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

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: June 19–21

June 18th, 2009

In addition to the free events below, here are a couple of Father’s Day freebies:

• Dads get in free at the Portland Children’s Museum.
• Free cup or cone for dads at participating TCBY stores.

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

Also, Pedalpalooza continues this week, and Shift to Bikes has information on the 200+ events that make up the two-week celebration. Some events are free and some are not. If you’re not sure whether an event is free, contact the organizers of that event.

Have a great weekend!

Friday, June 19

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “King Lear” at Cathedral Park at 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Kidical Mass is hosting two family bike rides. One is in downtown Portland. Meet at the North Park Blocks playground (NW 8th and Couch) at 5:30 pm. Ride begins at 6:00 pm. The other ride is in Southeast Portland. Meet at Sunnyside Park (SE 35th and Taylor) at 5:30 pm. Ride begins at 6:00 pm. Bring lights, friends, and snacks. For more information, contact Carl Larson at the BTA.

• Lynn Darroch’s Jazz Stories: Author and narrator Lynn Darroch with Randy Porter (piano) and John Stowell (guitar) 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.

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

• Josh Cole Band (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern (10000 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd, Hillsboro) at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• James Low & Tahoe Jackson will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

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

• Author Kerry Cohen will talk about her book “Loose Girl” at Writers’ Dojo (7518 N. Chicago Ave) at 7:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, June 20

• Southwest Community Center 10th Anniversary Celebration: Free admission and ice cream. Activities include mobile rockwall, games in the gym and pool, swimming, fitness classes, crafts, and more. 6820 SW 45th Ave, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Couch Street Block Party: Play in the sun with complimentary outdoor Rock-n-Roll Yoga, dance classes, live music and fresh food sizzling off the grill by Whole Foods Market. Stick around for a lululemon funk-tion show and watch Portland’s athletes strut their stuff in the hottest lululemon gear. NW Couch St between 12th and 13th, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

• Original Practice Shakespeare Festival (Ops Fest): Ops Fest performs First Folio editions of Shakespeare’s plays, using the same performance techniques as performers in Shakespeare’s time, which means limited rehearsal; an onstage prompter; fast-paced, energetic acting; and lots of audience interaction. Laurelhurst Park (SE 35th Ave and SE Oak St, near “picnic area F” in the center of the park), 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Mad Science: Spin, Pop, Boom: Kids are invited to watch the mad scientist create numerous versions of erupting science. Free tickets for seating will be available 30 minutes prior to the program. Gregory Heights Library (7921 NE Sandy Blvd), 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

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

• Barbara Lusch 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.

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

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

• Renegade Minstrels (website) will perform at Rock Creek Tavern (10000 NW Old Cornelius Pass Rd, Hillsboro) at 9:00 pm. All ages until 10:00 pm. For more information, visit the Rock Creek Tavern website.

• Poet Zayra Yves will talk about her book “Empty as Nirvana” at In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources (8 B NE Killingsworth St), 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Sunday, June 21

• North Portland Sunday Parkways: More than seven miles in North Portland will be closed to cars so that people can walk, bike, or otherwise travel around the neighborhood and enjoy activities at Arbor Lodge, Peninsula, and Kenton Parks. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Summer Solstice at Tryon Creek: Bring the family to celebrate the longest day of the year amid the beautiful forests and streams of Tryon Creek State Park. The event includes Solstice-themed storytelling, guided forest hikes, and more. 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Original Practice Shakespeare Festival (Ops Fest): Ops Fest performs First Folio editions of Shakespeare’s plays, using the same performance techniques as performers in Shakespeare’s time, which means limited rehearsal; an onstage prompter; fast-paced, energetic acting; and lots of audience interaction. Washington Park, 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Yoga Class: Celebrate Father’s Day, the solstice, and a brand new vinyasa yoga class at The Yoga Space. Katy Hix is beginning a new class on Sunday from 9:00 am to 10:30 am, and the first class is free on June 21. 2853 SE Stark. For more information, visit the event website.

• Map and Compass Navigation Workshop: Expand your outdoor skills by learning the basics of map and compass use. Receive hands-on training and practice. This workshop is most appropriate for ages 10 and up. Tryon Creek Park, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

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

• “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

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:

• March 18, 2010 -- Free Events in Portland: Mar 19–21
• March 4, 2010 -- Taking a break this week
• February 25, 2010 -- Free Events in Portland: Feb 26–28

Entry Filed under: Children, Food, Literature, Movies, Museums, Music, Theater