Summer in Portland is truly paradise for the frugal music lover. From July through August, the warm air over many outdoor venues will carry the sweet sounds of free concerts.
Here are links to the free summer concert series that I’m aware of. I’m sure there are more. If you have any to add, please write a comment.
Admission is free for all events below. Have a great weekend!
All weekend
Pedalpalooza: It’s the last weekend for this bike-related mega-event. For the full schedule, visit the event website.
North American Organic Brewers Festival: Admission is free, and you can get a $1 discount on the tasting mug if you ride MAX to the event and present your validated ticket. The three-day festival takes place at Overlook Park. For details, visit the event website.
Friday, June 27
Portland Actors Ensemble will perform Julius Caesar in Washington Park at 7:30 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.
Environmental Film Event: The film Kilowatt Ours will be showing at Bagdad Theater. Doors open at 5:00 pm, show starts at 6:00 pm. All ages welcome. Visit the Bagdad website for more information.
Kate Davis (website) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.
Miss Michael Jodell (website) and Matt Brown (website) will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Mark Alan (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.
Lewi Longmire Band (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.
Alexa Wiley (website) will perform at Borders in Beaverton at 7:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.
Multnomah Outdoor Cinema: Men in Black will be showing at the Multnomah Arts Center at dusk. Visit the event website for more information.
Author Chris Hedges will talk about his book Collateral Damage at 7:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.
Comic book creator Peter Bagge will talk about his book Apocalypse Nerd at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.
Saturday, June 28
Good-in-the-NeighborHood Festival: This two-day multicultural music and food festival features live music, cultural food vendors, kids’ arts and crafts, and more. Saturday and Sunday starting at noon at King School Park. Visit the event website for details.
Portland Mural Show Block Party and LivePaint: At this community event, the main attraction will be a live paint-off featuring 40 artists. Live music all day. Olympic Mills Commerce Center, noon to 6:00 pm. Visit the event website for details.
Old House Fair: If you’re interested in old houses and period-authentic renovation, this is your event. Architectural Heritage Center, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For details, visit the event website.
Portland Actors Ensemble will perform Julius Caesar in Washington Park at 7:30 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.
South Portland Historical Walking Tour: Author Laura Foster will lead this walking tour and talk about the history of Portland’s oldest neighborhoods. 9:00 am. For details and meeting place, visit the event website.
GreenWalks: Explore Sylvania Natural Area Park (SW 53 & Capitol Hwy) with a guide from Portland Parks & Recreation. 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Appropriate for adults and families. Visit the PP&R website for details.
Recycled Arts Festival in Vancouver: The festival will include live music, kids’ activities and entertainment, art vendors, and more. Esther Short Park in Vancouver. Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. For details, visit the event website.
Bike Repair and Maintenance Clinic for Women: Bike Gallery will present a hands-on clinic covering basic bike maintenance, flat repair, and cleaning techniques. Multnomah Arts Center, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. For details, visit the event website.
Grant Richards (website) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.
Joshua Slamp (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.
The Red Rubber Band (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 Tigard at 7:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.
Americana Music Concert: Stumptown Stars will perform multiple genres of Americana music, such as Appalachian, bluegrass, folk and more. Sellwood-Moreland Library at 2:00 pm. For details, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
Wizard Rock Concert:Tonks, a band that plays original rock inspired by the Harry Potter book series, will perform at Capitol Hill Library at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
African Drumming and Dancing Workshop: Taught by musician and artist Chata Addy, this interactive workshop will introduce families to Ghanaian music. North Portland Library, 11:00 am. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
Poetry Reading and Walk: Sharon Wood Wortman will talk about her book Walking Bridges Using Poetry as a Compass: Poems About Bridges Real and Imagined by 70 Poets, with Directions for Five Self-GuidedExplorations at St. Johns Library, 3:30 pm. The reading will be followed by an optional walk to St. Johns Bridge. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
West Linn Movies in the Park:Horton Hears a Who! will be playing at Mary S. Young Park at dusk. For more information, visit the City of West Linn website. (Look under “Upcoming Parks & Recreation Events & Activities”)
Comics and the Internet: An interactive discussion with comic book creators Peter Bagge, Daniel Duford, Neal Skorpen, Dylan Meconis and Jenn Manley Lee. Someday Lounge, 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Someday Lounge website.
