also Harry Styles doing double duty on SNL Saturday!

Mike: Young Sherlock. Big fan of Sherlock, Moriarty AND Guy Ritchie.

Madison