Family events in Gresham, OR

Garcia Birthday Band returns for its annual ZooNights appearance during the Days Between, bringing live music to the zoo after hours. This all-ages evening features food carts, keeper chats, and activities, plus animal encounters that bring guests closer to wildlife. Stroll among the trees or settle on a blanket in the amphitheater while the band plays. Treats include the zoo’s elephant ears, with local beer and wine available for adults. Every ticket helps the Oregon Zoo protect endangered species locally and around the world, making it a relaxed summer night in Portland for families, friends, and couples.

Fun Fridays at Rock Haven features a $12 day pass that includes rentals and access to the weight room. Climbers as young as 3 are welcome, and the gym can share details about any additional age guidelines. The facility is air conditioned for a comfortable workout, and there is ping pong and a selection of board games for breaks between climbs. Make a reservation in advance or drop in. Everyone who enters, whether climbing or watching, must complete a waiver, and spectators can attend for free.

Experience the zoo after hours at this ZooNights evening featuring live music from Garcia Birthday Band, a variety of food carts, keeper chats, and activities for all ages. Animal encounters offer close-up moments with wildlife, and classic treats like the zoo’s elephant ears are on hand, with local beer and wine available for adults. Wander the forested pathways or relax on the amphitheater lawn and take in the music. Every ticket helps the Oregon Zoo protect endangered species locally and around the world. A fitting summer outing for families, friends, or a date.

Pretzel buns have returned.

This gathering is heading back to its west side spot for the dry months. Aroo will be on hand.

Spend a day exploring video games, Pokemon cards, and a wide range of pop culture collectibles at DoubleTree Hotel Portland. The event features a swap meet style marketplace where vendors buy, sell, and trade with the public. Trading is welcome, with a limit of one backpack of trade items per person, and anyone with more to move can secure a vendor table. Two rooms are planned, with one centered on gaming and the other focused on Pokemon cards, and attendees can also expect adjacent collectibles such as toys, comics, plush, fan art, posters, vintage clothing, and sports cards. Entry is $10 per adult when purchased in advance and $15 on the day, with children under 12 admitted free with a paying adult. Vendor tables are available for $120. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the SideQuest Games store.

Now in its ninth year, the Journey Up car show returns to Northwest Gresham. Those interested can help by distributing flyers or contributing a raffle item. Angela can coordinate drop off and pickup, and is available to answer questions.

Mark National Bowling Day with glowing lanes and an '80s throwback atmosphere. Admission is $20 and includes two hours of bowling along with shoe rental. Expect prizes and a soundtrack of '80s hits playing all night. Wear your best '80s outfit to receive $5 off entry, and note that these specials are available for walk-ins only.

Explore the Centennial Farmers Market for a lively mix of local produce, handmade goods, and unique finds from area makers. Hosted at the Chop Chop Food Pod, it offers a friendly, community-centered place to shop small, pick up fresh ingredients, and discover new favorites. Browse the stalls, meet the people behind the products, and enjoy a bite from the food carts as you start your day on a bright note.

Designed for younger children, this Skyhawks Mini-Hawk camp introduces participants to a variety of sports in a fun, structured setting. Activities focus on building balance and coordination while developing athletic skills. Campers learn sportsmanship and teamwork through engaging games and skill-building. It offers a playful introduction to athletics.

UK International Summer Soccer Academy offers age-appropriate coaching for players ages 4 to 14, guided by experienced UK International Soccer staff. Training focuses on building skills in a supportive setting, with program tracks tailored to each stage of development, including Fun in the Sun for ages 4 to 6, Skills ’N’ Thrills for ages 7 to 10, and Compete w/Your Feet for ages 11 to 14. Participants benefit from smaller group sizes and dedicated coaching that centers on player growth. Every camper receives a T-shirt, an individual evaluation, and a certificate. Full and half day options are available, and space is limited.

Porsche Studio Portland transforms into Shifting Realities, a large scale immersive art experience where technology, design, storytelling, music, and imagination converge. Explore a sequence of interactive worlds, with each room encouraging discovery, creativity, and play. Admission includes opportunities to design a dream Porsche, create art using your brain activity, try mixed reality, push for your quickest lap in professional racing simulators, share a dance moment with Porsche, decorate a pastry, wander through light, sound, and projection mapping environments, and capture standout photos throughout the journey. The experience evolves over the summer with themed weeks, live performances, racing competitions, creator showcases, World Cup programming, family activities, music experiences, and special guest activations, so no two visits are exactly alike. It works for an unforgettable date night, a family outing, or a creative adventure with friends, inviting visitors to leave everyday reality behind. Featured contributors include AMPHORA PROJECTS, LCAMERO, JOOLIA, BLCKSMTH, Kelly Max, Tracey Piper, Phil A. Robinson Jr., Brian Free, Brock Keen, John Delos Reyes, and Eddy Nunez, along with additional artists, designers, technologists, and immersive creators. A café and boutique are available on site.

Once Upon a Summer is a creative camp where young artists and performers explore fairytale themes through music, dance, and art. Campers groove and sing to frosty fan favorites, design standout projects inspired by the newest Descendants film and Moana, and look ahead with excitement to Toy Story 5. The week focuses on storytelling, imagination, and expressive play, offering a magical, make-believe experience from start to finish. Tuition is $365.

Music Mondays returns to Gresham Arts Plaza Splash Pad with live performances, tasty food options, and kid-focused activities in a free, family friendly setting. The MHCC Jazz Combo starts things off, followed by headliner Eldon T. Jones. Food vendors will be on site, and a dedicated children’s activity area adds to the fun. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for comfortable seating, and enjoy an evening centered on community, entertainment, and togetherness.

Music on Main is open to the public and welcomes all ages for a performance by The Bundy Band. This longtime collective draws inspiration from New Orleans traditions and the Pacific Northwest, featuring musicians who have played together in different lineups for nearly three decades. The music can span New Orleans traditional jazz, second-line brass, funk, standards, and imaginative originals, with occasional covers from artists like Charles Wright, The Band, and Phish. Improvisation is central to the show, with organ passages that surge, flute features that push into adventurous territory, and clarinet tones shaped by effects for unexpected textures. Seating is first come, first served, and tickets are not required.

Venardos Circus brings a Broadway-style, animal-free circus experience to The Lot at Zidell Yards in Portland. Created by former Ringling Bros. ringmaster Kevin Venardos, this production blends theatrical flair with world-class performances for an intimate evening under a custom red and white big top. Audiences can look forward to aerial artistry, acrobatics, juggling, hand-balancing, comic moments, daring feats, and sleight of hand, all presented with the heart of a musical. Before the show, there is preshow entertainment and opportunities for fun circus photos. Classic concessions such as popcorn, cotton candy, and house-made pink lemonade are available, and the performance includes an intermission. Onsite parking is available for $10. Tickets are sold only through the official Venardos Circus website, and tickets from resellers or private offers are not accepted.

Garden Bros Nuclear Circus comes to Portland at Portland International Raceway, presented as the largest circus on Earth. The event includes multiple performances. A limited online allotment of general admission adult tickets starts at $23.27 with fees included. One child ages 3 to 13 is admitted free with a paid general admission adult ticket when a child ticket is added to the cart, and children 2 and under are admitted at no charge.