Summer 2022: Activities, events, free meals and more

Looking for some activities to entertain the family? Check out these ideas around town. The list mainly focuses on free or inexpensive activities in our area. Before you visit one of these venues, please double check their website or call ahead for up-to-date details to see if their hours, rates, or programming has changed.

Check back throughout the summer for possible additions to this list.

Community Events

The Really Really Free Market

Next market is June 25 | Held the last Saturday of each month
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Please note, due to extreme temperatures, the July 30th event will be held 11 am – 1 pm.
Please note event is sometimes cancelled due to weather. Check the Really Really Free Market Instagram account for the latest updates.

Give what you can, take what you need. No money, no trade, everything 100% free. Every last Saturday of each month at Gateway Discovery Park: 10520 NE Halsey St.

East Portland Bike Fair

August 7 | 1-4pm
Lincoln Park Elementary 13200 SE Lincoln St, Portland, OR 97233

Access bike fair registration and details Portland Bureau of Transportation webpage

Activities are FREE and there’s something for everyone, including:

• Biking lessons for children and a traffic playground to practice bike safety skills
• Learn to Ride class for adults just starting out on a bike
• Quick-fix Repair Booth to make sure your bike is rolling smoothly and safely
• BIKETOWN sign up table, Portland’s electric-assist shared bike program

Sunday Parkways 2022

The annual tradition is back with two live events this year. The East Portland Sunday Parkway event, being held August 21st, weaves through David Douglas School District!

In addition to the two live events, there will be five sticker hunts, each in a different neighborhood, that participants can explore any day from June 1st to August 31st. Visit the Sunday Parkways website for more details.

At these accessible family-friendly events, streets on the route are closed to car traffic so that you can bike, walk, roll and play in Portland’s largest public space, its streets. The routes highlight Portland network of neighborhood greenways, parks and community resources.

Portland Mercado

7238 SE Foster Rd, Portland

Portland’s hub for Latino culture and local entrepreneurship is holding several events this summer. A few our listed below. But check out the Portland Mercado website for a complete list and event details.

• Mercado 7th Anniversary Celebration – June 18
• Summer Fest – July 9
• Taste of Latin America – August 13

Freedom Festival

Portland’s First Annual Black Book Festival
Saturday, June 18
Peninsula Park – 700 N Rosa Parks Way

A core tenet of the Freedom Festival is the belief that reading and books should be inclusive and accessible. Which is why this free festival is being hosted in a local Portland park, open to all to come learn the importance of Juneteenth, fellowship with a community of fellow book lovers, support Black businesses, receive reading resources, and celebrate literacy and liberation! Freedom Festival website

DDSD Athletic Camps

Lady Scots Basketball Camp

Girls entering grades 4-9 this fall can register now for a summer basketball camp being held June 27th-29th from 9am-12pm, in the David Douglas High School North Gym. Join the DDHS Women’s Basketball coaching staff, alumni and current players for three days of fundamentals and fun on the court. The cost is $60 per student before June 1st and $65 after. The camp fee is due on or before the first day of camp and includes a T-shirt. Follow the QR code to register online. Please be sure to wear athletic clothes and shoes. Bring a water bottle and a snack each day. Contact Coach Marshall with questions at heather_marshall@aballard

Youth Soccer Camp

A soccer camp for incoming Kindergarten through 8th grade students is taking place August 1-4 at David Douglas High School. Youth do not need to be a DDSD student to attend. The camp is being held from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the DDHS stadium field. Cost is $30 per athlete. Each additional sibling is $20. A camp t-shirt is included. Come improve your soccer skills in a camp coached by our DDHS Soccer Programs.

Youth soccer camp registration form and instructions – English

Youth soccer camp registration form and instructions – Spanish

Scots Summer Volleyball Camps

Summer volleyball camps are back! The high school session, for students starting grades 9-12 in the fall, is August 1st, 2nd & 3rd from 9am-12pm. The elementary & middle school session, for students going into grades K-8 next year, is August 8th & 9th from 9am-12pm. Registration forms are available at each school and online at www.scotsathletics.com under the volleyball team page. Direct questions to janeen_rainey@ddsd40.org.

