Community Events
SCH hosts engaging and enriching community events for all ages! From long-standing, beloved events like the Halloween Spooktacular, to new events like the Music at The Shack, the Lantern Walk and Nutcracker Tea Parties, Sellwood Community House is always looking for ways to engage, entertain, and bring people together.
Sellwood Community House Events
Sellwood Sessions Concert Series
Sellwood Sessions
The Sellwood Community House brings live music to Sellwood as part of its mission to be a welcoming, intergenerational hub where people of all backgrounds can learn, play, build community, and foster lasting connections and friendships. Music brings a richness to community gathering, adding layers of connection. The “Sellwood Sessions” is the umbrella name for the growing ways that we host musicians in our neighborhood.
Winter Series at Oaks Pioneer Church
Second Fridays, January-May | 7pm-8:30pm | tickets $40-$60 | oaks pioneer church
The Sellwood Sessions at the historic Oaks Pioneer Church offer an intimate, jewel-box concert experience in one of Portland’s most enchanting spaces. With its warm acoustics, glowing wood interior, and stained-glass charm, the Oaks Pioneer Church creates a setting where audiences can connect deeply with the music and the artists who bring it to life.
These performances not only celebrate the beauty of live, local music—they also serve as a fundraiser to support future concerts and community music programs hosted by the Sellwood Community House. Each session is a reminder that when people gather in special places to share art, they help sustain the creative spirit that makes Sellwood thrive.
Artist Line-Up:
January 9…….Katy & the Null Sets: Canceled
February 13….Laura Veirs: Click Here for Tickets
March 13………The Delines: Click Here for Tickets
April 10…………Jenny Conlee: Click Here for Tickets
May 8……………Laura Gibson: Click Here for Tickets
Summer Series at Sellwood Park
Friday Summer Evenings, July-September | 7pm-8:30pm | free | the shack at sellwood park
On summer evenings beneath the shade of 100-year-old fir trees, local musicians fill the park with gentle sound while little kids dance in the grass and neighbors gather on blankets and lawn chairs. You can overhear conversations about dogs, home gardens, and favorite neighborhood businesses—simple moments that weave the fabric of community tighter.
These concerts, launched in 2025, bring vibrance to summer nights, transforming the park into a living reflection of the joy and connection at the heart of the Sellwood Community House’s mission. The music is free, and participants can purchase snacks and drinks from the Shack, or check-out a ball, frisbee or hula hoop to really settle into the joy! In 2025 we brought 10 local musicians to the neighborhood to share their sound and stories with our community.
We are booking bands for Summer 2026!
If you or anyone you know might like to play, please click here to fill out the interest form.
Community Events
Rose City SFF WinterCon
saturday, january 24 | 5:00-9:00 pm | free, reservations encouraged for individual panels | Sellwood community house
The Rose City Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers annually host WinterCon to connect and entertain authors and readers of speculative fiction. The convention includes multiple 45-minute presentations, panel discussions, and workshops balanced between those intended for authors and those intended for readers. The capstone of the convention is the Cyber-magi Award Ceremony. Admission to the convention is free, but reservations for individual events are encouraged.
Panels include:
Philosophy and Science Fiction--Superman, Doctor Who, Multiversity, and WHY it matters
How to Generate Stories from Prompts Like an Improviser
Adventures in Self Publishing
A Sharp Introduction to Medieval Swordfighting
Writing Sex and Romance: A Discussion on Courting an Audience
Hope in Uncertainty: Fantasy for Escape – Live Episode of More Magic Podcast
Click Here for More Information and to Register for Panels
Charcuterie pre-order has closed for this event, but drinks & light snacks will be available.
Community Engagement
Lunar New Year Celebration
Sunday, february 15 | 11:00am - 1:00 pm | $10/person | Sellwood community house
Come celebrate the Lunar New Year with SCH and the Portland Cantonese Play + Learn Group! Enjoy lantern and horse crafts, treats, a DYI photo booth and a lion dance performed by the White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance Group. Space for the lion dance is limited; be sure to reserve your spot!
CASH Oregon Tax Preparation Assistance
Tuesdays | 9:00am - 1pm | appointments required, no walk-ins | register with cash oregon here
MFS CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Oregon is an Economic Empowerment Program of Metropolitan Family Service(this link opens in a new window) committed to improving the financial lives of low to moderate income working families and individuals by providing free, high-quality tax preparation and culturally responsive outreach to communities likely to face barriers to accessing tax credits.
