Top Events Happening October 17–19, 2025 in Vancouver WA and Portland OR
Fun Events Happening October 17–19, 2025 in Vancouver WA and Portland OR
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? From October 17–19, 2025, the Vancouver and Portland area is packed with color, culture, and creativity. Celebrate tradition at Luminarias Día de Muertos in Esther Short Park, explore pollinator life at Heritage Farm’s Mason Bee Workshop, catch a gothic classic with Magenta Theater’s I Am Frankenstein, or dive into nostalgia at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo. And for a truly Oregon twist, don’t miss the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Tualatin — where pumpkins become boats! This guide highlights the top October 17–19, 2025 events in Vancouver WA and Portland OR, so you can fill your weekend with local magic.
Luminarias Día de Muertos
📅 Date: October 18, 2025
📍 Location: Esther Short Park — 301 W 8th St., Vancouver, WA 98660
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
💲 Price: Free
🎭 Presented By: Vancouver Ballet Folklórico, City of Vancouver, & ARTSTRA
🌐 Official Website: Luminarias Día de Muertos
About the Event
Join the community at Esther Short Park for one of Vancouver’s most heartwarming and colorful fall celebrations — Luminarias Día de Muertos! This beloved event honors the Mexican tradition of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) — a time to remember, celebrate, and honor loved ones who have passed. Expect an afternoon and evening filled with traditional Mexican dancing, live music, guest artists, beautiful luminarias, and a stunning community ofrenda (altar) where families can add photos and tributes.
Come enjoy the sights of catrinas, delicious food vendors, artisan crafts, a Best Catrín & Catrina costume contest, and free family-friendly activities. The celebration continues rain or shine, so grab your colorful attire and be part of a tradition that blends art, culture, and community.
Fun Fact: Luminarias Día de Muertos first began in 2021 and has quickly become a cherished Vancouver tradition, lighting up the park with music, dance, and love every October.
About Vancouver Ballet Folklórico
Founded by Anna Cruz, Vancouver Ballet Folklórico keeps Mexican heritage alive through vibrant, authentic performances. Each dance tells a story, showcasing Mexico’s rich regional diversity and cultural pride. Through events like Luminarias Día de Muertos, the group continues to build bridges of understanding and celebration across generations and cultures.
Mason Bees Unwrapped: The Art & Science of Cocoon Harvesting
📅 Date: October 18, 2025
📍 Location: Heritage Farm — 1919 NE 78th St, Vancouver, WA 98607
⏰ Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
💲 Price: Free
🎓 Presented By: WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardeners
🌐 Official Website: Mason Bees in Your Backyard
About the Event
Ever wondered what’s buzzing in your backyard? This fall, dive into the fascinating world of mason bees — gentle, hard-working pollinators that play a huge role in your garden’s health! Join WSU Master Gardener Anne Bulger for an engaging, hands-on workshop exploring how to care for these non-stinging native bees right here in Vancouver, WA.
You’ll discover:
🌿 How mason bees help pollinate fruit trees and flowers
🏡 How to build and maintain a thriving bee habitat
🔬 A live demonstration on cocoon harvesting and cleaning — an essential step for keeping your bee population healthy!
Bring your own nesting materials if you’d like to harvest your own cocoons, or simply observe and learn. Cleaned cocoons will be distributed to participants interested in housing mason bees next spring. Plus, you’ll have a chance to win a fully furnished mason bee house and empty nesting tubes!
This interactive morning session is perfect for gardeners, nature lovers, and anyone curious about sustainable backyard ecosystems.
💡 Pro Tip: Mason bees don’t sting and are 100x more effective at pollinating than honeybees! Add a bee house to your garden this fall — your spring blooms will thank you!
Magenta Theater Presents: I Am Frankenstein by John Harman
📅 Dates: October 3–19, 2025 (Recurring Thursdays–Sundays)
📍 Location: Magenta Theater — 1108 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98660
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM – 9:45 PM (Sundays at 2:00 PM)
💲 Price: $26
🎬 Presented By: Magenta Theater
🌐 Official Website: MAGENTATHEATER.COM
About the Event
Step into the shadows of downtown Vancouver, WA this October for a hauntingly beautiful performance of I Am Frankenstein — a powerful new retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic brought to life by Magenta Theater.
Written by John Harman and directed by Darin Dahms, this chilling adaptation intertwines the tortured genius Victor Frankenstein with Mary Shelley, the young author who gave him life. Joined by a haunting chorus known as The Blackbirds, the play explores the blurred lines between creator and creation, obsession and consequence, and the humanity we find in our own monsters.
