Artistic rendition of Pioneer Courthouse in Portland, Oregon
By Emma Claire Ambroziak
Portland, OR is well-known for its vibrant art scene. Creative self-expression on the streets, ever-changing art galleries, murals, graffiti and frequent vendor fairs all contribute to the city’s artsy reputation. Lesser known are the immersive art shows that blend a variety of art forms and engage audiences through multi-sensory experiences. Below are the city’s most immersive, innovative immersive shows in Portland this year — from planetarium-based plays to well-loved festivals to full-on horror experiences — designed to take art viewership and participation to the next level, for locals and tourists alike.
1. FATHOM Immersive Art Exhibit – downtown Portland
Launching our list of immersive shows in Portland: this underwater, mystical realm is only the first step in the local artists’ plan to establish a larger, permanent, Roboto Octopodo exhibit in the Portland Metro Area. Only open until February 28th, this downtown immersive art exhibit blends absurdity and mysticality to bring together FATHOM, an 8,000 square foot world inspired by Portland’s proximity to the Pacific Northwest Coast. Over 100 artists collaborated to build fantastical sculptures of deep-sea creatures, futuristic soundscapes, textured multimedia art, murals and a well-designed scavenger hunt that engages viewers from the second they walk through the door. Everything about FATHOM is unique to Portland — its featured artists live, work and create locally and the exhibit subtly spotlights Portland-specific details, such as mini Voodoo Donut-themed dioramas. This immersive exhibit certainly rings true to the popular slogan, ‘Keep Portland Weird,’ found on bumper stickers, t-shirts and billboards around the city. Despite FATHOM’s approaching closing date, Roboto Octopodo is sure to return in coming months and years with a permanent, more fleshed-out, uniquely-Portland immersive art experience.
Running until February 28th, www.roboocto.com
- Read: Immersive shows in New York | 5 best shows in 2025-25
- Read: Things to do in New York | 5 interdisciplinary events in 2025
2. Portland Winter Light Festival – different sites around Portland
Running from February 7th to February 15th, this annual festival, put forth by many of the same visionary artists who collaborated on FATHOM, involves immersive performances, installations and participatory events. This year’s theme, ‘A Light For Tomorrow: A Technicolor Future’ will blend innovation, technology and creativity to produce a colourful, futuristic, kaleidoscopic experience — free to all. Get ready for illuminated bike rides, lantern processions, funky glow-in-the-dark costumes and dazzling visuals. This pop-up event series also features a Glow Bar downtown, where art and light installations, interactive pieces and disco balls decorate a glass-walled bar and lounge. DJs, burgers, dumplings,craft beer and specialty cocktails will add to the Glow Bar’s electrifying atmosphere. Now celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the Portland Winter Light Festival – one of the most expansive of immersive shows in Portland – has become a staple for Stumptown.
February 7th–February 15th, www.pdxwlf.com
- Read: Things to do in San Francisco | 5 interdisciplinary events in 2025
- Read: Review of Nutcracker Rouge | the Tchaikovsky classic meets burlesque
3. Silent Sky – OMSI in SE Portland
During the first week of March, Mt. Hood Repertory Theatre is producing Silent Sky by Lauren Gundersen in partnership with Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). This is the first performance to take place in OMSI’s Kendall Planetarium, and will include celestial visuals, live piano music and period costumes. Silent Sky tells the story of Henrietta Swan Leavitt, a pioneering astronomer in the early 1900s whose astronomical discoveries enabled fellow scientists to map the Milky Way and beyond. Her story and legacy, though invaluable to the field of astronomy, are underplayed in comparison to the stories of her male counterparts. This immersive play will blend music, math and creativity as it unfolds the story of a woman whose passion, determination and sacrifice in the early 20th century redefined our understanding of the cosmos.
March 6th–9th, www.omsi.edu/events/silentsky
- Read: Things to do in Boston | 5 interdisciplinary events in 2025
- Read: Who are Punchdrunk? | Our guide to the visionary immersive theatre company
4.Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience – SE Portland
Next up on our list of immersive shows in Portland: Hopscotch, home to 23,000 square feet of art installations and exhibits, is perhaps the most well-known and well-established immersive art experience in Portland. While its size mirrors that of Meow Wolf exhibits around the country, its art relies less on optical illusions and more on a variety of sensory experiences. Trampolines, glow-in-the-dark ball pits, ethereal music and light installations make for a stimulating experience. It opened in June of 2023, and features local, national and international artists’ work. With 14 large-scale, immersive exhibits, creative food and drink menus, and a unique gift shop, Hopscotch has earned itself a permanent spot in Portland’s art scene.
www.letshopscotch.com/locations/portland
- Read: Immersive shows in London | 5 best shows in 2025
- Watch: Interview about Gingerline’s new immersive dining experience involving circus
5. Insidious: The Further you Fear – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in downtown Portland
Ranking among the most intense of immersive shows in Portland, this immersive, live horror event will grace the stage at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Hosted by actual paranormal investigators who inspired the first Insidious movie in the film series, this show is sure to bring horror to life for its audience members. Paranormal demonstrations gone wrong and dark forces unleashed might just spook even the most avid horror fans. Iconic characters such as the ‘Bride in Black’ and ‘The Red Face Demon’ will haunt the venue, potentially even from within the audience. This 80-minute immersive show is a must for horror film enthusiasts and Halloween lovers who are anxiously awaiting the next spooky season.
May 27th, www.portland5.com/arlene-schnitzer-concert-hall/events/insidious-further-you-fear