20 Best Corporate Event Ideas in Portland, OR

By: | Updated: July 31, 2023

You found our list of fun corporate event ideas in Portland, Oregon.

Corporate event ideas in Portland are activities that help raise employee morale and encourage participation, in addition to fostering innovation and teamwork and boosting communication among employees. Examples include scavenger hunts, boat rides, and food tours. Corporate events are fun and provide an excellent distraction from employees’ daily routines.

This list contains indoor team building ideas, outdoor team building ideas, and activities for holiday parties. These ideas are similar to team building activities in Portland and Portland company outing ideas.

This article contains:

  • corporate event ideas in Portland for adults
  • outdoor corporate events in Portland
  • corporate party ideas in Portland
  • large group corporate event activities in Portland

Let’s get started!

List of corporate event ideas in Portland

As Oregon’s geographic crossroads, Portland is a vibrant and diverse metropolis with many opportunities. This list of best corporate event ideas in Portland is your starting point for a memorable time the Rose City. These suggestions are ideal whether your team is located in the area or just in town for a conference.

1. The Art of Storytelling (Top Choice)

Through The Art of Storytelling, your team can learn to use the power of telling stories to create connections.

This experience includes the following:

  • 120 minutes led by skilled facilitators
  • interactive activities that boost communication and presentation skills
  • key elements of an engaging narrative, like language, emotion, and structure
  • dedicated time for participants to refine their techniques
  • detailed feedback from the host

Additionally, we will bring all the necessary supplies to the venue of your choice. To help your team learn to connect with and inspire others, be sure to check out The Art of Storytelling.

Learn more about The Art of Storytelling.

2. Field Day (Popular)

If you are looking for a team building experience that will strengthen relationships, then check out Field Day! Teams will compete in interactive outdoor games and contests.

Here is what you can expect:

  • 90 minutes with a world-class host
  • exciting competitions and classic outdoor games
  • childhood favorite activities to spark players’ memories
  • chances to take team photos for the office or social media pages

To make planning simple, we will bring all the supplies to the venue of your choice. To host an unforgettable team building experience, check out Field Day!

Learn more about Field Day.

Get our free team building toolbox

  • icebreaker games
  • bingo cards
  • DIY guides

heartby teams at FedEx, Amazon, Deloitte and 73,930+ others

Tool Box

3. The Great Guac Off™️ (Team Favorite)

If you are seeking an experience that fosters creativity and teamwork, then look no further than The Great Guac Off! This guacamole-themed event allows teams to go head-to-head in friendly competition.

Here is what you can expect:

  • 90 minutes guided by talented hosts
  • engaging avocado facts, trivia, and mini-games
  • premium guacamole ingredients and dippers
  • an optional secret ingredient to challenge participants
  • an exciting guacamole mash-off and judging round

To simplify the planning process, we will provide all the necessary ingredients at the venue of your choice. So add The Great Guac Off to your agenda to help your staff bond!

Learn more about The Great Guac Off.

4. DIY Bar

At DIY Bar, you can do arts and crafts while enjoying cider, beer, or wine. The DIY Bar team can go to your location, or you may visit their Northeast Portland office. You and your team will get to work on small projects like baggage tags and coasters or larger ones like wallets, flasks, and bottle openers. Sessions usually are three hours long, and participants can bring snacks. The studio accommodates up to 49 guests.

Learn more about DIY Bar.

5. Hike the 4T Trail

Portland’s proximity to beautiful natural areas is one of the city’s greatest strengths. There are mountains, lakes, and woods all around this bustling city. If you do not want to spend a whole day on foot but want to see a lot of the city, the 4T Trail is a fantastic option. To begin your trek, catch a train to the Oregon Zoo and explore the Rose Garden and the rest of Washington Park. Then, you can go up the hill approximately two and a half miles until you reach the OHSU campus, where you may ride the aerial tram down. Finally, you can get back to your starting point by using the trolley. If your team is new to the city, then this is one of the best outdoor corporate events in Portland.

Learn more about Hike the 4T Trail.

6. The Kennedy School

The Kennedy School is an old structure that the McMenamin Brothers have transformed into bars and brewpubs. The “classrooms” of this old high school are now conference spaces, banquet halls, and hotel rooms. The service is customizable to your team and creates a unique atmosphere. There is also a restaurant, four bars, a soaking pool, and a movie theater. Whether having a retreat, a conference, or simply happy hour, consider this space for large group corporate event activities in Portland.

Learn more about the Kennedy School.

