Portland Old-Time Music Gathering
- Dates
- Jan 13 to 17, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- To be announced
- Price
- $25 to $50
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 12, 2026
Portland Old-Time Music Gathering returns to Portland, OR, Jan 13 to 17, 2027. Froligo tracks the confirmed lineup, current ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Portland Old-Time Music Gathering is a grassroots, volunteer-run festival held each January in Portland, Oregon, built around traditional Appalachian-style string band music. The weekend brings concerts, square dances, workshops, communal jamming and kids' programming, organized entirely by volunteers as a non-profit event.
How it works
The gathering spreads over five days of concerts, square dances, workshops and open jams at several Portland venues, with the main ticketed events on Friday and Saturday and free kickoff jams and a Sunday cabaret around them. At the 2026 gathering tickets were $25 for Friday night, $10 for Saturday daytime workshops and kids' events, $25 for Saturday night and the square dance, and $50 for an all-inclusive Friday and Saturday pass. Children under 16 got in free to all events, and the jams were free. The organizer says more details for 2027 will follow this fall.
Who it suits
This suits old-time, bluegrass and folk musicians who want to jam as much as listen, and dancers who enjoy a live-band square dance. Beginners can learn at the daytime workshops, and the children's programming and free admission for under-16s make it workable for families. Visitors who only want a seated concert can pick a single evening rather than the full pass.
What people love
Attendees describe the gathering as a highlight of their festival year, citing a consistently excellent lineup and nearly non-stop jamming throughout the weekend. Several say the event is comparatively affordable once travel is factored in, and come away glad they made the trip.
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Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find Portland Old-Time Music Gathering on Spotify.
Lineup
Getting there
How do I get to Portland Old-Time Music Gathering?
The gathering is not one site. Last year's ticketed concerts, workshops and square dance filled one venue on NE Alberta Street, while the free jams ran from a hostel cafe in northwest Portland, a pizza place on North Mississippi Avenue and pubs and lounges along NE 42nd Avenue. Out-of-town musicians in attendee threads fly in for the weekend, and TriMet's MAX light rail covers the first leg from the airport into the city and North and Northeast Portland, running every 15 minutes or less for most of the day. After that, expect to hop between neighborhoods for the jam you want, by bus, rideshare or on foot. The options below cover each way in.
Nearest airport PDX.
By car
The nearest major airport is PDX, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
Red Line to downtown/Gateway Transit Center, then transfer to a northbound MAX Yellow Line or bus toward the Alberta Arts District (NE Alberta St) for the primary venue.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
Affiliate Flying in? You can book an airport transfer from PDX in advance rather than joining the taxi queue on arrival. Transfer links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at PDX
If you are hiring a car, it is worth checking parking near the venue before you go.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the center of Portland. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Camping & Accommodation
Where do most people stay?
Alberta Street is the natural base: the main concert venue sits on it, and the street is lined with bars, restaurants, galleries and a few short-term rentals, so the evening show is a walk back to bed. Staying a little west toward Williams and Mississippi keeps you near more live music and the pizza-place jam, while the late-night jams at the hostel cafe are across town in northwest Portland and call for a ride or a bus home. The options below sort the choices by area.
Where can I stay near Portland Old-Time Music Gathering?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Airport hotels 1
7025 Northeast Alderwood Road, Portland, OR 97218
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMore hotels nearby 4
Airbnb & private camping
Indoor multi-venue winter gathering with no camping component. Hipcamp not a relevant alternative here.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Portland
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
What to bring
A winter weekend of playing and listening spread over several Portland neighborhoods, so what you carry has to survive the walk between rooms.
Full rule
Last edition's schedule listed hosted jams at the hostel cafe from 1 p.m. and again from 10 p.m. to late, with an extra Saturday happy hour there, and a Sunday cabaret at a NE 42nd Avenue lounge.
Full rule
The schedule describes the workshops as suitable for different ability levels and the shanty sing as a pub-style sing with room to lead.
Full rule
Saturday night ticket or all-inclusive wristband required for entry after 6:00 pm; building closes at 11:30 pm.
Entry rules
Accessibility & comfort
Organiser publishes no accessibility statement.
Pricing
Price history and tiers
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Quick answers
When is Portland Old-Time Music Gathering 2027?
Jan 13 to 17, 2027
How much are Portland Old-Time Music Gathering tickets?
$25 to $50 per person, from the official ticket page. Prices change, so confirm before you buy.