If you’ve lived in Portland for any length of time, you know that the Portland Festival is the heartbeat of our neighborhood. For over half a century, it’s been the weekend where we all come together, catch up with old friends, and celebrate what makes our community special. After a short break, we’re proud to bring this beloved tradition back for its 52nd year this June.
The festival has always been, and remains, a 100% volunteer-run labor of love. It isn’t run by an outside company or put on by the city; it’s built by people who live right here and spend all year working hard to make Portland proud. This year, the festival is being carried forward by a new group of committed volunteers:
- Jennifer Elliott, President
- Heather Hamilton, Vice President
- Gabriel Tilly, Treasurer
- Gabrielle Benfield, Secretary
- Rachel Benfield & Richard Cummings, Board of Directors
By the Community, For the Community
Since 1975, the festival has operated under this simple idea: By the Community, For the Community. That isn’t just a slogan—it’s how we work. We don’t want this to be just an event you attend and forget about; we want it to be something we all help create—to tell our own story, in our own voice, and to remind the rest of the city that Portland is built on people who care deeply about where they live.
Get Involved: We Need Partners
We need more than just volunteers—we need partners. We need neighbors who want to help brainstorm ideas, folks who can help organize the parade, and people who are willing to help manage the behind-the-scenes work that makes this festival possible. If you care about this neighborhood, we want you at the table.
Join us at the Portland Library for our upcoming planning meetings:
- Thursday, February 12th (6:00–7:30 PM)
- Thursday, February 26th (6:00–7:30 PM)
A Call for Your Old Photos
As we head into our 52nd year, we want to honor the people who paved the way. We are looking for old photos of the Portland Festival from years past—whether they’re grainy snapshots from the 1970s or smiling family photos from the 1990s. If you have any tucked away in your albums, please email us at Info@portlandfestival.org. We’d love to make copies to help build a permanent neighborhood archive and preserve our history for generations to come.
Working Toward a Year-Round Home
Our work doesn’t stop when the festival ends on Saturday night. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the money we raise first goes toward keeping this tradition alive—covering essentials like insurance and safety planning. Beyond that, it supports a much bigger goal: restoring our historic building at 3329 Northwestern Parkway. Our vision is to create a year-round community hub that serves the needs of our neighbors.
How You Can Help (And Who You Know)
We’re looking for local organizations and businesses that want to be part of this comeback. If you work for a company—or know a business owner—who wants to support a historic Louisville tradition, we’d love to talk about sponsorship opportunities.
We also welcome individual donations of any amount. Every dollar counts and helps cover essential costs like restroom stations, stage costs, bands, and safety planning.
To learn more about sponsorships or to make a donation, please contact us at fundraising@portlandfestival.org.
Save the Dates
The Portland Festival returns to the heart of the neighborhood, on the streets near the Portland Library.
- Friday, June 5 (5–11 PM): Kickoff
- Saturday, June 6 (12 PM): The Portland Parade
- Saturday, June 6 (1–11 PM): The Main Event
We’re also accepting parade entries—with contests for best floats and classic cars—and applications from local vendors. Visit our Facebook page if you or someone you know would like to apply.
This is our neighborhood and our festival. Let’s make the 52nd year one to remember.
Contact us: Info@portlandfestival.org
Follow for updates: facebook.com/portlandfestivalky/