7. The Tom McCall Waterfront Park

If your team is looking for corporate party ideas in Portland, then visiting Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a good idea. Located on the banks of the Willamette River in the heart of Portland, Oregon’s old capital, this 30-acre park offers breathtaking panoramas of the city and its surroundings. In addition, Tom McCall Waterfront Park offers a wide variety of fun activities.

Even though the site may become busy, the Salmon Street Springs fountain is a lovely spot to cool down on hot summer days and a terrific area to go for a stroll, a jog, a skate, or a bike ride. The Police Memorial, the Founders Stone, and the Japanese American Historical Plaza are a few noteworthy monuments in this area.

In addition to hosting annual events like the Portland Rose Festival and the Oregon Brewers Festival, the Tom McCall Waterfront Park also hosts numerous year-round community and corporate events. You and your team can wander around the park’s five distinct areas, including the riverfront Esplanade, the Bowl’s grassy music space, the Central Lawn’s crowds, and the historic John Yeon Building.

Learn more about Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

8. The Hollywood Theatre

The Hollywood Theatre in Portland plays art house films worth seeing. This theater is unique because of its quirky offerings, such as the regular screening of “Hecklevision,” a movie series in which the audience participates by making jokes about the films. You can watch classics like Mortal Kombat, Bio-Dome, and Con Air from the 1980s and 1990s. There is a special guest commentator at each showing, and you may text in your jokes and boos to appear on the screen during the movie.

Learn more about the Hollywood Theater.

9. Tree to Tree Adventure Park

Tree to Tree Adventure Park is perfect for a team outing in the hills. You and your team can enjoy some exhilarating events at this park’s zip lines and aerial obstacle course. Tree to Tree’s guides may facilitate off-site or onsite team-building activities. For instance, the “Leadership and the Brain” curriculum focuses on the physiological effects of exercise on the brain. If your team has spent too much time in the office, this event is one of the most thrilling team outing ideas in Portland.

Learn more about Tree to Tree Adventure Park.

10. City Brew Tours

There are too many excellent breweries in the Portland area to choose just one. Thankfully, if you book a City Brew Tours trip, you will not have to commit to just one brewery. On board the City Brew Tours beer bus, your group may visit some of the finest bars and brewpubs in the city. Tour options include stops at breweries, distilleries, coffee shops, and even doughnut stores. A personalized trip might include stops at your group’s preferred restaurants and pubs. There is also a one-hour-long team-building and onsite sampling session available at Deschutes Brewery.

Learn more about City Brew Tours.

11. Rose City Rollers

You can have your group check out the Rose City Rollers at Oaks Park for your corporate event. This female roller derby league has four senior teams and many youth teams. Party kits from Rose City Rollers can transform any flat, open area into a makeshift roller-skating rink for your team.

According to the mission statement, “The Rose City Rollers’ mission is to serve women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals who want to play the team sport of roller derby, connect with an inclusive community, and realize their power both on and off the skates.” Attending a home game is a great way to spend an evening with your teammates and show your support for an inclusive sports culture.

Learn more about the Rose City Rollers.

12. Portland Electric Boat Company

An excellent way to take a break from work is to let loose on the Willamette River with your team members and have a night in an electric boat. With a rental from Portland Electric Boat Company, you can easily travel the river regardless of your prior boating expertise. You can cruise around downtown Portland at sunset with your own food and drinks. This team event is perfect for celebrating the long summer nights in the Pacific Northwest.

Learn more about the Portland Electric Boat Company.

13. Eat Adventures

A culinary tour of Portland’s best restaurants is a fun and unique alternative to a conventional team dinner. This three-hour event is a casual, entertaining, and educational opportunity to learn about Portland’s culinary past while stuffing your face with delicious, locally-sourced cuisine. Your tour guide will be an excellent resource for learning about the city’s cuisine, the local culture, must-see attractions, and insider recommendations you will want to remember while staying in Portland.

It is advisable to wear proper shoes since you will be walking a lot. This activity is a fantastic opportunity to spice up team dinners and get to know Portland better.

Learn more about Eat Adventures.

14. Live Laugh Love

If you are looking for corporate event ideas in Portland for adults, then consider participating in a relaxing craft lesson and letting your imagination run wild. You can pick a project from the many available options and follow along with team members as you go through the process of creating your unique masterpiece. The facility offers catering options, including wine, beer, and cider. Your team will get all the materials necessary for the event, from crafting supplies to aprons.

While you and your team will be free to work independently, for the most part, there will be personnel on hand to answer any questions or address any issues you may have as you go through the experience.

