Looking for some fun entertainment options this week? We’ve got ideas. Head to the Winningstad for an ’80s rock musical, or to the Convention Center for a table tennis tournament. The week’s offerings also include a few food-centered festivals and the opening of a new OMSI science exhibit.
“Rock of Ages”
Stumptown Stages brings back classic rock and culture of the ’80s with this stage show that offers a live band and big guitar solos. This musical was nominated for a Tony and features hits by bands including Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar and others.
Opens 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, and continues 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 25, Winningstad Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway; tickets start at $49; portland5.evenue.net/events.
Major League Table Tennis
You called it ping pong when you played it in the garage, but competitive table tennis is a whole other game. Portland hosts a weekend of some of the best players in the country at the Oregon Convention Center. See matches including the debut of the Los Angeles Spinners. Other teams include Carolina Gold Rush (defending champs), Chicago Wind, and of course, the Portland Paddlers.
Matches start at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, and continue various times through Sunday, Oct. 5, Oregon Convention Center. 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; tickets for individual matches $7.50, day passes $24; tickets.mltt.com.
Portland Greek Festival
This festival can trace its history back more than 70 years when women in the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Portland started an event to raise money for the building of a new church. Since then, community members have gathered to celebrate Greek culture through dancing, music, and wonderful food each fall. The festival uses a “cashless” system that requires you load funds onto a wristband. Visit the website for details.
10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3-5, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3131 N.E. Glisan St.; admission $5, ages 10 and younger free; portlandgreekfestival.com.
15th annual Portland Tattoo Expo
Each year some of the best tattoo artists in the region and nationally gather at this expo to show their work and meet with potential clients. You can even get a tattoo on site, but some exhibitors will book out before the show begins. If you want to guarantee you’ll get inked by a specific artist, you should request to get on their books in advance. Children are allowed but be aware that artist will be working on clients who may expose various body parts.
2-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3-5, Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive; admission $25 per day; portlandtattooexpo.com.
“Monsters of the Abyss” – OMSI
OMSI welcomes a new exhibit that features live animals as well as fossils brought up from the depths of the oceans. The exhibit will offer nine live animal habitats, bilingual information panels, life-sized animal sculptures, and more displays that explore millions of years of sea creatures. Come face to face with full replicas of massive mosasaurs, a spine-chilling Spinosaurus, and other prehistoric creatures who have inspired myths and legends. Then meet their present-day descendants, including an Asian Water Monitor, the second-largest lizard species after the Komodo dragon.
Opens Saturday, Oct. 4, and continues during museum hours through Feb. 16, 2026, OMSI, 1945 S.E. Water Ave.; admission $15-$20; omsi.edu.
Inaugural Portland Coffee Festival
Ahhh coffee. Some of us celebrate it every day! But for real coffee enthusiasts check out this festival that includes tastings, workshops, food pairings, and a community marketplace. You’ll have a chance to meet local and international farmers and roasters and explore the journey coffee makes from seed to cup.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, The Redd, 831 S.E. Salmon St.; admission $35; roastmagazine.com/portlandcoffeefestival.
Melissa Manchester and her band (Hood River)
Grammy Award-winning female vocalist (1982) Melissa Manchester brings her adult contemporary stylings to Hood River for a fundraiser for the Hood River County Education Foundation. Manchester has been staying busy touring and performing as well as writing music for theater. In 2025 she released a new album that reworks some of her most famous hits.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, Hood River Middle School auditorium, 1602 May St., Hood River; tickets start at $30; tickettomato.com/event_group.
Portland Marathon
About 9,000 runners registered for 2024’s marathon and half-marathon races. Spectators are welcomed and encouraged along much of the route. Be mindful of private property and make sure you clean up after yourselves. There’s even a neighborhood “cheer challenge,” see the FAQ page for details.
Racers start at 7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, various routes through Portland; marathon registration $169; portlandmarathon.com.
“Seasons of Change” – Portland Wind Symphony
The wind symphony’s first concert of the its 38th season features “She Dares, She Leaps” by Erika Svanoe, “Deciduous” by Viet Cuong, and “October” by Eric Whitacre.
3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, Roosevelt High School, 6941 N. Central St.; free admission; portlandwindsymphony.org
Lutheran Choral Association Fall Concert
The group’s fall concert includes pieces by Morten Lauridsen, Mark Hayes, Paul Sjolund, and Natalie Sleeth. The event is a fundraiser to raise money for a new boiler for the church. The concert is free, but a free will offering will be taken up during the show.
4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, Peace Lutheran Church, 2201 N. Rosa Parks Way, lutheranchoral.org.
Portland Fermentation Festival
Are you “pro” probiotics? Probiotics have been shown to greatly improve gut health. If that sounds good to you, head to this festival to learn a lot more about (and sample) fermented foods and beverages. Get diet tips and recipes from professional and amateur makers.
6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, Ecotrust Irving Studio, 721 N.W. Ninth Ave.; $15 advance, $20 at door, ages 12 and younger free; portlandfermentationfestival.com.
Elton Dan & The Rocket Band
Elton John fans need to check out this tribute band that envelopes audiences in the magic of “The Rocket Man’s” over-the-top live performances with costume changes, high-energy songs and incredible nostalgia. It’s two hours of all the greatest hits. Don’t miss it.
8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 N.E. Alberta St.; tickets $40; albertarosetheatre.com/event/elton-dan.
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