Fall has arrived in Portland, and the first weekend of October brings a packed mix of food, culture, local makers, farmers markets, and live music.

If you want an easy plan without spending an hour searching, here are Portland Rundown’s picks for October 2–4.

Start with the Portland Greek Festival.

The Portland Greek Festival returns to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 3131 NE Glisan Street for three days of Greek food, pastries, music, dancing, and culture.

The festival runs Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

What began decades ago as a community fundraiser has grown into an Oregon Heritage Tradition that draws thousands of visitors each year.

Portland Rundown Pick: Come hungry, leave room for dessert, and give yourself time to enjoy the music and dancing instead of treating this as a quick food stop.

Make Friday or Saturday night a Portland Night Market night.

The Portland Night Market takes over 100 SE Alder Street on October 2 and 3 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

It is an easy place to browse local makers, food, drinks, art, and retail while getting a taste of Portland after dark.

This is also the kind of event Portland Rundown wants to keep watching closely, because today’s market vendor can become tomorrow’s neighborhood favorite.

Slow down Saturday morning at the PSU Farmers Market.

The year-round flagship PSU Farmers Market is open Saturday, October 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at SW Park Avenue and Montgomery Street.

The market regularly brings together scores of local farmers and food producers beneath the elm trees on the Portland State University campus.

Grab breakfast, shop for something fresh, and take a walk through downtown before the rest of the day gets busy.

One practical note: the market asks visitors to keep pets away from vendor and shopper walkways, so plan accordingly if your Saturday usually includes a four-legged companion.

Finish Sunday in Lents with food, music, and a neighborhood feel.

Lents International Farmers Market runs Sunday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 5718 SE 92nd Avenue.

A special SoundsTruck NW program is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with live performances and a hands-on fermentation demonstration among the planned activities.

The market focuses on fresh, local, and culturally relevant food for the diverse Lents community, making it a good choice for a relaxed Sunday outing.

The Rundown: You do not have to do everything on this list.

Pick one neighborhood, eat something made here, meet a local maker or farmer, and enjoy a little more of the city you live in.

That is what Portland Rundown is here to do: help you spend less time searching and more time enjoying Portland.

What are you doing in Portland this weekend?

Know an event, neighborhood business, or hidden gem we should feature next time? Tell us about it.