News in Happy Valley

Flu Shot Season Arrives at Pharmacies Across the Portland Metro

Published Oct 12, 2026

Pharmacies and clinics throughout the suburbs are offering flu shots now, with health officials recommending October vaccination to build immunity well ahead of the season’s typical December-through-February peak.

Fall Mushroom Foraging Season Peaks in Oregon's Forests

Published Oct 10, 2026

With fall rains soaking the Coast Range and Mt. Hood National Forest, chanterelle season is in full swing — a popular weekend activity for metro-area foragers, with a few real safety rules worth knowing first.

Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes Peak This Weekend Ahead of Halloween

Published Oct 8, 2026

With Halloween just around the corner, farms around the metro area are bracing for their busiest weekend of the fall as families make last rounds through pumpkin patches and corn mazes.

Portland-Area Halloween Events Calendar Fills Up for October

Published Oct 6, 2026

From trunk-or-treats to pumpkin-carving contests, Halloween events are stacking up on local calendars across the metro suburbs as the holiday approaches.

Happy Valley Library Rolls Out Its Fall Storytime and Program Schedule

Published Oct 5, 2026

The Happy Valley Library has published its fall lineup of storytimes and programs, covering everything from toddler story hours to activities for older kids and adults.

Portland-Area Farmers Markets Enter Their Final Weeks of the Season

Published Oct 4, 2026

With several suburban farmers markets already having wrapped up for the year, the handful still running are entering their final weekends before closing for the season.

Oregon Ducks and Beavers Both Play Home Games This Weekend

Published Oct 3, 2026

College football season is in full swing, with both the University of Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers hosting home games this weekend — a regular fall draw for metro-area fans making the drive down I-5.

Happy Valley Park's Splash Pad Closes for the Season

Published Oct 2, 2026

The splash pad at Happy Valley Park, one of the city's most popular warm-weather draws, has shut off for the year as the park shifts into its fall and winter offerings.

Fall Color Begins to Peak Around the Portland Metro Area

Published Oct 1, 2026

Leaf-peepers are starting to find good color around the region as deciduous trees turn, with parks, nature areas, and tree-lined neighborhood streets throughout the metro suburbs among the best places to look.

Oregon's Fire Danger Season Begins Winding Down as Rain Returns

Published Sep 29, 2026

With fall rain back in the forecast, fire officials across the Portland metro area and Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah counties are starting to ease summer-long burn restrictions.

Portland Timbers and Thorns Both Push Toward the Playoffs This Fall

Published Sep 27, 2026

With the MLS and NWSL regular seasons entering their final weeks, both the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns are jockeying for playoff positioning heading into October.

First Significant Rain of the Season Expected Across the Metro This Weekend

Published Sep 25, 2026

After a dry Oregon summer, forecasters say the Portland metro area's first real rain system of the fall is set to move in this weekend, marking an informal end to wildfire season for much of the region.

Portland-Area Apple Orchards and Pumpkin Patches Open for the Season

Published Sep 23, 2026

Farms around the metro area are opening their gates for fall, with u-pick apple orchards and pumpkin patches drawing families out to the Willamette Valley's farm country through October.

Fall Chinook Begin Their Run Up the Willamette and Clackamas Rivers

Published Sep 21, 2026

As water temperatures drop, fall Chinook salmon are returning to the Willamette and Clackamas rivers to spawn — a seasonal run that draws anglers and wildlife watchers to the metro area's waterways.

Fall Equinox Arrives Tuesday, Marking the Official End of Summer

Published Sep 20, 2026

The autumnal equinox lands this Tuesday, the astronomical marker that officially closes out summer and kicks off fall across the Portland metro.

Light Wildfire Haze Possible This Weekend as Regional Air Quality Dips

Published Sep 18, 2026

Shifting winds could bring a light layer of wildfire smoke into the Portland suburbs this weekend, a seasonal pattern that's become familiar in recent late-summer stretches.

Portland-Area Rental Vacancy Ticks Up Slightly, New Report Suggests

Published Sep 16, 2026

A new regional housing report shows rental vacancy rates edging higher across the Portland metro this summer, a shift that follows last month's report of cooling home sales.

The Metro's First Genuinely Cool Morning of the Season Arrives Today

Published Sep 14, 2026

After a summer of warm mornings, today brings the first real chill across the Portland suburbs — an early signal that the seasonal shift toward fall is underway.

Fire Stations Across the Metro Mark 25 Years Since September 11 Today

Published Sep 11, 2026

Local fire departments across the Portland suburbs are holding quiet remembrance moments today, marking a quarter-century since the September 11 attacks.

Friday Night Lights Return This Week as Fall Prep Football Kicks Off Across the Suburbs

Published Sep 9, 2026

High school football season is underway across the Portland suburbs, with the first full slate of Friday night games already on the schedule this week.