As part of our commitment to reducing barriers to accessing tax credits, CASH Oregon provides comprehensive Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) assistance so that hardworking taxpayers who traditionally miss out on the credits they qualify for because they or their family members do not have social security numbers to use on tax returns can get their rightful refunds as well.
Click Here to Learn More about Who Qualifies for This Service
Emergency Preparedness Workshop
Monday, february 23 | 6:30 - 8:00 pm | Sellwood Community House
Looking to develop or refresh your emergency preparedness plan? Join Bob Burkholder, SMILE Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair, Sellwood NET (Neighborhood Emergency Team) member and retired fire lieutenant paramedic, to learn how you can plan in advance and be prepared to respond to various emergencies. In partnership with Sellwood Moreland Improvement League (SMILE).
This Workshop is Full! Please sign up for our wait list on this form, and we will reach out if space opens up or if we add an additional date.
Past Events This Fall
Enjoy a peek at some of the fun events we hosted this fall.
We hope to see you at Sellwood Community House soon!
Past Events this Fall
Decemberville Holiday Market
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 | 10:00 AM-3:00 PM | SCH
Join us for a whimsical holiday market full of local makers and vendors, including a hot cocoa bar and bake sale! This year, our market is planned in conjunction with Sellwood Moreland’s Decemberville festivities, sure to be a wonderful day to enjoy the neighborhood and check holiday shopping off your to do list!
Bakers needed!
One treasured feature of our Holiday Market is our confection boutique in the lobby. If you have a favorite bake that you would like to share, please click here to sign up for our bake sale, and thank you!
Nutcracker Tea
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 | 10 AM & 2 PM | $45/child, $60/adult | SCH
The Nutcracker Tea is Sold Out.
Join us for a magical journey through the land of sweets! Enjoy a curated tea menu with sweets, savories, and specialty teas, while Classical Ballet Academy dancers perform Nutcracker vignettes. An enchanted way to welcome in the holiday season with friends and loved ones!
A special thank you to Classical Ballet Academy and their wonderful dancers!
Hanukkah Party and Latke Fest
monday, december 15 | 6:00 - 7:30 PM | $10 adults, $5 children | Sellwood Community House Kitchen
Gather in the Sellwood Community House kitchen for an all you can eat latke fest, complete with a toppings bar & lots of holiday cheer! We are delighted to be hosting our first Hanukkah party, and we can't wait to celebrate with you!
Click Here for Tickets to Our Hanukkah Party!*
*Ticket sales close end of day Sunday, December 14. No tickets will be sold at the door.
Would you like to be part of the latke cookoff? SCH will provide potatoes, eggs, flour, onions and spices (plus a toppings bar), or feel free to bring your own ingredients from home if you have a special recipe! Cookoff participants who are bringing their own ingredients can attend for free!
SMURK Singalong at Oaks Pioneer Church
FridaY, DECEMBER 12 | 6:30 - 7:30 PM | oaks pioneer church
Join the Sellwood Community House Band, the Sellwood Moreland Ukulele Revival Klub, for a festive holiday sing along at Oaks Pioneer Church. Great songs, great musicians, and a great venue - we hope to see you there!
The singalong is part of 15 Days of Decemberville, a neighborhood-wide celebration of the holidays in Sellwood/Moreland. Click Here for More Information!
Dog Show with Sellwood Senior Living
Saturday, September 27 | 11:00am-2:00pm | Free, More Info Here | the shack at sellwood park
Sellwood Senior Living is hosting their first annual dog show in Sellwood Park! This event is open to anyone who loves dogs and enjoys having fun! Admission is completely free, and optional donations will go directly to support the Oregon Humane Society. Guests can enjoy complimentary hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy while celebrating our four-legged friends.
Register for the show on the day of the event! Click the flyer for more details, or call (971) 202-9585 to speak to someone at Sellwood Senior Living. We can’t wait to see you there!
Sellwood Ghost Tours
Three Fridays in OCTOBER | 8:00-9:00pm | $25, purchase tickets here | meet at the shack at sellwood park
Take a spooky tour through Sellwood’s haunted history! Recommended for a teenage-adult audience. NOTE: Ghost Tours will start and end at The Shack at Sellwood Park.
