5. Bite of Oregon

The Buzz -- In August, lots of great Portland restaurants set up booths in the park, tempting visitors with their house specialties. Over the course of the weekend, you can sample a multitude of international cuisines, including bites from Greece, Africa, Asia, Italy and Mexico. There's also plenty of vegetarian fare available, along with tasty American standards. Bands representing a variety of musical genres regale festival-goers with tunes, and there are games, giveaways, comic performances and kids shows, as well. There's even a wine garden with selections from more than two dozen Oregon vintners. Even better, the entire event is for a good cause: the Oregon Special Olympics.