Learn more about Live Laugh Love.

15. Mind Trix Escape Room

An escape room provides plenty of fun opportunities to improve your problem-solving, communication, and cooperation abilities. The average time to solve the room is 60 minutes, but if you want to keep going, you can always attempt another puzzle later.

If you run out of time trying to solve the problem alone, the personnel at the facility will gladly answer any questions you have and provide tips and hints. This activity is a terrific choice for first-timers, and seasoned puzzle solvers since Mind Trix change their puzzles regularly. The costs are low, and bigger groups can join by simply reserving more rooms.

Learn more about Mind Trix Escape Room.

16. Portland Ghost Tour

With this activity, you and your team can skip the boring walking tour and see a different, ghostly side of the city. Portland is famous as one of the most haunted cities in the United States, and this tour will take you to some of the most notorious locations in the lower 48.

In most cases, tours last between 60 and 90 minutes, making them ideal for teams looking for activities to do after a meal together. It is essential to plan if you are traveling with a large party since the company requires teams to make reservations at least one month in advance. This event is a fantastic opportunity to tour Portland while also learning about its rich and varied past at a reasonable price.

Learn more about Portland Ghosts.

17. Oaks Amusement Park

Mini golf is one of the most interesting outdoor corporate events in Portland since it has wide appeal, does not need much preparation, and allows every team member to chill and unwind. You can get food and drinks at the venue. In addition, there are spots to sit and play games like cornhole or giant Jenga with teammates after a round of mini-golf. Since it is possible to divide the participants into smaller teams, this event is great for groups of varying sizes.

Learn more about Oaks Amusement Park.

18. Splat Action

Splat Action is the biggest paintball arena in Oregon. For this event, pack your food and wear your gear for a unique fighting game. You can also hide out in this woodland park with your army of coworkers for the thrill of a lifetime. This activity may help you learn to communicate non-verbally while providing a fun and social outlet for relieving stress. Also, this incredible setup allows you to act out a fight with its bunkers, towns, and foxholes. This event is the perfect exercise for teams looking for excitement and adventure.

Learn more about Splat Action.

19. Pedal Bike Tours

You and your team can take a 15-person cycling tour through Portland’s Great Beer Corridor. You will get the opportunity to visit some of Portland’s finest breweries, with pit stops along the way for refreshments. The average duration of this event is between three and two and a half hours, so set aside the whole afternoon for it.

Your bike ride will come with an expert guide and driver happy to share interesting facts about the city’s past, present, and future with you. You should note that you will have to pay extra for any beverages at the breweries you visit, but other than that, the bike party is a reasonably inexpensive event for small to medium-sized teams.

Learn more about Pedal Bike Tours.

20. Trackers Portland

Taking up archery is a great way to improve your concentration while having fun learning a new skill and bonding with your colleagues. This experience typically lasts between one and two hours, though longer sessions are available upon request. In addition, participants get a thirty-minute tutorial on safety and techniques from a certified instructor.

The facility will provide all the materials you need, and in some instances, you may even bring your own food and drink to enjoy during the event. You can keep score to determine who on your squad has the finest aim or hold a competition to find out who is the best shooter. This event is a terrific choice for teams on a tighter budget interested in trying out new activities together.

Learn more about Trackers Portland.

Conclusion

Choosing a corporate event for your group in Portland is easy because of the city’s convenient location. You may spend long summer days exploring the outdoors thanks to the proximity of rivers, woods, and mountains, or you can spend wet winter nights inside at one of the many taverns or breweries. Rip City has an abundance of venues suitable for business events of all sizes. In addition to exciting citywide treasure hunts and relaxing boat trips on the Willamette, your company events will include delicious drinks and entertaining games.

Next, check out these lists of event planning books and corporate family fun day ideas.

Book wildly fun team building events with expert hosts

View experiences
team building event banner

FAQ: Corporate event ideas in Portland, Oregon

Here are frequently asked questions about corporate event ideas in Portland.

What are some ideas for corporate events in Portland?

Some ideas for corporate events in Portland include party bikes, food tours, craft workshops, and hiking.

How do you entertain attendees at corporate events in Portland?

You can entertain attendees at corporate events in Portland by hosting a picnic at the Waterfront Park, taking a brewery tour, or participating in a Thai cooking class.

Author avatar

Author:

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com.
Grace is the Director of People & Culture at teambuilding.com. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

LinkedIn

Share this article:
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Local Team Building Events

From $50 per person

team building host with event cards

Enter your email for instant access