Educational

DDSD Summer Intercambio

David Douglas is holding a special series this summer. Intercambio, a language exchange, is a meeting space for people to practice a new language with a native speaker in a conversational, informal setting. Our mission is to implement Intercambio for schools and community members to develop relationships, and foster communication between diverse groups. View Intercambio schedule and details.

Dinolandia

710 SW Yamhill Street
May 31 – September 10 | Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 am to 7pm

Admission: free for ages 8 years & younger; $5 for adults

Walk amongst dinosaurs in Portland artist Mike Bennett’s Dinolandia! The immersive two-story, pop-up exhibit features more than 50 species of dinosaurs, ranging from the chicken-sized Compsognathus to the massive floor-to-ceiling T. Rex! Per Mike’s signature style, all 1,000+ cutouts are made from reclaimed plywood and recycled paint. Read OPB’s article about Dinolandia

Multnomah County Library Summer Reading Game

​June 16 – August 31, 2021

Kids of all ages can play the Summer Reading game by starting a daily reading habit. In addition, the library will have lots of fun interactive virtual performances, storytelling, and arts and crafts for kids and families. Kids can participate online or hard copy.

Summer Reading Game details

Oregon Rail Heritage Center

2250 SE Water Ave. Portland OR 97214

Learn all about locomotives at Portland’s railway museum. Visitors can tour exhibits, the machine shop and locomotives. Portland is the only U.S. city to own two operating steam engines. Explore and get up close to these giant marvels of the past. Admission is free.

The museum is a few days a week. Visit the Oregon Rail Heritage Center website for the current hours.

Sora – Free Summer Reading for DDSD

David Douglas School District students and staff have access to a free collection of ebooks and audiobooks in through an online platform called Sora. Learn more about Sora on the DDSD Windows and Mirrors site. It provides some basic information about Sora as well as elementary, middle, and HS displays.

How to sign into Sora

Follow this link to the DDSD Sora login page. Click on David Douglas School District. If it’s not visible, use the school finder at the bottom of the page to search for David Douglas School District. When prompted, use your DDSD email address. Enter your 6 digit student ID as username and 8-digit date of birth for the password. Open the explore tab on the bottom toolbar to search. View/print Sora instructions PDF

Free Meals for Kids

Lunch + Play

Lunch + Play is a daily drop-in program with on-site staff providing free lunch, games, play, and activities to youth and the community. Below are a few sites in the David Douglas community. For a complete list of the Lunch + Play locations around Portland, Lunch + Play website. Print friendly schedules are available there in PDF format.

Nature/Outdoor

Leach Botanical Garden

The main entrance is just south of 122nd and Foster intersection. (Parking lot at 122nd and Claybourne).

This is a gem right in our DDSD backyard! Take a self guided hike through the 16 acre wooded garden. As of spring 2021, the trails include an aerial walkway!

Admission is free admission. Reservations are not required but recommended to guarantee entry. Walkup tickets are available but limited during busy hours. All guests must check in at our admissions booth upon arrival. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and feel free to bring a water bottle.

Learn more about the garden and reserve tickets on the Leach Botanical Garden website.

Zenger Farm – Farm Days

11741 SE Foster Rd

Open Farm Days are a chance for family and friends to enjoy and explore the farm. Visitors can tour the farm, volunteer in our gardens, and participate in a variety of fun activities. Read more details and register on Zenger’s website.

Recreational

Kids Bowl Free – Portland KingPins

3550 SE 92nd Ave

Children grades K-8 can bowl free at May 1st through September 30th. To register for the free bowling program visit the KingPins website.

Portland Parks and Recreation Summer Free For All Program

Portland Parks and Recreation’s Summer Free for All program is back! Throughout the summer they will be hosting free concerts, movies, performances and meals for kids! Visit their website for details and schedules. Information about their free meals part of the program are details under the Meals for Kids section of this list.