Comics Party + Magazine Release: After his appearance at Someday Lounge, Peter Bagge will be at Floating World Comics from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm with fellow artists J.R. Williams and David Chelsea. Also, the event will celebrate the release of AshMagazine, a literary and visual arts publication. For more information, visit the event website.
Children’s book author Dawn Desjardins will talk about her books at 1:00 pm at Twenty-Third Avenue Books. Visit the shop’s website for more information.
Sunday, June 29
Good-in-the-NeighborHood Festival: This two-day multicultural music and food festival features live music, cultural food vendors, kids’ arts and crafts, and more. Saturday and Sunday starting at noon at King School Park. Visit the event website for details.
Recycled Arts Festival in Vancouver: The festival will include live music, kids’ activities and entertainment, art vendors, and more. Esther Short Park in Vancouver. Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. For details, visit the event website.
Readers Theatre Repertory will perform Fighting Words at the Central Library at 2:00 pm. The performance mixes drama, music and poetry to explore the topic of independence in the US. For reservations, contact 503.295.4997 or info@readerstheatrerep.org. For more information, visit the RTR website.
Family Discovery Sunday at Museum of Contemporary Craft: The theme is Mosaic Madness. With paper, families can make Gaudí-inspired sculptures to take home. 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For details, visit the MCC website.
Billy Kennedy (website) will perform at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield 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.
Movies at Memorial Park in Wilsonville (once you click on the link, look under “City Seasonal Events” and click on “Movies in the Park”): Friday evenings in July and August
Also, I’ve created a new section in the sidebar called “Free Summer Activities.” There, I’ll post links to ongoing programs, so we can refer to them throughout the summer. I plan to add more as I can (such as concerts in the parks). If you know of other ongoing events, please let me know.
Coming soon to a park near you: Free movies! No lines, no fees and no restrictions on outside food!
Over the next few weeks, parks and outdoor venues across Portland will host movie screenings under the stars. Among the film selections, you’ll find classics and recent releases, most of which are family-friendly. Here are the events I’m aware of:
Movies at Memorial Park in Wilsonville (once you click on the link, look under “City Seasonal Events” and click on “Movies in the Park”): Friday evenings in July and August
McMenamins Edgefield (click on “Movie Listings”): Thursday evenings in July and August.
If you know of any other events, please share.
By the way, I know the person who is organizing the Princess Bride screening in Lents Park. Although the details are still in the works, he plans to show the movie as part of a larger event featuring a variety of activities and a costume contest. It’ll be a blast—I mean it. (“Anybody want a peanut?”)
As they do every summer, the Portland Actors Ensemble (PAE) will bring the works of Shakespeare to life in our parks. The fun starts on June 26 with a four-week run of Julius Caesar in Washington Park. Afterward, PAE will perform The Two Gentlemen of Verona from July 26 through September 1 at a different location each week. All performances are free. For the complete schedule, visit the Portland Actors Ensemble website.
KOIN News did a story on a recent women’s clothing swap organized by PDXSwap. A total of 75 women attended, which is massive, but it looks like everything went smoothly. If you’ve been wondering what one of these swaps is like, take a look:
As always, admission is free for all events below.
Also, the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Garage Sale is happening on Saturday and Sunday. This is my favorite garage sale of the year. Read what I said about the sale last year here and here.
Have a great weekend!
All weekend
Pedalpalooza: The bike events continue. For the full schedule, visit the event website.
Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts: All weekend, George Rogers Park and Lakewood Center For The Arts will host art exhibits, live entertainment, artist demonstrations, children’s activities and more. Most are free. For more information, visit the event website.
Comics professionals Jessica Abel and Matt Madden will talk about their book Drawing Words and Writing Pictures: Making Comics from Manga to Graphic Novels at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.
Author Barbara Pope will talk about her book Cezanne’s Quarry at 7:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing. For more information, visit the Powell’s website.
Author Phillip Margolin will talk about his book Executive Privilege at the Tigard Library at 7:00 pm. For details, visit the Tigard Library website.
Saturday, June 21
Bike to the Oregon Zoo and get in free: Free admission to anyone who uses a bike as his or her main method of transportation to the zoo, whether by riding the entire distance or riding part way and taking advantage of MAX. For more information, visit the zoo website.
