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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: May 1–3

April 30th, 2009

Remember: On Sunday, May 3, admission to OMSI is just $2.

Also, the new Dutch Bros. location in Tigard will be giving away free drinks all day on Friday, May 1. 11746 SW Pacific Hwy in Tigard, Oregon. Right on 99W off of HWY 217.

Admission is free for all events below. For more concerts, visit Concert Co-op.

Have a great weekend!

Friday, May 1

• Cinco De Mayo Fiesta at Waterfront Park: Admission is free before 4:00 pm on Friday. For more information, visit the event website.

• May Day Celebration: Watch local kids skip around the May pole, reenacting a century-old Portland public schools tradition. Enjoy other kids’ entertainment, live music, belly dancing and more. Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd Ave), 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Free Admission Night at Portland Children’s Museum: Admission to the museum is free from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 4015 SW Canyon Road. For more information, visit the event website.

• First Friday Art Openings: Check the Central Eastside Arts District website for a list of open galleries. In addition, Multnomah Art Center, Artful Goods, Tilde, and Press Club will host artist receptions.

• 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: “Camas First Fridays” occur throughout the year on each first Friday of the month. Art exhibits featuring local artists, dining, and themed shopping events provide fun for all. 5:00 pm–8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Southerly, Soft Tags, and Themes will perform at Doug Fir (830 E. Burnside) at 9:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Marianne Dissard (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Bruce Kracke (website) will perform at Sellwood Public House (8132 SE 13th Ave) at 8:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Marcus Reynolds will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way), 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

• Clear Creek (website) will perform at Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale) at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• Author Paul Dickson will talk about his book “The Dickson Baseball Dictionary” at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Author Emily Whitman will talk about her book “Radiant Darkness” at 7:00 pm at Looking Glass Bookstore (7983 SE 13th Ave). For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, May 2

• Home Ownership Preservation Event: This event will provide information and workshops on refinancing your loan, avoiding foreclosure scams, government housing programs, and more. Portland Memorial Coliseum (300 Winning Way), 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Hawaiian Festival: Enjoy hula performances from Washington and Oregon halau, Hawaiian food, music, and more. Thomas Jefferson Middle School (3000 NW 119th St, Vancouver), 11:00 am–7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Free Comic Book Day: Several comic book shops will be giving away free comic books. To find a participating shop near you, visit the event website and use the shop locator on the left side of the screen.

• Food Art for Kids: Using Saxton Freymann’s books for inspiration, author and artist Addie Boswell will help kids make characters out of fruits, vegetables and other edibles. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Capitol Hill Library (10723 SW Capitol Hwy), 10:30 am–noon. For more information, visit the event website.

• Create a Rain Stick: Kids and their families are invited to learn about the lore of the rain stick in Africa and other cultures. Then create and decorate your own. Belmont Library (1038 SE 39th Ave), 3:00 pm–4:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Saturday Guided Nature Walks at Tryon Creek State Park: Join a park ranger for a free, guided nature hike to explore the forest and stream ecosystems and natural history at Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Today’s theme is “Restoration of the Creek.” Appropriate for all ages. Parents must accompany kids on all hikes. 10:00 am to 11:30 am. For more information, visit the event website.

• The Grouch & Eligh (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Classical guitarist Peter Fletcher (website) will perform at Beaverton Library (12375 SW 5th St, Beaverton) at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Mood Area 52 will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• David Ward will perform at Sellwood Public House (8132 SE 13th Ave) at 8:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Bryant Allard Quartet (website) will perform at Three Degrees Lounge at the RiverPlace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way), 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the PDX Jazz website.

• Kris Deelane (website) will perform at Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale) at 7:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

Sunday, May 3

• Pretty Dress Bike Ride: All are welcome to join this annual ride, but you must come wearing a pretty dress. The ride will end at a picnic spot. Wear your bloomers, bring a picnic blanket and bring something yummy to share plus your own utensils. Meet at SE Ladds Circle (in the Center), near 1996 SE Ladd Ave, at 2:00 pm. Length of the ride is a few hours, depending on how the group feels. For more information, contact bikebat at gmail dot com.

• King Louie & Baby James (website) will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E. Burnside) at 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Opera Preview: “Rigoletto”: This lecture/concert covers historical background, composer information and musical selections from the show. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), 2:00 pm–3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Congratulations and Old Believers will perform at 9:00 pm at Someday Lounge (125 NW 5th Ave). Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

• Mary Flower (website) will perform at Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale) at 5:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the Edgefield website.

• “Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai” will be showing at Press Club at 8:00 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Author Chesa Boudin will talk about his book “Gringo” at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W. Burnside), 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Poets Gary Thompson and Richard Robbins will read from their respective books at 4:00 pm at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne (3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd). 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.

Entry Filed under: Art,Children,Environment,Food,Literature,Movies,Museums,Music