Because, of course our city needed to have a Portland Weird Fest, right?
It does make sense, especially as citizens among us celebrate weirdness and we’ve become famous for the saying “Keep Portland Weird.” The people behind it all, led by Weird Portland United, have set up the first Portland Weird Fest for Sept. 7, noon to 5 p.m., at Oaks Amusement Park. Be there or be square.
It’s a positive that you have been called weird, or that people call themselves weird. It’s a badge of honor, and a lot of Portland have been honored with badges.
The Portland Weird Fest will bring together all facets of weirdness in one place, featuring unique vendors, captivating characters, eclectic performers, and interactive experiences.
“If you aren’t weird when you arrive, you certainly will be by the time you leave,” said Christine Lassiter, president of Weird Portland United .
Brian Kidd, Portland’s own Unipiper, started Weird Portland United in 2018 and its mission is to “celebrate, amplify, and incubate” all things weird in Portland, including with initiatives such as the Weird Gala 2019, Weird Murals and Weird Beer Series (a Portland Elvis Beer to help John Elvis Schroeder’s housing situation). It’ll continue with the Weird Museum, which is in the works.
“Keep Portland Weird” has long been the de facto motto for our city. The phrase was coined by longtime Music Millennium owner Terry Currier.
Lassiter has embraced Portland weird since her arrival, with her two youngest children, from Texas in 2017.
Unbridled in the Rose City, Lassiter felt comfortable to come out with an alter ego to fit right in.
“I’m 50 years old and I’m Aurelia Stardancer, a Centaur, and a mortgage broker,” she said.
(She has walked among the people as Aurelia Stardancer — not a mortgage broker — at Portland Winter Light Festival and Portland Saturday Market, among other events.)
Lassiter and fellow weirdos are not just horsin’ around. Portland is still weird, she said.
“The weird has been kind of underground, in so many nooks and crannies,” she said. “I started the podcast ‘Finding My Own Weird,’ with a challenge to find them. There’s no community connection to them all together. One thing we’re working on is making these people more visible. For most people, it’s their livelihood or partially so, they need that support.
“There are truly so many hungry for community, it’s why they jumped on to this. … You don’t know who the weird is. It could be your UPS driver, could be your waiter. None of us are one thing. It’s truly the most satisfying thing. Artists, performers, characters, everyday people, young people. So many. You can just see they’re comfortable in their own skin. It doesn’t mean everybody’s a character or has a weird business, it means everybody here still feels they can be their true authentic self outside of the confines of normal.”
Well said — and not weird at all.
Lassiter said that she and the Weird Portland United posse wanted to do something unlike other street fairs and festivals, where “they’ve all been cookie-cutter — come, shop, eat, you might listen to a band and leave.”
She added: “We have weird vendors, they’re all weird. We have our weird bands. We have a lot of interactive things for people to do. There’s a pop-up movie theater with local short weird films, a weird pie eating contest, weird bingo and trivia. We have several free games for kids to play with a weird twist, and surprises that we’re not letting people know about.”
There’ll be about 20 roaming performing characters. Gigantic Brewing hosts the beer garden. A 21-and-over section includes burlesque, drag and sideshow performers. There’ll even be a series of trading cards featuring the Unipiper, Una the Mermaid and Portland Sleestak.
Currier, who could be the coolest individual in our city, will have a booth at Portland Weird Fest — it’s only fitting.
The city council has proclaimed Sept. 7 as “Keep Portland Weird Day,” Lassiter said.
“Since I’ve become part of the weird community, I’ve had people say to me, ‘Oh the weird, that’s what’s wrong with Portland,’” Lassiter said. “ As somebody who comes from a place where they wouldn’t allow what we have here (referring to Texas), I know what it’s like without color, beauty and freedom. Weird has nothing to do with unhoused, protest, drugs (referring to Portland’s problems) — they’re not connected in any way. Those things are big-city issues.
“The weird here is one thing that makes us very different from other big cities. We’re the difference, not the problem, we are the solution for many people. I hope more young people will see the thrill in being yourself.”
More: weirdportlandunited.org .
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