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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Dec 12–14

December 12th, 2008

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

All weekend

• Christmas Ship Parade will be cruising the Willamette and Columbia Rivers each evening. For more information, visit the event website.

Friday, December 12

• Annual Winter Solstice in Milwaukie: Come warm by the bonfire and watch the Christmas Ship Parade cruise the Willamette River at the Jefferson Street Boat Ramp at Milwaukie’s Riverfront Park. The ships are scheduled to come by around 7:00 pm, and the Dickens Carolers will perform from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. All ages are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit the event website.

• Lower Fremont Winterfest Artwalk and Sidewalk Sale: 40+ local artists and crafters, discounts, live music, and more. Sales will help support local neighborhood families in need. NE Fremont at 13th & 14th Avenues, 4:00 pm–9:00 pm. Find more information here.

• Multnomah Arts Center Fall Theatre Showcase presents an adaptation of “The Stinky Cheese Man” by Jon Scieszka at 7:00 pm on Friday and 2:00 pm on Saturday. Admission is free with donations gratefully accepted. 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. For more information, visit the event website.

• Pink Slip Holiday Office Party: Holocene is hosting a party featuring DJ Hoop Dreams, Dr. Rev. Adam, and Freaky Outy behind the decks. 1001 SE Morrison, 9:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Tony Pacini (website) will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel, 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

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

• ‘Couv Fest Concert: Aleen, Silversafe, Throwback Suburbia and The Reds will perform. All ages. Westfield Vancouver Mall (8700 NE Vancouver Mall Dr), 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Lauren Sheehan (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• The Naysayers (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

Saturday, December 13

• Tuba Christmas: Nearly 200 tuba players will converge on Pioneer Courthouse Square and treat the public to a festive holiday concert. Audience members are encouraged to sing along to familiar carols. 1:30 pm–3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Mortgage and Foreclosure Summit: The event offers workshops on how to avoid foreclosure and lending scams, as well as an opportunity for attendees to share their stories, network with legislators, and access civic and state agencies. 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at PCC Southeast Center at 82nd and Division. More information can be found here.

• Lower Fremont Winterfest Artwalk and Sidewalk Sale: 40+ local artists and crafters, discounts, live music, and more. Sales will help support local neighborhood families in need. NE Fremont at 13th & 14th Avenues, 11:00 am–4:00 pm. Find more information here.

• Kanawaksooma Celebration (Quiet Thunder): This event offers authentic music, dance, crafts, food, and entertainment for the whole family. Activities for children include dancing, face painting, and craft tables. Mt. Hood Community College (26000 SE Stark St, Gresham), noon to 10:00 pm. A free salmon and buffalo feed including a native blessing will begin at 5:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• West Linn Holiday Parade: The parade starts at 10:00 am and runs along Willamette Falls Drive in the historic Willamette area. After the parade, stop by the Firte Station to donate a new unwrapped toy for TVF&R Toy & Joy Program, visit with Santa, stay for a horse-drawn carriage ride and visit all the local shops for discounts. For more information, visit the event website.

• Multnomah Arts Center Fall Theatre Showcase presents an adaptation of “The Stinky Cheese Man” by Jon Scieszka at 7:00 pm on Friday and 2:00 pm on Saturday. Admission is free with donations gratefully accepted. 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. For more information, visit the event website.

• Children’s Play “Raven Steals the Sun”: Created and performed by Emily Alexander of Tears of Joy Theatre, based on a Native American tale. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Most suitable for grades K–5. Capitol Hill Library (10723 SW Capitol Highway), 11:00 am–11:30 am. For more information, visit the event website.

• Penny’s Puppet Productions will treat families to a spinoff of “The Mitten,” a traditional Ukrainian tale. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Belmont Library (1038 SE 39th Ave), 3:00 pm–3:45 pm. Most appropriate for preschool-age children. For more information, visit the event website.

• Second Saturday at the Water Center in Vancouver: Families are invited to participate in craft activities: decorate a frame, make snowflakes from coffee filters, and transform last year’s calendar into beads and gift boxes. 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Lisa Stringfield and Lara Michelle (website) will be perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Charlie Stanford will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel, 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

• Reina Collins (website) will perform at Edgefield at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• The Chapman Swifts (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• “Private Space” Live Video Performance and Interactive Installation: Attendees will create and experience visual jazz. Other exhibits include a multi-touch table, a body painting session and a light display titled Exhibit 2. Someday Lounge (125 NW 5th Ave), 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Sunday, December 14

• Peacock Lane Car-Free Night: The street will be closed to allow foot and bike traffic only from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Information can be found at OregonLive and the Peacock Lane website. (see comments for this post)

• Posada Milagro: Miracle Theatre Group invites the whole family to enjoy the Posada Milagro, a holiday celebration filled with Latin American theatre, music, dance, arts and crafts workshops, traditional foods, and more. All activities will be conducted in Spanish. El Centro Milagro (525 SE Stark St), 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Gresham Community Choir Holiday Concert: The concert features a variety of holiday music. Last year over 600 lbs of food for the hungry was collected. This year, the choir’s goal is 1000 lbs. Reynolds District Arts and Communication Center (1698 SW Cherry Park Road, Troutdale), 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

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

• Murder by the Book Open House: Appearances by local authors Carola Dunn, Larry Karp, and Kate Kingsbury, with special guest appearances by Chelsea Cain, Bill Cameron, Phil Margolin, and Sharan Newman. Snacks too. 3210 SE Hawthorne Blvd, noon to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event 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, please contact me.

Other articles from Around the Sun:

• January 8, 2009 -- Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Jan 9–11
• January 4, 2009 -- 1/8–1/29: 21 Days of Free Yoga Classes
• January 1, 2009 -- Free Events This Weekend in Portland: Jan 2–4

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