"If we wanted entertainment we had to leave town. To go to Corpus or wherever," Diane Pritchard told KIII as the City of Portland finished work on its Leisure and Entertainment District in Old Town. Her family moved to the area in 1966, and she still lives in the house she grew up in.
A year later, the calendar from now through the first weekend of January backs her up. Fifth & Elm hosts the end of a Halloween series, a first-anniversary concert weekend, the monthly farmers market, a real-ice rink, the finish line of the city's holiday 5K, and the season's biggest ticketed concert, all based at 201 5th St. Ten weeks of Portland plans mostly come down to one address, plus a second one on Billy G. Webb Drive.
What a year put on 5th Street
Voters approved the $33 million district in 2019, KIII reported. The city held the Fifth & Elm ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. on Nov. 14, 2025, and live music and food trucks followed. City Manager Randy Wright described the complex to KIII as 130,000 square feet indoors and out, with a ballroom, an artificial-turf lawn, a permanent stage, water features and climbing areas for kids.
The venue's own site lays out the pieces by name:
- The Atrium, a 15,000-square-foot indoor hub for dining, coffee, coworking, games and events
- The Grove, the restaurant, which includes the Old Towne Pizza Co. concept
- The Birdie Lounge & Terrace Bar, upstairs, with cocktails and shareable plates
- Stage Brew Coffee Kiosk and Sound Bites concessions
- The Great Lawn, home to the stage, the video wall, movies, watch parties and the free concerts
- The Aviary, the private-event space
Visit Portland lists hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. On weeknights there's Singo Bingo every Wednesday, plus live music and all-day happy hour at The Birdie on Thursdays.
When KIII covered the project before it opened, Cathy Skurow, then the mayor, said the hope was to draw other businesses that would "tag along" and grow the area's tax base. The business side will take longer to judge. The event calendar has already moved.
This weekend: the Halloween finale
The October series is called Nightmare at Fifth & Elm St., and it wraps up over the next three days. Every Great Lawn show below is listed as free on the Visit Portland events calendar.
- Thursday, Oct. 29: Melissa Ann plays The Birdie's Sunset Sessions from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., Pups & Palomas holds a dog costume contest on the patio.
- Friday, Oct. 30: Mike Ryan plays the Great Lawn at 7 p.m. The listing credits him with nine No. 1 songs on the Texas music charts. If you'd rather do something hands-on that night, The Willow Venue at 1021 US-181 has a charcuterie board class from 6 to 8 p.m. You register online.
- Saturday, Oct. 31: The Monster Mash runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with costumes, games and treats. At 7 p.m. comes "Thriller Meets Purple Rain," with Smooth Criminal: A Tribute to Michael Jackson, 1999: The Legacy of Prince, and DJ Ed Ocañas. Admission is free, and VIP packages are sold separately. The city calendar also lists a Pumpkin Derby at the same address at 1 p.m.
November: the market, the tributes, then the birthday
The Portland Farmers Market sets up at Fifth & Elm on the first Saturday of each month. The next one is Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A short walk down the same street, Bowman Art & Framing Gallery at 312 5th St. hosts a free First Saturday Art Pop-Up during the same hours. This month it features Corpus Christi artist Vanessa Spittler and her ceramics, acrylic pours and jewelry. The market and the gallery pop-up share a block and a morning, so one parking spot covers both.
That night at 7 p.m., Monica's Bidi Bidi Tribute to Selena takes the Great Lawn. She Wolf: A Tribute to Shakira was added at no extra cost. The show was moved from Oct. 3, it's listed as free, and the calendar says tickets already bought for the original date will be honored.
The Birthday Bash is on Nov. 13 and 14. Kevin Fowler headlines Friday at 7 p.m., with general admission at $20 plus fees and free entry for kids 4 and under. On Saturday, Dreams: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac plays at 7 p.m. That listing mentions reserved table packages but gives no general admission price. Premium seating for both nights is sold through fifthandelm.com.
The city's own November events are at other addresses. They include a Veterans Day ceremony at 5 p.m. on Nov. 11 at 1900 Billy G. Webb Dr. and a mesh wreath class on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. at 2400 Memorial Pkwy.