No.Fest: Nu Music.Arts St. Johns: This all-ages music and art festival runs from 10:00 am to midnight at four venues in St. Johns: Towne Square, St. Johns Booksellers, Legong Gelato and Proper Eats. The lineup includes new jazz, rock, electronic, acoustic, spoken word and more. For details, visit the event website.
“Explorando El Columbia Slough” Bilingual Environmental Festival: This family-friendly event offers activities in both Spanish and English, including guided canoe trips, live music, rock climbing wall and more. Whitaker Ponds Nature Park, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Visit the festival website for details.
A Taste of Portland Dance: Agnieszka Laska Dancers will perform, as well as Polaris Dance Theatre, Northwest Professional Dance Project, Minh Tran & Company, Rumpus Room Dance, Luciana Proaño and Dancing People Company, at Imago Theatre at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the ALD website.
Declare Your Independence: At this event, you can view the typeset version of the Declaration of Independence and enjoy live entertainment. First 500 people get t-shirts and posters. Rose Garden, Lexus Club Level, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Visit the Rose Quarter website for more information.
Two Buggy Puppet Shows: Northwest Library will host “The Insect-lopedia,” a performance by Mudeye Puppet Company at 3:30 pm. Across town, Holgate Library will host “The Great and Wonderful Marionette Flea Circus!” by the Oregon Fantasy Puppet Theatre at 3:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.
Tibetan Festival in Vancouver: The Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association is hosting this event featuring Tibetan artwork, dance, food and more. Esther Short Park, noon to 5:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Here Comes Everybody (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 5:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.
Andrew Oliver (website) and Tim Wilcox (website) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.
Lisa Stringfield (website), Kaitlyn ni Donovan (website) and Amoree Lovell (website) will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Eddie Parente (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.
Cloverdayle (website) will perform at Borders in Tigard at 7:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.
Author Molly Gloss will talk about her work at the Central Library at 1:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
Sunday, June 22
Sunday Parkways: Six miles of North Portland streets will be closed to traffic from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm to give people the opportunity to enjoy the neighborhood car-free. Parks and businesses will host entertainment and activities. For more information, visit the event website.
Junie B. Jones Stupid Smelly Bus Tour will make two stops in Portland. First, Junie will give a performance at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing, at 11:00 am. At 4:00 pm, she will perform at Borders in Tigard. For more information, visit the Powell’s or Borders website.
Hillsboro Art & Wine Festival: Admission is free to this celebration of art and wine, featuring live music and about 55 art and wine vendors. East Main Street in downtown Hillsboro, noon to 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.
Lincoln’s Beard (website) and Love Trucker (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 5:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.
Mary Flower (website) will perform at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.
Author Mark Schorr will talk about his book Fixation at 5:00 pm at Murder by the Book. For more information, visit the MBTB 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.
I spent Saturday afternoon at Cirque du Cycling. Did anyone else go?
I got there just in time for the bike parade, which included a small but enthusiastic group of participants riding a variety of bikes.
Afterward, the Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) Soul Choir treated guests to an upbeat performance. Cirque du Cycling was a benefit for SEI, a youth development organization.
The Sprockettes, a bicycle dance troupe, also gave a high-energy performance. One of the dancers reminded me of Parker Posey.
The event closed with two bike races (aka criteriums). I watched the first one, which included 75 amateur racers. I’d never seen a bike race before. Talk about adrenaline!
And I loved the variety of colors and patterns on the riders’ outfits. Even their bike frame color matched their clothes. Is that on purpose?
The winner was the cyclist I referred to as American Flag Guy during the race. Later I found out his name is TheRhys Haydon.
Cirque du Cycling was the perfect thing to do on such a gorgeous day. Mississippi Avenue is a neat area with a bright future.
I took lots of photos of the festival, all of which you can see at Flickr.
Admission is free for all events below. Have a great weekend!
All weekend
Pedalpalooza: Over the next two weeks, there’ll be tons of free biking activities as part of this annual event. For the full schedule, visit the event website.
Friday, June 13
Liberty Plaza Concert Series:Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags will play at 6:00 pm; The Lloyd Jones Band will perform at 8:00 pm. Liberty Plaza, next to the Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City. For more information, click here.
