One of America’s Most Legendary Rodeos Returns to Oregon This September
There are a lot of great events in Oregon every year, but only a handful feel like they belong to the state’s identity. The Pendleton Round-Up is one of them. For more than a century, this iconic Eastern Oregon event has drawn crowds from across the Northwest and far beyond, turning the city of Pendleton into a full-on celebration of rodeo, Western heritage, small-town tradition and the kind of energy you can feel the moment you roll into town. And this September, it all happens again....
THINGS TO DO & EVENTS
Festivals, concerts, seasonal celebrations, and memorable Oregon adventures worth putting on your calendar.Fresh ideas for getting out and enjoying Oregon, from upcoming community events to unforgettable places and experiences around the state.
Millions of Blooms Await! Don’t Miss the 2025 Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon
Rows and rows of colorful tulips on a foggy morning or a crisp spring day are the perfect way to welcome spring. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival offers blooms, hot air balloons, wine, and family fun!
Get Ready, Foodies! Newport’s 2025 Seafood & Wine Festival Begins Today
Come and celebrate the biggest party on the Oregon Coast at the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival this winter! For 48 years, this iconic event has brought together locals and visitors alike to...
Theo Von Brings the ‘Return of the Rat Tour’ to Eugene This March
Comedy lovers in Eugene, get ready to laugh until your sides hurt because Theo Von is coming to town! The hilarious stand-up comedian and podcast host is set to perform at the Matthew Knight Arena...
City Of Portland Announces New Tin Foil Sculpture Where Visitors Can “Experience The Culture Firsthand”
PORTLAND, OR — In a bold move city leaders are calling “immersive, reflective, and mildly concerning,” officials this week unveiled plans for a brand-new public art installation in downtown...
City of Portland Confirms First Wave of Affordable Homes Will Be Made of LEGOs
PORTLAND, OR — In what officials are calling a “creative and deeply innovative approach” to the housing crisis, the City of Portland this week unveiled its latest solution: building fully livable,...
Kotek To Challenge Trump To Fight At First Recess, Confirms It’ll Happen By The Swings
SALEM, OR — In a bold escalation of political discourse, Governor Tina Kotek announced Tuesday she will be challenging former President Donald Trump to a full-on schoolyard fight at first recess,...
FOOD & DRINK
Explore Oregon’s food and drink scene – from locally sourced ingredients to craft brews and award-winning wines. Plan your culinary adventure now!
The 42 Best Oregon Mom & Pop Restaurants to Eat At in 2026
We're going a bit out on a limb here at That Oregon Life. This story began as a sort of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" compilation, but after a giant list of my own and a slew of recommendations...
This Beloved Tigard Restaurant Has Been Serving Comfort (And Legendary Pie) Since 1979
There are restaurants you try once… and then there are the ones you grow up with. The ones where the coffee is always hot, the booths feel like they’ve heard a thousand stories, and the pie case...
New In-N-Out Near Portland Opens Thursday and It’s Expected to Draw Huge Crowds
If you’ve been waiting for another reason to make a quick trip across the river, this might be it. Southwest Washington is about to welcome a familiar favorite, and for plenty of Oregonians, it is...
After Years of “Everyone’s Leaving,” Oregon Is Officially the #1 State People Are Moving To
For the past few years, the loudest narrative about Oregon was that everyone was packing up and leaving. Social media was full of hot takes about U Hauls heading east, businesses fleeing, families cashing out, and people swearing they were done with this state for...
Not Satire: After Legalizing Meth and Recriminalizing It, Portland Has Now Banned Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Not satire. Just Oregon. As 2026 kicks off, Oregon rolled out 282 new state laws covering everything from health care and consumer protections to deepfakes and marriage age reforms. Some of them actually make sense. Medical debt can’t hit your credit report. Workers...
Oregon Mountain Passes Brace for a Major Storm After a Slow Winter Start
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Oregon and southern Washington Cascades as a powerful midweek system barrels into the mountains. The warning takes effect Tuesday morning and runs through Thursday afternoon, upgrading what had...
Newport Resident Shoots and Kills Attacker Who Was Stabbing Another Man on Front Porch
In the early hours of Friday morning, a quiet Newport neighborhood became the latest reminder of how quickly random violence can erupt in Oregon, even on an ordinary front porch. Just before 1 a.m., police were called to a home on Northwest Grove Street after a...
Portland Yoga Scene Thrives Amid Reports That Downtown Is Making a Comeback
PORTLAND, OR — City leaders and local news outlets confirmed this week that Portland’s downtown is officially “back,” citing increased foot traffic, renewed holiday shopping interest, and a thriving public yoga scene that appears to require no studios, memberships, or...
Former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown Released a Cold-Blooded Killer Who Executed a Teen Girl — Now He Sits on Salem’s Police Review Board
A convicted Oregon killer freed early by former Democratic Governor Kate Brown is now placed in a position of authority in Salem after the City Council voted to reappoint him to the Community Police Review Board. For many Oregonians the decision is not merely...
Oregon Residents Told to Stay Inside Because It’s Miserable and Stupid Outside
WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OR — City officials issued a blunt but widely appreciated advisory Wednesday morning urging residents to remain indoors after a night of relentless rain, howling wind, and power outages that left much of the valley waking up cold, exhausted, and...
Tina Kotek Says No Christmas Presents Under Tree For Anyone Opposing Her Tax Bill
SALEM, OR — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a stern holiday warning this week, announcing that residents who oppose her latest tax bill should not expect to find Christmas presents under the tree this year, calling the measure “a necessary sacrifice for the greater...
Area Man Behind on Rent Says He’s ‘Treating Himself’ While Shopping at Tiny Overpriced Hippie Grocery Store
EUGENE, OR — Despite being nearly three weeks behind on rent and actively refusing to open his banking app, local man Aaron L., 34, confirmed Tuesday that stopping by a tiny, overpriced hippie grocery store was “exactly what he needed right now.” “I’ve just been under...
Kotek’s Gas Tax Jeopardy After Oregon Voters File Nearly 200,000 Signatures
A Republican-backed group has submitted nearly 200,000 signatures to Oregon election officials, a move that appears likely to block a recently approved gas tax increase and force the issue onto the 2026 ballot. The group, No Tax Oregon, turned in the signatures Friday...