Date/Time
Date(s) – 18 Jul 2026
12:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Category(ies) No Categories
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Shriners and American Tiki Culture are a kooky Venn diagram of overlapping fun, distilled beverages, and Americana. With the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners) created in 1872 with the purpose of fun through a mid-eastern theme, and the birth of American Tiki Culture in the 1930’s based on the escapism and idealised island culture of the South Pacific, it was bound to happen these two groups would cross paths.
Nearly every Shriner owns a Hawaiian shirt or three for those perennial hospitality room moments after the formal convention sessions, meanwhile many if not most tiki bars have a formal Shriner’s fez tucked away or displayed prominently. Both groups love libations and a great time.
Between Shag’s commissioned artwork from El Bekal Shriners in Anaheim, Walt Disney’s connection to the Freemasons and Shriners, and many Shrine Veterans who returned home from their time in the Pacific Theatre of WWII, the Tiki Community and Shriners have overlapped, separated, and come back together again like a choreographed dance between Fred and Ginger.
PDXotica seeks to cement the on again off again relationship between these two groups to create a fun soaked, sun soaked, booze soaked weekend of color, mystery, pageantry, and fundraising to help the men who help the kids.