Around the Sun: A Blog About Saving Money in Portland, Oregon, and beyond

Free Events in Portland This Weekend: Aug 31–Sept 2

August 30th, 2007

Happy Labor Day weekend! I hope you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some fun in honor of the work you do all year long.

Admission is free to all of the events listed here. In many cases, food and drink are available for purchase.

Friday, August 31

• The Oregon Ballet Theatre presents OBT Exposed, a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at life in a professional ballet company. There will be a free children’s ballet class from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Then you can watch the pros in class and in rehearsal for their performance on Saturday. At 7:00 pm, OBT will be showing “The Turning Point,” a ballet movie starring Mikhail Baryshnikov. It’s all taking place at the South Park Blocks (corner of SW Park & SW Main directly behind the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall). For more information, visit the OBT website.

• After 30 years in business, Music Millennium Northwest is closing its doors today—and it’s going out with a bang. From 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm, the store will host live performances from Floater, Stars Of Track And Field, Army Of Me, Hide And Go Hustle, Jack McMahon, Old Believers, Adam Mackintosh, They Shoot Horses Don’t They, and Jim Brunberg. Free refreshments will be available, and all CDs, DVDs, cassettes and vinyl are 40% off. Music Millennium Northwest is located at 801 NW 23rd (at Johnson). For more information, visit the Music Millennium website. (Thanks Metroblogging Portland for the heads up.)

• Powell’s City of Books on Burnside will be hosting Wizard Rock at 7:30 pm. According to the website: ”What better way to end a summer of Harry Potter mania than with a wizard rock festival at Powell’s? Wizard rock, of course, is the musical craze in which rock bands play songs about (who else?) Harry Potter. Join us for the synth-stylings of Seattle’s The Parselmouths…and the folkier sound of Providence’s The Whomping Willows.” For more information, visit Powell’s online calendar. 

• “Batman” will be playing at Pioneer Courthouse Square at dusk. For more information, visit the Pioneer Courthouse Square website.

• Beth Willis will be performing at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. 21 and over. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Vivid Curve will be performing at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Rising Violet will be performing at Millennium Plaza Park at 1st & Evergreen Streets in Lake Oswego from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. For more information, visit the Lake Oswego Parks website.

• Masque Alfresco will perform “The Misanthrope” at the Beaverton Library Lawn (12375 SW 5th & Hall Blvd), 6:30 pm–8:00 pm (check website for more information).

Saturday, September 1

• It’s the first day of Art In The Pearl, a 3-day arts festival taking place on the Northwest Park Blocks. More than 100 artists will be showing and selling their work. Local musicians representing a range of cultures will be performing throughout the day. Kids and adults will be able to enjoy hands-on art activities. The festival runs from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, between W Burnside and NW Glisan at NW 8th Avenue. Visit the Art In The Pearl website for all the details.  

• The Oregon Ballet Theatre presents OBT Exposed, a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at life in a professional ballet company. Starting at 11:00 am, you’ll be able to watch the pros in class and in rehearsal, followed by performances at 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. It’s all taking place at the South Park Blocks (corner of SW Park & SW Main directly behind the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall). For more information, visit the OBT website.

• Farmington Gardens is hosting its 5th Annual Tomato Festival. You’ll have the chance to sample dozens of varieties of tomatoes, as well as get your gardening questions answered. Chef Dan Brophy from the Oregon Culinary Institute will be demonstrating and sharing tomato recipes. For more information, visit the Farmington Gardens website.

• Jimmy Bivens will be performing at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. 21 and over. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Joseph Konty will be performing at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “The Taming of the Shrew” at 3:00 pm at Reed College (SE Woodstock and SE Reed College Place, in front of Eliot Hall). For more information, visit www.portlandactors.com.

• Masque Alfresco will perform “The Misanthrope” at the Beaverton Library Lawn (12375 SW 5th & Hall Blvd), 6:30 pm–8:00 pm (check website for more information).

Sunday, September 2

• It’s Day 2 of Art In The Pearl, a 3-day arts festival taking place on the Northwest Park Blocks. More than 100 artists will be showing and selling their work. Local musicians representing a range of cultures will be performing throughout the day. Kids and adults will be able to enjoy hands-on art activities. The festival runs from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, between W Burnside and NW Glisan at NW 8th Avenue. Visit the Art In The Pearl website for all the details.  

• Portland Festival Symphony will be performing at Foothills Park (199 Foothills Drive, Lake Oswego) at 4:00 pm. Enjoy the music of Auber, Handel, Brahms, Beethoven, Bizet, and Haydn. For more information, visit www.portlandfestivalsymphony.org.

• Misty Mamas (American roots) will be performing at Lents Park (concert gazebo south of stadium at SE 92nd & Holgate) at 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Portland Parks website.

• Richard Day-Reynolds will be performing at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. 21 and over. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “The Taming of the Shrew” at 3:00 pm at Reed College (SE Woodstock and SE Reed College Place, in front of Eliot Hall). For more information, visit www.portlandactors.com.

• Masque Alfresco will perform “The Misanthrope” at the Beaverton Library Lawn (12375 SW 5th & Hall Blvd), 6:30 pm–8:00 pm (check website for more information).

If you know of any other free events happening this weekend, please write a comment about it. If you’d like me to include an event in a future round-up, feel free to contact me.

Entry Filed under: Entertainment,Events,Food,Free,Frugal living,Movies,Music,Portland,Theater