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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Nov 23–25

November 22nd, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving, all! Here’s this week’s summary of free events. Admission is free for all of the events listed here. Have a great weekend!

Friday, November 23

• The Macy’s Holiday Parade will be winding its way through downtown Portland early Friday morning. According to the Portland Oregon Visitors Association website: “The parade is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m. at Lincoln High School, travel north on Southwest 14th Avenue, east on Southwest Alder Street … south on Southwest Second Avenue and west up Taylor Street to an ending point near Lincoln High.” 

• The Tree Lighting Ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square will be taking place at 5:30 pm. Mayor Tom Potter and Santa will be there. And the Portland Jazz Orchestra with Valerie Day will perform. For more information, visit the Pioneer Courthouse Square website. 

• There will be a tree lighting celebration at Bridgeport Village as well…with Santa (hmm, I wonder who gets the real Santa? ). You’ll be treated to entertainment by the Oregon Symphony’s Yuletide Spectacular Tap Dancing Elves and Brass Quintet, as well as the 140-member Oregon Children’s Choir. Dickensian characters and other performers will pass out free hot chocolate along with other festive surprises throughout the evening. The event starts at 6:00 pm at the Center Court Gazebo. For more information, visit the Bridgeport Village website.

• The City of Lake Oswego is having its own tree lighting celebration from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Join the City and the Chamber of Commerce for a fun evening of refreshments and caroling, great music and entertainment—even a special guest! Gather at the corner of 5th Street and A Avenue to join in this holiday tradition. Visit the Lake Oswego website for more information.

• Last but not least, the City of Vancouver’s annual tree lighting celebration is happening at Esther Short Park. The event will feature performances by the Cascade Middle School choir and Radio Disney. Hot beverages and baked goods will be served in the hospitality tent. Please bring a non-perishable food donation for SHARE Vancouver. Hospitality tent opens at 5:00 pm. Radio Disney performance, 6:00 pm. Official Lighting Ceremony, 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Vancouver website.  

• Alpacas of Oregon will be hosting an Open Barn in Sherwood. Meet the alpacas and watch fiber demos. 10:00 am–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the Alpacas of Oregon website. Thanks DIY Alert for the heads up!

• Eddie Parente Duo will be performing at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• T. Ray and the Shades 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.

• Bagdad Theater & Pub is hosting a local comedy showcase at 10:20 pm. Ages 21 and over. For more information, visit Bagdad website.

• Someday Lounge is hosting The Fix starring Rev Shines of Lifesavas, Ohmega Watts, DJ Kez, and DJ Dun Diggy at 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the Someday Lounge website.

• The Title Wave Used Bookstore is having a Customer Appreciation Sale. Receive 55% off most purchases. Look for treasures hidden throughout the store: gift certificates, gifts, coupons for bigger discounts. One treasure per customer. 8:00 am–4:00 pm. The Title Wave Bookstore is stocked with items that have been retired from the Multnomah County Library system. Browse through 20,000 used books, records, CDs, DVDs, videos, magazines and cassettes. Regular prices start at $2 for hardback novels and nonfiction. Some items start at $0.25. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

Saturday, November 24

• Alpacas of Oregon will be hosting an Open Barn in Sherwood. Meet the alpacas and watch fiber demos. 10:00 am–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the Alpacas of Oregon website.

• Eric John Kaiser will be playing at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Acoustic Minds 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. 

• Boka Marimba will be playing dance music from Zimbabwe and southern Africa from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm at the Skidmore Market (2nd and Ankeny in downtown Portland, just across the MAX tracks from Saturday Market). Thanks to reader Mary for the heads up!

Sunday, November 25

• It’s Family Discovery Sunday at the Museum of Contemporary Craft from 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. This month’s theme is Doodle Your Daydream. Come for a day of ceramic painting with the Pearl District’s Ready Paint Fire, as your guide. Adorn a piece of white ceramic pottery with images of your own reveries. Suggested firing fee donation: $2. For more information, visit the Museum of Contemporary Craft website.  

• Scissors For Lefty will be at Music Millennium at 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the Music Millennium website.

• Billy Kennedy will be playing at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. Ages 21 and older. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Boka Marimba will be playing dance music from Zimbabwe and southern Africa from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm at the Skidmore Market (2nd and Ankeny in downtown Portland, just across the MAX tracks from Saturday Market).

• Willamette Week’s monthly Portland Lounge Series is happening at Towne Lounge. Leigh Marble and Andy Combs will perform. 9:30 pm. For more information, visit the Towne Lounge website. 

Entry Filed under: Books,Children,Entertainment,Events,Food,Free,Frugal living,Holidays,Kids,Music,Portland