Portland 5 Things to Do This Weekend in and Around the City

1. Some of the top floral designers in the Pacific Northwest will have their work on display starting this weekend at the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland. It's the Ninth Moon Floral Design Showcase where each display features chrysanthemums. Friday is premiere night and there will be live music, champagne, a live floral design, and more. It's part of the garden's annual Mumvember celebration with more than 750 potted chrysanthemums placed around the garden.

2. It's Wordstock weekend - a uniquely Portland celebration of the written word. Authors. Workshops. Readings. Parties. Signings. A live presentation of OPB's State of Wonder. Events for children, teens, adults. If it's between two covers, there's a chance that it will be celebrated. Everything that you need to know can be found right here.

3. If it's the first Saturday in November, it's time for the Verboort Sausage Dinner. The Visitation Catholic Church in Forest Grove hosts thousands of people from all over for the 82nd annual affair. Handmade sausage, applesauce, and sauerkraut using recipes passed on through generations. Here here for more information.

4. The International Women's Roller Derby Championships are in Portland this week. Hosted by Portland's Rose City Rollers, the event brings teams together from all over as they compete for the Women's Flat Track Derby Association's Hydra Cup. For information, check here.

5. Portland is the Rose City, the Bridge City. It might as well be Craft City given the amount of artisans who call Portland home. And many of them will be at Montgomery Park this weekend for the Portland Bead Society's annual Bead Bazaar. Dozens of people will have their wares on display in what's called the finest bead and findings show in the Pacific Northwest. Check out their webpage for more information.

Photo Lan Su Chinese Garden