Blumenauer Witching Hour Transforms Portland’s Eastside this Halloween
For one magical day on November 1st from 2-6PM, the Blumenauer Witching Hour will transform NE/SE 7th Avenue into a car-free corridor alive with celebration, creativity, and connection. Anchored by the Blumenauer Bridge and the cultural hub of the Bear Blocks, this Halloween & Día de los Muertos festival links the Lloyd and Central Eastside districts in a spellbinding celebration of all things whimsical, playful, and uniquely Portland.
The event is generously sponsored by Metro’s Regional Travel Options program and produced in partnership with Central Eastside Industrial Council, Central Eastside Together, Lloyd EcoDistrict, Friends of Green Loop, Lloyd Enhanced Services District, Go Lloyd, and Milagro.
“This event draws inspiration from the 2022 Blumenauer Bridge grand opening,” said Carolyne Holcomb, Executive Director of the Central Eastside Industrial Council. “That day showed us what’s possible when a major infrastructure milestone becomes a moment of joy, connection, and pride for our community.”
The event serves as a pilot for both districts, highlighting the role of district activation in advancing mobility and transportation initiatives. “Through this festival, we aim to show how people-first streets can uplift small businesses, ignite cultural connections, and inspire walking, biking, and transit as everyday magic,” said Kristin Leiber, Executive Director of Lloyd EcoDistrict.
Festival highlights include pumpkin painting, bike decorating, and a pet costume contest, along with interactive booths, a pop-up market, live music, Milagro’s Day of the Dead Altar Ride, and a beer garden at the forthcoming Bear Blocks. Families, friends, and neighbors are invited to arrive in costume and experience the charm of Portland’s Blumenauer Bridge—lit up, full of life, and free of cars.
“This event also re-emphasizes the importance of the Green Loop, a pedestrian- and bike-friendly route encircling Portland’s Central City,” said Keith Jones, Executive Director of the Lloyd ESD. “It’s a chance to reimagine our streets as pathways that keep Portlanders connected to their neighborhoods and to one another.”
Limited tabling opportunities are available free of charge to nonprofits, community groups, and local businesses. With thousands of attendees expected, it’s a rare opportunity to connect directly with the public and be part of Portland’s very first Blumenaur Witching Hour.
This event is made possible through support from Metro and the Federal Transit Administration.
Blumenaur Witching Hour
A Halloween & Día de los Muertos festival
Saturday, November 1, 2025
2:00-6:00 PM
NE/SE 7th Avenue — Lloyd to Central Eastside
Website: Link here
