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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: May 30–June 1

May 30th, 2008

I know the Rose Festival is the big news of the weekend, but I can’t stop thinking about doughnuts…mmm…doughnuts….

Admission is free for all events below. Have a great weekend!

Friday, May 30

• Rose Festival Waterfront Village: Admission is free before 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rose Festival website.

• Voodoo Doughnut Parade: Voodoo Doughnut is hosting a parade from its downtown shop to Voodoo Doughnut Too, its new and larger second location. All are invited to walk or bike along with the Voodoo crew. The parade starts at 6:45 pm at 22 SW Third and ends at 1501 NE Davis. For more information, visit the Voodoo Doughnut website.

• Speaker Speaker (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 6:30 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.

• Swim Swam Swum (website), Hey Lover (website) and Speaker Speaker (website) will perform at Twilight Cafe at 8:00 pm. Visit the Twilight Cafe website for details.

• Jon Garcia (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Pilar French (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Carlyle (website) will perform at Borders in Beaverton at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Borders website.

• Pete Krebs Jazz Trio (website) will perform at Press Club at 8:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Eddie Parente (website) will perform with Vince Frates at RiverPlace Hotel at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for more information.

• Embracing Encaustic Book Release Party: Celebrate the release of Embracing Encaustic: Learning to Paint with Beeswaxwith author and artist Linda Womack in her private studio. 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For details, visit the book’s website.

• Brendan Mullen will talk about his book Live at the Masque at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.

Saturday, May 31

• Starlight Parade will be making its way through downtown Portland starting at 8:30 pm. Visit the Rose Festival website for details and route map.

• Mt. Tabor Central Yard & Nursery Open Yard Day: Mt. Tabor Yard & Nursery is the maintenance and horticulture center for Portland Parks & Recreation. The event includes guided tours of the gardens and green houses, kids’ activities, and more. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Visit the PPR website for details.

• Concert and Free Beer: The Grokkers will be performing and showing their new music video, while Ninkasi Brewing passes out beer made specifically for the event. The Green Dragon Bistro and Brewpub, 8:00 pm.

• Wilsonville Festival of Arts: This event includes an art show featuring the work of more than 75 artists, as well as performers offering music, dance and other live entertainment. Kids will also enjoy interactive art activities. Visitor Information Center in Town Center Park, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the festival’s website.

• Sturgeon Festival: Puppets, a clown, a storyteller and others will provide entertainment and information on the Columbia River and it inhabitants. Water Resources Education Center, noon to 4:00 pm. Visit the Water Resources website for details.

• Tualatin Spring Fling Celebration: The event includes entertainment, food, kids’ activities and an opportunity to learn more about Tualatin. Tualatin Commons, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the City of Tualatin website.

• Morgan Grace (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 5:00 pm. (Also playing a free show at Doug Fir on Sunday!) Visit the Music Millennium website for details.

• Eric John Kaiser (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Will West (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Darrell Grant (website) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for more information.

Sunday, June 1

• OHSU Festival: The festival includes live music, the OHSU health and fitness expo, activities, food and more. South Waterfront Neighborhood Park, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Visit the festival website for more information.  

• CRAFT 07 Release Party: Two of Portland’s craft superstars, Susan Beal and Sister Diane, are hosting a party to celebrate the release of the newest issue of CRAFT Magazine. Among the festivities, Susan will teach guests how to make the Button Bracelet featured in her book Bead Simple. Twisted, noon to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the Twisted website.

• Wilsonville Festival of Arts: This event includes an art show featuring the work of more than 75 artists, as well as performers offering music, dance and other live entertainment. Kids will also enjoy interactive art activities. Visitor Information Center in Town Center Park, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the festival website.

• Sturgeon Festival: Puppets, a clown, a storyteller and others will provide entertainment and information on the Columbia River and it inhabitants. Water Resources Education Center, noon to 4:00 pm. Visit the Water Resources website for details.

• Free Night of Local Music at Doug Fir: Morgan Grace, Oh Darling, and London and the Look will perform at Doug Fir at 9:00 pm (doors open at 8:00 pm). For more information, visit the Doug Fir website.

• Day Of Lions (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 5:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.

• John Bunzow (website) will perform at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Sunday Cinema Classics at St. Johns Library: Cat Ballou will be playing at 2:00 pm. Free tickets for limited seating will be available at 1:30 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• The film Dr. Strangelove will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Carl Zimmer will talk about his book Microcosm: E. Coli and the New Science of Life at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For more information, visit the Powell’s website. 

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.

Other articles from Around the Sun:

• August 14, 2007 -- “…making a big fuss out of an adult shopping in a junior’s section”
• October 9, 2008 -- Around the Sun Turns Two
• June 8, 2007 -- My New Money-Saving (and Fat-Busting) Game

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