✳ THE WEIRD WEEKEND DESK · PNW PASSPORT

YOUR WEEKEND
HAS OPTIONS.

You could fold laundry. Or investigate a haunted town, meet 200 cat people, and see what Portland has stuffed into its latest art show. I did the digging. You bring pants and a willingness to leave the house.

Show me the good stuff ↗Full events calendar →
NOT EVERY WEEKEND NEEDS A PLAN.THIS ONE DESERVES A BETTER ONE.✳
01 / FRESH FROM THE DESK

Worth leaving
the house for.

Handpicked for people with strange interests, normal budgets, and a deep dislike of boring event roundups. No ticket inventory is guaranteed.

PICK YOUR POISON
OUR NOVEMBER 6–8, 2026 EDITION · 6 EDITOR PICKS
🦇NOV 7–8
PORTLAND · WEIRD

A Whole Expo Dedicated to Strange Things

Taxidermy, eerie art, odd jewelry, curiosities and vendors who clearly don't shop at normal craft fairs.

Oregon Convention Center · PortlandTicketed
Official details
👻NOV 6–8
WASHINGTON · GHOSTS

Spend a Weekend Investigating Port Gamble

Historic buildings, paranormal talks and optional investigations. Ghost belief not required; curiosity is.

Port Gamble, WashingtonFrom $30; extras separate
Official details
🐈NOV 7–8
SEATTLE · CATS

Seattle Holds an Entire Cat Convention

Cat talks, rescues, vendors and plenty of people who are definitely showing you photos on their phones.

Seattle Center Exhibition HallTicketed
Official details
✨NOV 7
SEATTLE · FREE

Celebrate Diwali Through Art, Music and Food

A free Festál celebration with dance, workshops and performances. Come to learn and celebrate respectfully.

Seattle Center Armory · 12–6 PMFree
Official details
📚NOV 7
PORTLAND · BOOKS

Portland's Book Festival Takes Over Downtown

Authors, readings and art across downtown. The main event may sell out; check free partner events and availability.

South Park Blocks & downtown PortlandVaries
Official details
👹THROUGH DEC 19
PORTLAND · ART

A Gallery Gets Krampus, Santa and Unusual Ornaments

A small downtown gallery exhibition finds new ways to make winter's strangest characters hang on a tree.

imperfecta gallery · NW Flanders, PortlandFree
Official details

EDITORIAL CHECK · NOVEMBER 5, 2026. Featured dates were checked against official venue and event information. Other calendar entries use prior organizer-sourced reporting. This is an events guide, not real-time ticket availability. Schedules, access and prices can change; always confirm before leaving.

02 / MAKE IT A TRADITION

Someone should send you
the weird stuff.

Real stories, excellent detours and the occasional event you would never think to Google.

Join the dispatch ↗Got a strange event? Tell me →
THE OTHER OBSESSION

Go collect some stories.

Twelve real Northwest places. A tiny digital stamp for each adventure you mark. Zero location tracking.

Start the Passport Challenge ↗
ANOTHER WAY OUT OF THE HOUSE

Need a date without a planning committee?

Ten complete Portland dates, already organized with timings, booking notes, budgets and rain plans. The $27 digital guide is optional; the events above remain free to browse.

See the Date Guide ↗
Want this week’s whole email edition? Read Friday Field Notes: Nov 6–8 ↗