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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: July 11–13

July 11th, 2008

This is the kind of weekend where I wish I could clone myself. There are so many events I want to go to. See if you agree.

Also, be sure to check out Concert Co-op for free concerts in addition to the ones I’ve listed here.  

As always, admission is free for all events below. Have a great weekend!

All weekend (July 11–13)

• The play “Willy Wonka” will be performed live at Washington Park Amphitheatre (400 SW Kingston Avenue) at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

Saturday and Sunday (July 12–13)

• Animal Planet Expo: TV channel Animal Planet is bringing exotic animals, Philippe Cousteau, Frisbee dogs and more to Fernhill Park (NE 37th Avenue & Ainsworth Street), Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• 2008 US Open Footbag Championships: Many of the sport’s top athletes and entertainers from North America will display their footwork. Saturday—Willamette Park (SW Macadam Avenue & Nebraska Street), 12:30 pm. Sunday—Pioneer Courthouse Square, 12:30 pm. Visit the event website for details.

Friday, July 11

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “Julius Caesar” in Washington Park at 7:30 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.

• Free Dance Lessons at Portland Dance Festival: The public is invited to learn country two step, night club two step, and line dancing. Classes start at 6:00 pm at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel. For details, visit the event website.

• First Friday in Camas: Due to the July 4 holiday, the monthly first Friday event in Camas is happening tonight. 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Visit the Downtown Camas website for more information.

• Portland Concerts in the Park: The LaRhonda Steele Band (soulful R&B) will perform at Fernhill Park (NE 37th Avenue & Ainsworth Street) at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Tony Pacini will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.

• Pete Krebs will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Tualatin Concerts on the Commons: Fools in Paradise (marimba) will perform at Tualatin Commons at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Liberty Plaza Concert Series: Dry County Crooks and Robbie Laws will perform at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, respectively. Liberty Plaza is located in downtown Oregon City next to the Clackamas County Courthouse. Visit the event website for more information.

• Timothy Hull (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.

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

• Multnomah Outdoor Cinema: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” will be showing at the Multnomah Arts Center (7688 SW Capitol Hwy) at dusk. Visit the Multnomah Arts Center website for more information.

• Wilsonville Movies in the Park: “Bee Movie” will be showing at Memorial Park. Lawn opens at 8:15 pm. Movie starts at dusk. Visit the event website for more information.

• Editor Ellen Sussman will talk about the book “Dirty Words” at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.

• Art Exhibit Opening Reception: This event celebrates the opening of Robert Mars’ Beauty in Hindsight exhibit at Guestroom Gallery (4114 N Vancouver Avenue, Portland). The press release also says the free food will be awesome. 6:00 pm. Visit the Guestroom Gallery website for more information.

Saturday, July 12

• Bastille Festival in the Pearl: Festivities include waiter race, live music, dog parade, children’s activities, fencing and pétanque demonstrations, and more. Jamison Square Park (810 NW 11th Avenue), 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Pix Patisserie Bastille Day Block Party: Pix has organized a full day of fun, including live music, grape stomping contest, pet parade, mass pillow fight, French bingo, waiter race and more. The party will surround the Pix North location at 3901 North Williams. Visit the Pix website for details.

• Mississippi Ave Street Fair: The festival includes live music, dance lessons, children’s activities, parade, barbecue rib-off and more. North Mississippi Avenue between Skidmore and Fremont, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the Mississippi Ave website.

• KEEN Stand Festival: Celebrating sustainable living, the festival features live music, Mudeye Recycled Puppet Show, art-making activity with SCRAP, and more. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• East Portland Multicultural Fair: The fair features African, Asian, Latino and Russian musical acts, as well as ethnic cuisine and children’s activities. Hazelwood Hydropark (1017 NE 117th Avenue), noon to 6:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• PDX Air Fair: The folks at the Portland Airport will show you how the airport works. You’ll see things like de-icing and fire fighting equipment, and enjoy interactive displays, marimba music and acrobatic shows. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Beneath the Big Blue Dome: This event is geared toward families and offers music, theater, puppetry, craft tables, a parade and more. The Artistery (4315 SE Division Street), 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Visit the Artistery website for more information. 

• Community Open House at Gilbert Heights Park: You’ll get to talk with the people who are working on the new design for the park and share your ideas. Plus there’ll be activities and food. SE 130 & Boise, 10:00 am to noon. Visit the event website for more information.

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “Julius Caesar” in Washington Park at 7:30 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.