Labor Day Brings Modified Transit, Trash, and Government Schedules Across the Metro

Published Sep 7, 2026

City offices, libraries, and some trash routes are closed today for the holiday, and TriMet is running a modified Sunday-style schedule across the region.

Arab Mahrajan Festival Closes Out Labor Day Weekend at Director Park

Published Sep 6, 2026

The 15th annual Arab Mahrajan festival brings food, music, and dance to downtown Portland today, capping off Labor Day weekend with free admission.

Oregon State Fair's Closing Weekend Falls on Labor Day This Year

Published Sep 5, 2026

The Oregon State Fair wraps up its run with Labor Day weekend as the grand finale — if you haven't made it to Salem yet, this is the last chance.

Labor Day Weekend Guide: Art in the Pearl Turns 30, Plus Festivals Across Portland

Published Sep 4, 2026

Labor Day weekend brings a 30th-anniversary art festival, a workers' picnic at Oaks Park, and more — here's what's worth the drive into Portland this weekend.

Portland Metro Home Sales Cooled Slightly in August, New Report Shows

Published Sep 2, 2026

After a strong July, the Portland metro housing market eased back a notch in August — inventory is building, prices are holding steady, and sellers are offering more concessions than they were a few months ago.

Late-Summer Heat and Smoke Return to the Metro Suburbs This Week

Published Aug 30, 2026

After a brief cooldown, wildfire smoke and warmer temperatures are moving back into the Portland metro area — here’s what residents in the suburbs should expect.

Oregon State Fair's First Weekend Brings Beach Boys, 'Weird Al,' and Bigger Crowds Than Last Year

Published Aug 29, 2026

The Oregon State Fair's opening weekend is drawing bigger crowds than last year, with a concert lineup that includes The Beach Boys and 'Weird Al' Yankovic — here's what to know before you go.

Overnight I-5 Lane and Height Restrictions Begin Tonight, Running Through Halloween

Published Aug 28, 2026

Drivers heading north on I-5 through Portland should plan for overnight lane and height restrictions starting tonight — work that's expected to continue through the end of October.

Oregon State Fair Opens Friday in Salem, Running Through Labor Day Weekend

Published Aug 26, 2026

The state's biggest fair kicks off this Friday at the Salem fairgrounds — close enough for an easy day trip from anywhere in the Portland metro suburbs.

Metro Riders Face Their First Monday Under TriMet's Historic Service Cuts

Published Aug 24, 2026

TriMet's deepest service cuts since the pandemic hit their first weekday test Monday, as commuters across the metro suburbs adjusted to a shortened MAX Green Line and dozens of restructured bus routes.

Back-to-School Countdown: First Day Dates Vary by District Across the Metro Suburbs

Published Aug 23, 2026

Beaverton students head back August 25, while West Linn-Wilsonville and Gresham-Barlow start in September — a look at what to know before the first bell.

Weekend Guide: Smile Boat Parade, Hawthorne Street Fair, and More Around Portland

Published Aug 22, 2026

A boat parade, a bike show, and the city's longest-running street fair all land on the same weekend — here's what's worth the drive into Portland.

Portland Metro Home Sales Picked Up Pace in July, New Report Shows

Published Aug 19, 2026

Closed sales rose 8.1% year-over-year in July, and homes sold in an average of 54 days — the fastest pace of 2026 so far.

PGE Proposes Another Rate Increase — Eighth Straight Year for Portland Metro Customers

Published Aug 17, 2026

Portland General Electric's latest filing would raise residential bills by nearly 4%, adding about $8 a month across the metro suburbs by July 2027.

Weeks-Long I-5 Shutdown Through Portland Set to Begin September 11

Published Aug 16, 2026

Southbound I-5 closes between I-405 and I-84 for up to five weeks starting September 11 — commuters from every metro suburb should expect two- to three-times longer drives.

Portland Metro Roundup: Heat, Smoke, and Water Conservation Across the Suburbs

Published Aug 15, 2026

TriMet's Biggest Service Cuts in Years Take Effect August 23

Published Aug 13, 2026

TriMet's biggest service changes in years take effect August 23 — the MAX Green Line no longer runs downtown, two bus lines are eliminated, and routes across Beaverton, Lake Oswego, West Linn, and the Clackamas area are being consolidated.

Lloyd Center Closes for Good After 66 Years, Ending an Era for Portland-Area Shoppers

Published Aug 12, 2026

Thousands turned out for a final send-off as the Northeast Portland mall — once the largest shopping center in America — closed its doors for good on August 8, ahead of demolition for a new mixed-use development.

Wildfire Smoke Blankets Portland Metro Area, Air Quality Reaches Hazardous Levels

Published Aug 5, 2026

Smoke from the Grasshopper Fire near Mount Hood and the Rowe Creek Fire Complex has pushed air quality across the Portland metro area into unhealthy and, in some areas, hazardous territory.