Dates: October 3, October 10 & October 24
Recommended for teens & adults, Purchase Tickets Here
History Happy Hour
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 | 5:30-7:00 pm | $45, tickets available here | SCH Lobby
Fresh Fruit and Free Love: The Lewelling Family Legacy
Discover the fascinating story of the Lewellings—early local settlers who fought for abolition, women’s and immigrant rights, and helped shape the Pacific Northwest’s fruit-growing history by planting the first grafted trees at Waverley Golf Club. From secret Underground Railroad missions, to free love, spiritualism, and seances, this talk unveils a family whose passion for justice, fruit, and freedom helped shape history both in Oregon and beyond.
Bespoke cocktails & delicious happy hour fare included with your ticket! All funds raised go to support Sellwood Community House. Special thanks to Kelly Luzania, our wonderful volunteer neighborhood historian!
Lantern Walk
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 | 5-8 PM | $20/child’s ticket, $10/lantern kit, adults free | SELLWOOD PARK
The annual Lantern Walk is a magical, mystical tour through Sellwood Park, with mythical creatures, storytellers and musicians along the way, as well as lots of magical trinkets to fill your pockets!
Purchase one ticket per child, adults attend for free.
Please note, our pre-sale lantern kits have sold out.
Purchase Tickets for the Lantern Walk Here
Spooktacular
Saturday, October 25 | 4-7 PM | $15/child’s ticket, $5/adults | SELLWOOD community house
Sellwood’s favorite Halloween festival returns, with tricks and treats for all. All ages welcome at this annual celebration of all things Halloween!
Please note: We will sell timed-entry tickets for the Carnival Games in the Gym, but the rest of the festival, on the main floor and outdoors, is open to all ticket holders at all times! Join us for donuts-on-a-string, apple cider pressing, face painting, pumpkin games & more! Also featured:
A frightfully sweet variety of treats will be available at our delicious bake sale, with proceeds to benefit our After School Enrichment Program!
Juggles the Clown will be twisting balloon animals to delight our guests!
Purchase Spooktacular Ticktets Here
(Online ticket sales will close at noon on Saturday 10/25, but tickets will be available for purchase at the door)
Spooktacular Baby Ghost Preview
Saturday, October 25 | 3-4 PM | $15/child’s ticket, $5/adults | SELLWOOD community house
Join us for a sweetly spooky preschool preview hour. Your littles can enjoy tricks and treats in a smaller setting before the carnival kicks into full gear! For children 4 and under and their families (older siblings welcome!).
Newly Added: Local children’s authors Zoey Abbott & Megan Woodward will lead a sweetly spooky storytime during the Baby Ghost Preview!
Please Note: The Baby Ghost Hour is sold out, but children of all ages are welcome to come to the main event, and baby ghost games will be available all evening. Tickets Available Here!
Spooktacular Raffle
$10/ticket, or 3 tickets for $25 | Click Here for Raffle Tickets
We have THREE great raffle prizes for you this year!
Woom Explore bike! Our friend Coach Balto, founder of Bike Bus World, will give one lucky winner their choice of size and color, shipped directly to your home! $800 value
Free week of summer camp at Sellwood Community House! Choose your session and leave the fun to us! $425 value
Shack Party for 20! Enjoy exclusive use of the Shack picnic area, access to all games and crafts and beverages (wine and/or NA beverages) and icecream for 20! $500 value
Proceeds benefit our K-5 after school program. Thank you for supporting new art supplies, books, games and scholarships for our neighborhood kids!
Winners will be drawn at 5pm Monday, Oct. 27th. Click Here for Tickets!
The Ghosts of Sellwood
Some friendly neighborhood spirits paid us a visit recently, and we’ll be displaying pictures from their day out and about in Sellwood at this weekend’s Spooktacular! Would you like to deck your halls with similar whimsy? Click on the link below to purchase prints! All proceeds will benefit our After School Enrichment program. Thank you for supporting Sellwood Community House!
Click Here to View our Online Print Gallery & to Purchase Prints!
Thank You to Our
Spectacular Spooktacular Sponsors!
Community supporting community; it doesn’t get much sweeter than that!
We are grateful to the following businesses and individuals for their support of Spooktacular 2025!
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