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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: September 5–7

September 5th, 2008

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

All weekend (September 5–7)

• Portland Riverfest: Events include dragon boat races at Waterfront Park, South Waterfront Day festival (live music, ballet and theatre performances, art, a sailing regatta, etc.) and more. To learn more about these events and others, visit the event website.

• PICA’s Time-Based Art Festival: Willamette Week has a list of free TBA events at the end of this article. For more information, visit the TBA website. 

• Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Show: This event offers the chance to learn more about electric, hybrid and biodiesel cars; solar and wind energy; water conservation; organic grocers and environmentally responsible housing. Washington County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro (NE Cornell Road & NE 34th Ave). For more information, visit the event website.

Friday and Saturday, September 5–6

• MusicFestNW: Free afternoon concerts on Friday and Saturday at Doug Fir. Free concerts each evening at Wonder Ballroom. For more information, visit the MFNW website. (For the Doug Fir shows, check the home page under “8/31: KEXP Live Studio Sessions” for more information. For evening shows, check the schedule.)

Friday, September 5

• Art Shows and Openings:

  • The 100th Monkey Studio First Friday Art Opening & 2nd Anniversary Celebration: The night includes a juried art show, live music by Vinny Maiuri, birthday cake and more. I recommend going to see photographs by John Henry Angell. 110 SE 16th Ave, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

  • First Friday art reception for George Perrou with an evening of music provided by DJ Junior Private Detective. Press Club, 7:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

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

• 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 Downtown Camas: This month’s theme is Football Party. Downtown merchants are kicking off football season with a game of their own where you can score the winning touchdown. 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the Downtown Camas website.

• Shelly Rudolph and David Goldblatt (jazz) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.

• Princess Ricochet (website) will perform at East Burn (1800 E Burnside St) at 10:00 pm. Visit the East Burn website for more information.

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

• Eric John Kaiser (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. Visit the Rock Creek Tavern website for more information.

• Portland Movies in the Park: “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who” will be showing at Berkeley Park (SE 39th Ave & Bybee Blvd) 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.

• Outdoor Movie in Vancouver: “Princess Bride” will be showing at Esther Short Park (610 Esther Street) at sunset (around 9:00 pm). Visit the event website for more information.

• Tigard Guitar Festival at Tigard Library: This month-long festival includes a variety of events such as concerts, films and workshops. Today, the documentary “The History of Rock and Roll: Guitar Heroes” will be showing at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Bike Commute Workshop, Plus Author Ray Thomas: To help you with the Bike Commute Challenge, Powell’s will host a workshop on bike commuting and maintenance starting at 5:30 pm. At 7:00 pm, author Ray Thomas will present the talk “How Pushing Rights for Bikes Helped Propel Oregon’s Bicycle Movement.” Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W Burnside). Visit the Powell’s website for more information.

Saturday, September 6

• Belmont Street Fair: This event includes live music, free trolley rides, kids’ fun center, craft fair, firehouse tours and more. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on SE Belmont between 20th and 45th. For more information, visit the event website.

• Greg Oden’s Summer Slam: This event includes live music and entertainment, inflatable bounce rooms, miniature golf, video games, and a chance to meet Greg Oden. The event is being held to raise awareness about mentoring programs and Oregon Mentoring. Rose Garden, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Widmer Brothers Oktoberfest: This event includes brews and food for sale, live music and more. Widmer Brothers Brewery (929 N Russell), 3:00 pm. Visit the event website for more information.

• Cuban guitar and Tres player Ivan Alamo will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Chance Hayden and Devin Phillips (jazz) will perform at RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) at 8:00 pm. Visit the PDX Jazz website for details.

• Eve’s Dilemma (website) will perform at East Burn (1800 E Burnside St) at 10:00 pm. Visit the East Burn website for more information.

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

• Library Writers Share Their Works: David Elsey (poetry), Angela Weyrens (zines), Kassten Alonso (fiction), Ann Haroun (poetry and fiction) will speak. Also, actor Ross Huffman-Kerr will perform an excerpt from a novel written by Rachael Short. Central Library, 1:30 pm–2:30 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

• Dogs Gone Dancin’: Enjoy Canine Freestyle performances by regional teams, meet the dogs and ask questions. Rockwood Library, 2:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

Sunday, September 7

• Portland Festival Symphony will perform at Foothills Park (Lake Oswego) at 4:00 pm. Visit the PFS website for more information.

• Boy in the Bubble (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 W Burnside) at 5:00 pm. Visit the Music Millennium website for more information.

• Lents Folk Festival: Kinzel and Hyde, Henry & Moggy, Tom May and Mary Flower will perform at Lents Park (SE 92nd Ave and Holgate) at 3:00 pm.

• “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St., 503.233.5656.

• Portland Classical Chinese Duo: Commemorate the Mid-Autumn festival with a traditional music performance by Jerry Lin on er-hu and Henry Hung on the bamboo flute. Woodstock Library, 2:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library website for more information.

• Tigard Guitar Festival at Tigard Library: This month-long festival includes a variety of events such as concerts, films and workshops. Today, Galloway and Luckett will perform an outdoor concert of jazz-influenced originals, along with blues and bluegrass, at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Jon Koonce (website) will perform at Edgefield at 5:00 pm. Visit the Edgefield website for more information.

• Brooklyn Neighborhood Ice Cream Social: From 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the Brooklyn neighborhood will have its annual ice cream social at Brooklyn Park (SE 10th Ave & Haig St). Kids’ activities, live music and more. Ice cream bars for 25 cents. Visit the event website for more information.

• Sunday Cinema Classics at St. Johns Library: “North by Northwest” will be showing at 2:00 pm. Visit the Multnomah County Library 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, please contact me.

Other articles from Around the Sun:

• December 5, 2008 -- Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Dec 5–7
• November 28, 2008 -- Free Events This Weekend in Portland: November 28–30
• November 18, 2008 -- 12/5–12/14: Free Christmas Concert at Portland Christian Center

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