Two dates to act on before the holidays start
Tinsel Trot registration goes up after Sunday, Nov. 1. The 5K costs $25 through Nov. 1, $35 from Nov. 2 to Dec. 5, and $40 in its final week. The kids' 1-mile run is $10 throughout. Since this post goes up Oct. 29, readers have a few days left at the lowest price. Registration is on Athlete Guild.
Christmas Tree Forest entries close Friday, Nov. 13. That's opening night of the Birthday Bash. Individuals, organizations and businesses can pick up a registration form at the Portland Community Center. All trees go to families in need in the area through the San Patricio County Child Welfare Board.
Christmas on the Coast, centered on two hubs
The city's Christmas on the Coast program runs from late November into January. Most of it happens at either Fifth & Elm or the Portland Community Center at 2000 Billy G. Webb Dr. The evening events and the ticketed nights are on 5th Street. The Santa photos, crafts and tree displays are at the Community Center.
| Date | Event | Where | Cost or note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 28 – Jan. 3 | Real ice skating | Fifth & Elm | $10 per two-hour session, skates included |
| Nov. 30 – Dec. 12 | Toy Drive | Community Center | Drop off a new, unwrapped toy |
| Nov. 30 – Dec. 10 | Christmas Tree Forest | Community Center | Free during center hours |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Holiday Farmers Market | Fifth & Elm | Free to attend |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 1 – 4 p.m. | ChatWork Civic Club Tour of Homes | Four homes around Portland | $20 per person |
| Sat., Dec. 5, 6 p.m. | Tree Lighting & Christmas in Portland | Community Center | Free; Reindeer Games $5 |
| Mon., Dec. 7, 6 p.m. | Parade of Lights | Route through town | Route map on the city holiday page |
| Thu., Dec. 10, 6 p.m. | Pooch-A-Palooza & Santa | Kaiah Dog Park, 1001 Moore Ave. | Bring dog food or supplies to donate |
| Sat., Dec. 12, 8:30 or 10:30 a.m. | Breakfast with Santa | Community Center | Registration required |
| Sat., Dec. 12, 6:15 and 6:30 p.m. | Tinsel Trot kids' run and 5K | Old Town, finishing at Fifth & Elm | $10 kids; 5K tiered |
| Fri., Dec. 18, 8 p.m. | Randy Rogers, Christmas on the Coast Concert | Fifth & Elm | $20 GA to $320 reserved tables |
December 5 is the busiest day of the season, and you can do all three of its main events. The Holiday Farmers Market ends at 2 p.m. The ChatWork tour runs from 1 to 4 p.m., with addresses posted on the club's Facebook page. Then the tree lighting starts at 6 p.m., when Mayor John Green lights the City Christmas Tree. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to that event if you can. The city's goal is to fill a City of Portland truck bed for Christmas for Kids Year Round.
The two hubs come together on Dec. 12. Breakfast with Santa at the Community Center fills the morning. The Tinsel Trot starts in Old Town and finishes at Fifth & Elm that evening, with packet pickup at G-P Nutrition, 504 Moore Ave. The first 100 adult finishers get a ticket voucher for the Randy Rogers acoustic show six nights later. The parade also has something new this year. There's no theme, and floats compete in five categories: Most Illuminated, Most Creative, Best Youth Organization, Best Christmas Spirit and Best Overall.
Visit Portland's calendar says the rink is "back at Fifth & Elm for the holidays." It's open from Nov. 28 through Jan. 3, with two-hour public sessions and tickets sold at Fifth & Elm. A few details hadn't been posted yet. The Breakfast with Santa price and registration link and the full Pooch-A-Palooza schedule were still marked "check back" on the city's holiday page. Check dates, times and prices at visitportlandtexas.com or fifthandelm.com before you head out, since listings can change.
If a season of evenings on 5th Street has you thinking about where you'd like to be living in Portland a year from now, Travis at Teel Properties is happy to talk it over, whether that's this month or after the rink closes in January. Let's Connect.