Natalie Pinkis (website) will perform at Borders in Vancouver at 7:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.
Kevin Barber & The Happiness Boys (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.
Mood Area 52 (website) will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.
Ben Darwish will perform at RiverPlace Hotel at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for more information.
Author Salman Rushdie will talk about his book The Enchantress of Florence at 7:00 pm at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing. For details, visit the Powell’s website.
Author David Sirota will talk about his book The Uprising at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For details, visit the Powell’s website.
Author Paulette Rees-Denis will talk about her book Tribal Vision: A Celebration of Life Through Belly Dance at Ink & Paper Group from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the Ink & Paper Group website.
Betty Roberts will read from her memoir With Grit and By Grace: Breaking Trails in Politics and Law at the Oregon Historical Society at 5:00 pm. Click here for more information.
Saturday, June 14
Cirque du Cycling: This event includes a family bike ride (registration required), a parade of wild-looking bikes, and bike racing. For more information, visit the event website.
Berry Jam at Kruger’s Farm on Sauvie Island: On Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, enjoy live music, hay rides, jam making classes for kids and more. For more information, visit Kruger’s website. Thanks to UrbanMamas for the heads up!
Worldwide Knit in Public Day: There are two events in the Portland area: Pioneer Square and Streets of Tanasbourne fountain area, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Check the WWKIP website for more information and rainy day instructions.
Healthy Kids Fair: This event is all about safety for you and your kids: practice a fire drill, get a close-up look at an ambulance, and more. Bike helmets will be on sale for $5. Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.
Maternity and Baby Clothes Swap is happening at Milagros at 11:30 am. Visit the Milagros website for more information.
Patton Square Park Re-Opening Celebration: The public is invited to enjoy music and theater performances, games, and arts and crafts. 11:30 am to 2:30 pm (dedication ceremony at 1:00 pm). For more information, visit the Portland Parks website.
Flag Day Kids’ Fair in Vancouver: This event includes entertainment, free rides on the Wells Fargo Stage Coach, a Flag Day Ceremony featuring a faux George Washington, free food, and more. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Visit the City of Vancouver website for more information.
Wetland Watchers Nature Walk in Tigard: Tualatin Riverkeepers volunteers will lead a two-hour nature walk where adults and kids can learn about the wildlife existing in the Tigard Public Library wetlands and Fanno Creek Trail. Meet in the Tigard Library Community Room at 1:00 pm. Visit the library website for details.
Scotland Barr & The Slow Drags (website) will perform at Music Millennium at 5:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.
Lincoln Crockett (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.
The Brothers Jam (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.
Natalie Pinkis (website) will perform at Borders in Gresham at 7:00 pm. Visit the Borders website for more information.
Clay Giberson will perform at RiverPlace Hotel at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for more information.
The History and Mystery of the Blues: Steve Cheseborough will talk about and play the blues. Northwest Library, 2:00 pm–4:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
Buggy Puppet Show:Dragon Theater Puppets will perform “Little Bugs, Big World” at Central Library from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.
Author Jen Delyth will be talking about her book Celtic Folk Soul at Kathleen’s of Dublin at 1:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.
Sunday, June 15
The Portland Pride Parade will be stepping through downtown Portland starting at 11:00 am. For more information, visit the parade website.
Berry Jam at Kruger’s Farm on Sauvie Island: On Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, enjoy live music, hay rides, jam making classes for kids and more. For more information, visit Kruger’s website.
Free admission for dads at the Portland Children’s Museum. Check the museum website for more information.
Dads can ride free on the Willamette Shore Trolley with paying children (over 3 years old). Visit the trolley website for more information.
Church of Craft is having its monthly craft class/get-together at the Central Library from 12:30 pm–3:30 pm. This month’s class is Playing Card Notebooks. Seating is limited to 70 people, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For the list of supplies you’ll need to bring and more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.
Author Sheldon Siegel will be signing his book Judgment Day at Murder by the Book at 5:00 pm. Visit the MBTB website for more information.
Author Jeremy Scahill will talk about his book Blackwater at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. For details, visit the Powell’s website.
The film Pyeongtaek: Struggles of South Korea for Land will be showing at Hotel deLuxe. 6:30 pm. Contact the hotel to RSVP, 503.219.2093. For more information, visit the Hotel deLuxe 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.