Expect stunning performances by Cris Villa as Victor, Parker Brown as the Creature, and Selah Royer as Mary Shelley — alongside a talented ensemble that fills the stage with emotion, music, and eerie atmosphere.
Advance tickets are $26 online at MAGENTATHEATER.COM or at the door as available.
Content advisory: Scenes include moments of intensity, fog effects, flashing lights, and depictions of death and violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
Whether you’re a fan of classic horror, gothic literature, or local performing arts, this is one Vancouver theater event you won’t want to miss!
💡 Pro Tip: Arrive early to grab coffee or dessert at one of downtown Vancouver’s cozy cafes before curtain call — it’s the perfect way to set the mood for a night of drama and intrigue!
Portland Retro Gaming Expo 2025: A Blast From the Past!
📅 Dates: October 17–19, 2025
📍 Location: Oregon Convention Center – 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
🕒 Time: All Day, Daily
💲 Price: Ticket prices vary (available online and at the door)
🌐 Official Website: Portland Retro Gaming Expo
About the Event
Ready, player one! The Portland Retro Gaming Expo (PRGE) is back — and it’s bigger than ever! Held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland’s Lloyd District, this world-renowned celebration of classic gaming brings together fans of all ages for three unforgettable days of nostalgia, competition, and community.
Explore over 250,000 square feet of retro gaming heaven — including a massive “Retrocade” filled with hundreds of free-to-play arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and consoles from the golden age of gaming. Whether you’re a Pac-Man pro, a Sonic speedrunner, or a Zelda collector, you’ll find your pixel-perfect paradise here!
Meet legendary voice actors and game creators, attend panels about the history of gaming, and shop from 300+ local and international vendors offering vintage games, rare collectibles, art, and retro merch.
Fun Fact: The first version of this expo started right across the river in Vancouver, WA, back in 2006 — before growing into one of the largest retro gaming conventions in the world!
💡 Pro Tip: Bring a backpack for your finds, comfortable shoes for the exhibit hall, and your inner 8-bit hero for the tournaments. Bonus points for rocking your favorite cosplay — you’ll fit right in!
From classic soundtracks to live retro-inspired performances, the Portland Retro Gaming Expo is a one-of-a-kind experience celebrating decades of gaming history and creativity.
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
📍 Tualatin Commons – Tualatin, OR
🗓 October 19–20, 2025
💰 Free Event | Family-Friendly Fun!
🌐 Official Website: West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
About the Event
When jack-o’-lanterns just aren’t festive enough, Oregon says, “Let’s race them!”
The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta is one of the quirkiest and most beloved fall traditions in the Pacific Northwest. Every October, locals and visitors gather at Tualatin Commons to cheer on brave paddlers as they race across the lake — inside hollowed-out giant pumpkins!
The weekend kicks off with Pumpkins and Pints at Stickmen Brewing Company, featuring a giant pumpkin weigh-off and festive fall fun. Then, the main event takes over the lake with costumed competitors piloting their oversized gourds through the water in a series of hilarious, good-spirited races. From superheroes and pirates to witches and wizards, you never know who (or what) you’ll see floating by!
On shore, families can enjoy a kids’ costume contest, food vendors, and live entertainment — perfect for a full day of fall-themed fun. With vibrant autumn leaves, local farm stands nearby, and all the charm of Tualatin’s small-town atmosphere, it’s the ultimate seasonal day trip just 13 miles southwest of Portland.
If you’re up for a quirky, only-in-Oregon experience, this is it! Just 13 miles southwest of downtown Portland, Tualatin offers the perfect blend of small-town charm, fall foliage, and pumpkin-powered fun.
💡 Pro tip: Arrive early — parking fills up fast, and you won’t want to miss the first splash!
Celebrate the Best October 17–19, 2025 Events in Vancouver WA and Portland OR
From cultural celebrations to quirky competitions, the October 17–19, 2025 events in Vancouver WA and Portland OR showcase everything that makes fall in the Pacific Northwest unforgettable. Whether you’re honoring loved ones at Día de Muertos, cheering for pumpkin paddlers in Tualatin, or exploring the retro gaming world in Portland, this weekend is full of reasons to get out and enjoy. Grab your jacket, bring your friends, and celebrate the season — because this fall weekend promises nothing short of spectacular.
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Cassandra Marks
Realtor, Licensed in OR & WA | License ID: 201225764
Realtor, Licensed in OR & WA License ID: 201225764