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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: August 1–3

August 1st, 2008

This weekend is another example of too many cool events, too little time. What will you choose?

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

Friday, August 1

• Art Shows and Openings:

  • “Thirty-one!”: Thirty-one artists accepted the challenge to paint thirty-one paintings in thirty-one days. The resulting 961 paintings will be on display at OM Tradition Arts (14 NE 10th Avenue and E. Burnside) beginning at 3:00 pm. Then they will be on sale from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Artists for the Arts. Visit the event website for more information.

  • “Mischief”: The 100th Monkey Studio (110 SE 16th Avenue) will host an opening for this exhibit featuring the work of 16 artists. Music will be provided by local Portland teen band, The Vegaleague. 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

  • Zimbabwe Artists Project will host an opening for a month-long exhibit in the Olympic Mills Commerce Building (107 SE Washington Street, Suite 162). Music will be provided by Wood Vibrations. 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Visit DIY Alert for more information. 

  • Also, go to PORT for a list of more events.

• Free Admission Night at Portland Children’s Museum: It’s the first Friday of the month, which means admission to the Portland Children’s Museum is free from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the Portland Children’s Museum website.

• First Friday in Multnomah Village: During this monthly event, shops and galleries stay open late and offer special events, sales and complimentary refreshments. 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the Multnomah Village website.

• First Friday Art Walk in Troutdale: On the first Friday of each month, businesses in downtown Troutdale host local artists exhibiting their work. 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Visit the City of Troutdale website for more information.

• First Friday in Downtown Camas: This month’s event is a special one. Over a dozen musical acts are scheduled to perform, and over 30 artists will display their work. 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm in downtown Camas (4th Avenue, from Dallas to Adams and adjoining streets). For more information, visit the Downtown Camas website.

• Portland Concerts in the Park: Grupo Antifaz (regional Mexican) will perform at Fernhill Park (NE 37th & Ainsworth) at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Dance performance: Metro Dancers (classical to contemporary dance) will perform at Washington Park Amphitheater Stage at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

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

• Lisa Forkish (website) will perform at Hawthorne Theatre at 9:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Tualatin Concerts on the Commons: Django’s Cadillac (jazz) will perform at Tualatin Commons at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Jack McMahon Band (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.

• Flicks on the Bricks: “The Birdcage” will be showing at Pioneer Courthouse Square at dusk. For more information, visit the Pioneer Courthouse Square website.

• Multnomah Outdoor Cinema: “The Princess Bride” will be showing at Multnomah Arts Center at dusk. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Portland Movies in the Park: “Shrek 3” will be showing at Gabriel Park (SW 45th Avenue & Vermont Street) at dusk (between 8:00 pm and 8:45 pm). Pre-movie entertainment starts at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Flicks by the Fountain in Beaverton: “Bee Movie” will be showing at Beaverton City Park at dusk. Pre-movie entertainment will begin at 8:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Outdoor Movies in Vancouver: “The Princess Bride” will be showing at Esther Short Park at sunset (around 9:00 pm). Visit the event website for more information.

• Masque Alfresco will perform Moliere’s “School for Wives” at 6:30 pm at George Rogers Park Memorial Garden in Lake Oswego. Visit the event website for more information.

Saturday, August 2

• Red Bull Flugtag: Fearless flyers will launch their creative contraptions (and themselves) into the air over the Willamette River. The event will take place at Tom McCall Waterfront Park and will open at 11:00 am, with first flight scheduled for 1:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Obon Fest: Obon is an annual Japanese festival commemorating one’s ancestors. This Fest will include taiko performances, kids’ activities, food vendors, and Obon dancing, which everyone is invited to try. Oregon Buddhist Temple (3720 SE 34th Street), 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. You can read about my experience at Obon 2007 here. Visit the event website for more information.

• Iranian Festival: The event includes traditional Iranian and Kurdish musical performances, classical and modern Persian dance performances, children’s activities, Iranian food vendors, and more. Portland State University South Park Blocks, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Visit the PSU website for more information. 

• Kids’ Summer Block Party in the Pearl: This event includes a Greasy Kid Stuff Dance Party, fashion show, puppet theatre, activities hosted by The Children’s Museum, and more at Jamison Square Park (NW 11th and Johnson). REI will host free rock climbing at NW 14th and Johnson. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visit the REI website for more information.

• Central Library Block Party: This outdoor celebration includes a performance by Captain Bogg & Salty at 2:00 pm, and kids’ activities from noon–4:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

• Parkrose Festival & Cruise-In: This street fair will take place along NE Sandy Blvd from NE 105th to NE 112nd, starting at 9:00 am. In addition to the cruise-in (paid participation, but viewing is free), there’ll be children’s activities, food vendors and more. Visit the event website for more information.

• Fremont Fest: This event includes a parade, children’s scavenger hunt and other activities, live music, horse-drawn carriage rides and more. Between 40th and 52nd on Fremont, starting at about 9:45 am. Read more about it here. 

• Celebrate Hillsboro: This two-day event takes place in downtown Hillsboro and includes activities and entertainment for the whole family. Visit the event website for more information.

• Ten Tiny Dances: Artists will perform 10 dances in 10 different locations in the South Waterfront neighborhood from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Each performance will be repeated throughout the evening. Pick up a map at the corner of SW Moody and Curry by 4:00 pm to make sure you have time to see all performances. Visit the event website for more information. 

• GreenWalks: Explore Hoyt Arboretum (4000 SW Fairview Blvd) 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.

