Fourth of July 2026 in the Portland Metro Area

Fourth of July 2026 in Portland - fireworks!

Like I often say in anticipation of big holidays, “it’s that time again”—Fourth of July 2026, or Independence Day 2026 (take your pick), is in just a couple of weeks. Plus this year it’s the semiquincentennial/sestercentennial/quarter millennium of the nation’s founding with the Declaration of Independence.

Of course, July 4 is also a time to gather with friends, family, and loved ones; dance your heart out; view or march in parades; enjoy some barbecue; drink fizzy and fermented beverages; revel in summertime; and watch fireworks (or drone shows).

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Easter 2026 in Portland: Chocolates, Brunch, and More

Easter 2026 is all about the chicks.

Easter 2026 is Sunday, April 5—a couple of weeks earlier this year compared to last year. And this year, western and Orthodox Easter do not fall on the same day (they are a week apart, with Orthodox Easter arriving on the 12th of April). There are plenty of tasty ways to enjoy Easter Sunday in Portland: from chocolate bunnies to hot cross buns, brunch buffets to a takeaway French Toast kit, and more.

Here’s where you can find delicious things for Easter 2026 in Portland.

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Pan Kobo Is Dedicated to Making Shokupan in Portland

A loaf of shokupan bread, which is made at Pan Kobo in Portland.
Shokupan bread. Photo credit: Gregor Halenda Photography.

Oyatsupan owner and baker Hiroyuki “Hiro” Horie has been quietly developing a new Portland production space called Pan Kobo, dedicated entirely to shokupan, AKA “milk bread,” a beloved bread from Japan. The facility is located in the Central Eastside Industrial District. I had a chance to speak with Hiro the other day about Pan Kobo, among other things, and here is what we talked about.

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Four Things I Learned This Week (October 11)

Welcome to this edition of Four Things I Learned This Week!

New yums at Muji. Oyatsupan, Beaverton’s celebrated Japanese bakery, announced that they have a presence at Muji in downtown Portland: “Guess what?! We’ve starting selling a small amount of our pastries inside the café of #mujiportland! Come see how cute their store is, and stay tuned for more exciting things coming…”

Little Bird flies away. The popular bistro Little Bird will close; Sunday, October 27 is its final day of service. I’ve had some good food there—including some delicious dumplings during Dumpling Week. It’s a lovely spot and I will miss it.

Captain Obvious is writing for WalletHub. No surprise to us that Portland is a top “foodie-friendly” town. Here are some stats (1=Best; 91=Avg):

  • 6th – Restaurants per Capita
  • 1st – Affordability & Accessibility of Highly Rated Restaurants
  • 10th – Gourmet Specialty-Food Stores per Capita
  • 1st – Craft Breweries & Wineries per Capita
  • 1st – Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita
  • 25th – Number of Grocery Stores per Capita

Progress with Collective Oregon Eateries. The 82nd Ave. Business Association posted a photo on Instagram with this caption: “This development is picking up steam. Nice to see progress on the future food hall and cart pod!” The Farm House Restaurant is gone and the new structure is on its way to completion. Willamette Week reported back in 2017 that CORE food hall “will draw from cuisines across the spectrum. In addition to at least nine indoor mini-restaurants in the an 8,500-square-foot space—a bit similar to the Pine Street Market—the parking lot will house 15 or so outdoor food carts, a covered patio and parking for both bikes and cars.” The location is SE 82nd Ave and SE Lafayette.