• Buggy Puppet Show: Penny’s Puppets will perform “Where Is Lilly the Catapilly?” at Albina Library at 11:00 am. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• GreenWalks: Explore Mount Tabor Park 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.

• GreenFest in Vancouver: The festival includes activities, exhibits and music focused on sustainability. Ellis Jones, author of “The Better World Handbook,” will speak at 10:00 am. Marine Park and the Water Resources Education Center, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visit the event website for details.

• Kids’ Archeological Dig at McLoughlin House (Oregon City): Kids aged 8–12 will learn about archeology and “dig” for artifacts in specially prepared boxes. Registration begins at 9:30 am; classes are at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Each class is limited to 20 kids. Visit the event website for details.

• Portland Concerts in the Park: Sassparilla (insurgent blues) will perform at Rose City Park (NE 62nd Avenue & Tillamook Street) at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Nancy Curtin will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.

• Lincoln Crockett (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.

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

• Portland Movies in the Park: “Jumanji” will be showing at Dickinson Park (SW 55th Avenue & Alfred Court) at dusk (between 8:00 pm and 8:45 pm). Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Tualatin Movies on the Commons: “Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix” will be showing at Tualatin Commons at about 9:00 pm (movie begins after sunset). Visit the event website for more information.

• West Linn Movies in the Park: “We Are Marshall” will be showing at Mary S. Young Park at dusk. Visit the West Linn Parks website (look under “Upcoming Parks & Recreation Events & Activities”) for more information.

• UC Davis Brewing Professor Charles Bamforth will talk about his book “Grape vs Grain.” BridgePort Brewpub + Bakery, 1:00 pm. Visit the BridgePort website for more information. for more information.

• Ashley Maceachern will talk about her children’s book “Lance in France” at 11:00 am at Powell’s Books, Cedar Hills Crossing. Visit the Powell’s website for more information.

Sunday, July 13

• Craft PDX Festival: The Museum of Contemporary Craft is hosting a block party featuring live music, art activities, lectures and artist talks. NW 8th & Davis, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Visit the MCC website for more information.

• Lisa Loeb (website) will perform songs from her new children’s album at 2:00 pm at Barnes & Noble, Clackamas Towne Center Mall. Visit the B&N website for more information.

• Pickin’ on Sundays Concert at Doug Fir: Little Sue and Pete Krebs will perform on the Doug Fir patio at 3:00 pm. 830 E Burnside. Visit the Doug Fir website for more information.

• Chris Marshall (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E Burnside) at 6:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.

• Innisfree (traditional Irish music) will perform at Tryon Creek State Park (11321 SW Terwilliger Boulevard) at 2:00 pm. Visit the park website for more information.

• Portland Concerts in the Park: Rhythm Culture (reggae meets blues) will perform at McCoy Park (N Trenton Street & Newman Avenue) at 6:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Jim Fischer’s Piano Summit—Culture, Class and the Musical Caravan: Concert pianist Jim Fischer and special guests will perform at the Central Library at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• The History and Mystery of the Blues: Local bluesman Steve Cheseborough will play and talk about blues from the 1900s–1930s. St. Johns Library, 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah County Library website.

• Lake Oswego Concerts in the Park: 3 Leg Torso will perform at Millennium Plaza Park at 6:00 pm. Visit the Lake Oswego website for more information.

• Cubaneo (website) will perform at Center Street Park in Beaverton at 6:00 pm. Visit the Tualatin Hills Park District website for more information.

• Caroline Oakley (website), Maggie Brunjes (website) and Professor Banjo (website) will perform at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.

• Guided Walk in Tryon Creek State Park: 3:15 pm. Visit the park website for more information.

• The movie “Shampoo” will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Author Aaron Elkins will be speaking at Murder by the Book (3210 SE Hawthorne Blvd) at 5:00 pm. Visit the MBTB website for more information.

• Poets Matt Schumacher, Christopher Luna and Casey Bush will talk about their respective books at 4:00 pm at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne. Visit the Powell’s 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.

Other articles from Around the Sun:

• July 7, 2008 -- Updates to Lists of Free Summer Concerts and Movies in Portland
• July 18, 2008 -- More Updates to Lists of Free Summer Concerts and Movies in Portland
• July 13, 2008 -- Animal Planet Expo Is the Bee’s Knees (and It’s Frees)

Entry Filed under: Art, Books, Children, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Events, Food, Free, Frugal living, Kids, Literature, Movies, Museums, Music, Portland, Theater, saving money