• Hillsdale-to-River Guided Walk: This is a 4.5-mile walk. Meet at 9:00 am at Wilson High School parking lot. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Portland Concerts in the Park: Portland Festival Symphony will perform at Cathedral Park (under the St. Johns Bridge, North Lombard at the Willamette River) at 6:00 pm. For details, visit the event website.

• Portland Concerts in the Park: Norman Sylvester Band with Gretchen Mitchell and Renato Caranto (original R&B) will perform at Washington Park Amphitheater Stage at 6:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Americana Music: The Stumptown Stars will perform multiple genres of Americana music at the Belmont Library at 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. 

• Ezra Weiss and Renato Caranto will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.

• Marie Black (website) will perform at Hawthorne Theatre at 9:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Miss Michael Jodell (website) and Matt Brown will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

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

• Portland Movies in the Park: “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971 version) will be showing at DeNorval Unthank Park (510 North Shaver Street) at dusk (between 8:00 pm and 8:45 pm). Pre-movie entertainment starts at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Tualatin Movies on the Common: “Bee Movie” will be showing at Tualatin Commons at about 9:00 pm (movie begins after sunset). Visit the event website for more information.

• Outdoor Movie in Milwaukie: “The Spiderwick Chronicles” will be showing at Ardenwald Park (3667 SE Roswell Street) at dusk. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Uptown Movie Night in Vancouver: “Fly Away Home” will be showing outside on 23rd and Main Street in downtown Vancouver at 8:45 pm. Love Trucker will provide music at about 8:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” in Lynchwood Park (SE Haig and SE 174th, between Division and Powell) at 3:00 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.

• Northwest Classical Theatre Company will perform William Shakespeare’s “Troilus & Cressida” at 3:00 pm in Woodlawn Park (NE 13th Avenue & Dekum). For details, visit the event website.

• Masque Alfresco will perform Carlo Goldoni’s “Servant of Two Masters” at 6:30 pm at George Rogers Park Memorial Garden in Lake Oswego. Visit the event website for more information.

• Buggy Puppet Show: Penny’s Puppets will perform “Scout’s Grand Adventure” at noon at Sellwood-Moreland Library. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information. 

• Author William P. Young will talk about his book “The Shack” at Gresham Library at 1:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information. 

• Children’s author Susan Fletcher will do a reading and book signing at Barnes & Noble in Vancouver at 11:00 am. Visit the B&N website for more information.

• Children’s author Bart King will talk about his books “The Pocket Guide to Mischief” and “The Pocket Guide to Games” at A Children’s Place Bookstore at 1:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Author Barbara Pope will sign copies of her new novel “Cezanne’s Quarry” at Barnes & Noble in Vancouver at 1:00 pm. Visit the B&N website for more information. 

Sunday, August 3

• Sellwood Sundae in the Park: This event includes live music, children’s activities and entertainment, and a showing of the movie “Nancy Drew” (which is also listed below). Sellwood Park  (SE 7th Avenue and Miller Street), noon to 11:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information. 

• Celebrate Hillsboro: This two-day event takes place in downtown Hillsboro and includes activities and entertainment for the whole family. Visit the event website for more information.

• Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash at Edgefield: The Garcia Birthday Band  will perform at 1:00 pm, and the Freak Mountain Ramblers will perform at 6:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information. 

• Pickin’ on Sunday at Doug Fir: Lewi Longmire, Annalisa Tornfelt and Little Sue  will perform at 3:00 pm on the patio. Visit the Doug Fir website for details.

• Portland Concerts in the Park: Stephanie Schneiderman Band (indie pop) will perform at McCoy Park (North Fiske between Trenton & Fessenden) at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Forest Music in Tryon Creek State Park: Puddin’ River Jazz Band will perform at Tryon Creek Park at 2:00 pm. Visit the Tryon website for more information.

• Portland Concerts in the Park: Portland Festival Symphony will perform at Washington Park Amphitheater Stage at 6:00 pm. For details, visit the event website.

• Lake Oswego Concerts in the Park: Stolen Sweets and Blue 4 Trio (Vintage Swing Jazz) will perform at Millennium Plaza Park at 6:00 pm. Visit the Lake Oswego website for more information.

• Tualatin Hills Concerts in the Parks: Keith Greeninger Trio will perform at Kaiser Woods Park at 6:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information. 

• ”Rear Window” will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Portland Movies in the Park: “Nancy Drew” will be showing at Sellwood Park (SE 7th Avenue and Miller Street) at dusk (between 8:00 pm and 8:45 pm). Pre-movie entertainment starts at 6:30 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Sunday Cinema Classics at St. Johns Library: “To Have and Have Not” will be showing at 2:00 pm. Free tickets for limited seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information. 

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” in Lynchwood Park (SE Haig and SE 174th, between Division and Powell) at 3:00 pm. Visit the PAE website for details.

• Northwest Classical Theatre Company will perform William Shakespeare’s “Troilus & Cressida” at 3:00 pm in Woodlawn Park (NE 13th Avenue & Dekum). For details, visit the event website.

• Masque Alfresco will perform Moliere’s “School for Wives” at 6:30 pm at George Rogers Park Memorial Garden in Lake Oswego. Visit the event website for more information.

• Authors Jules Boykoff and Kaia Sand will talk about their book “Landscapes of Dissent: Guerrilla Poetry and Public Space“ at 4:00 pm at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne (3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd). 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.

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