Spring officially started last weekend, but this weekend Portland continues to ring in the season with a wonderfully diverse pair of events: Rang Barse (celebrating the Hindu festival of colors) and the vernal equinox star party (a cosmic celebration of spring).

Both will attract their fair share of celebrants, but they'll be competing with the Oregon Hemp Convention (a free medical marijuana event) [EDIT: Admission is a canned food or cash donation to Oregon Food Bank] and the Vampire's Masquerade Ball (a big night of "gothic elegance").

Go colorful, go cosmic, go dark or go up in smoke: Your weekend entertainment options are eclectic this weekend, Portland. Welcome to spring.

1. Rang Barse: Hindus ring in the spring with Holi, a colorful holiday that celebrates the triumph of good over evil with the throwing of brightly-colored powders (as well as singing, dancing and feasting, of course). Our biggest local celebration is Rang Barse, which returns to the Washington County Fair Complex in Hillsboro.

Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. @ Washington County Fair Complex; $25 for adults, $20 for kids

2. Cannabis Convention: We're still three weeks out from April 20, but Oregon's big medical marijuana event, the Oregon Hemp Convention, is in town offering "a global venue for consumers, growers, CannaBusinesses, entrepreneurs, investors, and community partners." In other words, to celebrate cannabis.

Saturday and Sunday @ Portland Expo Center; free canned food or cash donation

3. Gothic Ball: Portland's gothic, steampunk, Victorian and vampire communities are coming together for the Vampire's Masquerade Ball, "a night of gothic elegance and decadence" that eschews all stereotypes to celebrate our city's dark alternative culture.

Saturday, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. @ Melody Ballroom; $50 at the door, $47 in advance

4. Equinox Star Parties: Stargazers will be ringing in spring as well, albeit in a more subdued fashion. OMSI is once again hosting its two concurrent star parties at state parks around Portland, celebrating the vernal or spring equinox by staring into the night sky, watching as the cosmos swirls around us.

Saturday at 7:30 p.m. @ Rooster Rock and L.L. "Stub" Stewart State Parks; $5 per vehicle

UPDATE: Due to weather, the star parties have been canceled.



5. Gold Show: The Gold Prospectors of America will be hosting the Gold and Treasure Show in Portland, which will run classes and workshops on making gold expeditions, panning for gold and metal detecting. Local prospectors will be on hand to give advice and, presumably, to show off a few big finds of their own.

Saturday and Sunday @ Portland Expo Center; $10

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB