Too much choice can be daunting. So learn to make educated (lunch) decisions at Flavor Street: Portland Food Cart Tour (July 5). Afterward, provide lunch for the less fortunate by donating
cans to the Oregon Food Bank at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival (July 4–7), featuring legend Robert Plant and three-time Grammy nominees North Mississippi Allstars. Then head to the other Mississippi for the Mississippi Street Fair (July 13), a uniquely Portland set of services, crafts, and events. Giant Jenga, anyone? 

The Oregon Berry Festival (July 12–13) ranges from classic strawberry shortcake to tastebud-twisting marionberry barbecue sauce. Wander over to Holladay Park to cheer on the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (July 13–14) at the finish line of the 200-mile race. By now you’ve worked up a thirst (vicariously), so head for the Oregon Brewers Festival (July 24–28), where suds from across the state will bail you out.

Shake it at the 10th-annual PDX Pop Now! (see PDX Pop Now Turns 10), which features as many as 50 of Portland’s spunkiest indie bands, or mellow out at the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival to artists from São Paulo and New York City (both July 19–21). Finally, JAW: A Playwrights Festival (July 15–29) brings staged readings, critiques, and Q&As with writers and directors of local performance companies.