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

Free Events in Portland: August 28–30 (Highlights Edition)

Thank you for your congratulations and kind words regarding the birth of my first child.

Originally, I had planned to go dark for a while, but it’s hard to stay away from Around the Sun and all of you great readers. Therefore, I’ve decided that I will continue to post free weekend events over the next month, but in a different format.

Through September, I will post more of a “highlights” list containing the big events, as well as others that sound interesting.

For this weekend, August 28–30:

• Festa Italiana, August 28 and 29, Pioneer Courthouse Square
• Fall.ART.Live, August 29, Oregon Ballet Theatre Studios
• Free admission to the Portland Art Museum, August 28, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm only
• Oregon Holocaust Memorial Anniversary Celebration, August 30
• Write Around Portland summer anthology release party and community reading, August 28, First United Methodist Church
• Woofstock, August 29, Mary S. Young Park in West Linn
• Meet-and-greet with Peter Facinelli, who plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the “Twilight” movie, August 29, Jantzen Beach Super Center

Also, be sure to check out our lists of free concerts and movies, as well as the links on our Free Events page.

If you know of any other free events happening this weekend, please write a comment about it. I will review and accept comments around mid-day on Friday.

Have a great weekend!

3 comments August 27th, 2009

Taking a Break

I will be taking a short break from Around the Sun to celebrate the birth of my first child.

While I’m gone, check out our lists of free concerts and movies, as well as the links on our Free Events page.

Also I want to point out a couple of free events happening this weekend:

• Portland RiverFest Fair at Waterfront Park
• Portland Adult Soapbox Derby

See you soon.

15 comments August 20th, 2009

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: August 14–16

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

Have a great weekend!

All weekend

• Masque Alfresco will perform Goldoni’s “The Liar” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 pm at the Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Dr & Tualatin Rd. For more information, visit the event website.

Friday, August 14

• Oregon Ballet Theatre & Portland Cello Project will perform at Washington Park at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Dry County Crooks and Robbie Laws will perform at Liberty Plaza in Oregon City starting at 5:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Keegan Smith (website) will perform at Tualatin Commons (8325 SW Nyberg St) at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Mary Kadderly (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.

• Dust Bowl Refugees will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

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

• Scott Gallegos 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.

• “Romancing the Stone” will be showing outdoors at CYAN/PDX apartments. Fun and festivities begin at 7:00 pm; the movie begins at 8:00 pm. 1720 SW 4th Ave. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Anchorman” will be showing at Pioneer Courthouse Square at dusk. Free popcorn provided. For more information, visit the event website.

• “The Wizard of Oz” will be showing at Laurelhurst Park (SE 39th Ave & Stark St) at dark. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “The Tale of Despereaux” will be showing at St Johns Park (8427 N. Central St) at dark. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Monsters vs. Aliens” will be showing on the patio of the St Johns Community Center (8427 N. Central) at dusk. Live music starts at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the City of Portland website.

• “Hairspray” will be showing at Beaverton City Park at dusk. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Hotel for Dogs” will be showing at Memorial Park in Wilsonville at dusk. For more information, visit the event website (once you click on the link, look under “City Seasonal Events” and click on “Movies in the Park”).

• “Cinderfella” will be showing at Main Street Park (219 S. Main Ave) in Gresham. The movie starts at dusk. Live music at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, August 15

• Multnomah Days: Multnomah Village’s annual street fair includes a parade, kids activities, live music, and more. 8:30 am to 10:00 pm. For more information and a schedule of events, visit the event website.

• Gateway Cruise-in/National Night Out: The event includes a car show, live music, kids activities, and more. Oregon Baptist Retirement Homes (1825 NE 108th Ave), 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Intercultural Community Gathering: Enjoy an assortment of activities from different cultures. Free BBQ chicken at noon. Overlook Park (N. Fremont St & Interstate Ave), 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Arts Festival in the Forest: This two-day festival features visual and performing arts. Browse the creative works of professional artists and view a variety of entertaining performers, including the acrobatic AWOL tree dancers. Mary S. Young Park in West Linn, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Free Admission and Activities at Fort Vancouver: On Saturday at 6:00 pm, bring a picnic to the parade ground (1501 E. Evergreen Blvd) and watch a vintage baseball game played by 1860s rules. Visit the reconstructed stockade (1001 E. Fifth St) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Watch a cannon firing demonstration featuring the park’s reproduction mountain howitzer at 1:30 pm on the east end of the parade ground. For more information, contact the park’s Visitor Center at 360.816.6230.

• Music Millennium Customer Appreciation BBQ: The event features live music from a different band every hour. 3158 E. Burnside, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. For more information and a schedule of events, visit the event website.

• Vintage Carnival: The carnival features midway games and prizes, a vintage car show, music and dancing, antique appraisals, and a complimentary picnic lunch and country lemonade. Courtyard Plaza and Senior Living Campus (6323 SE Division St), 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

• 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. 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.

• Modular Railroad Exhibit: The Beaverton Modular Railroad Club will have models set up for viewing and be available to answer questions about this fascinating hobby. Beaverton City Library (12375 SW 5th St), 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “The First Part of King Henry IV” at Gabriel Park (SW 45th Ave and SW Nevada Ct, past the tennis courts) at 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Festival Symphony will perform works by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Beethoven at 6:00 pm at Laurelhurst Park (SE 37th Ave & Oak). For more information, visit the event website.

• Melao De Cuba (Salsa Dance Party) will perform at Washington Park at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Mirage 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.

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

• The Atonements (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.

• “School of Rock” will be showing at Sewallcrest Park (SE 31st Ave & Market St) at dark. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Iron Man” will be showing at Lents Park (SE 92nd Ave & Holgate Blvd) at dark. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Wall-E” will be showing at Mary S. Young Park in West Linn at dusk (around 8:45). Kids activities start at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “High School Musical 3” will be showing after sunset to Tualatin Commons (8325 SW Nyberg St). For more information, visit the event website (PDF file).

Sunday, August 16

• India Festival: Pioneer Square will be filled with the tastes, sights, and sounds of India during a full day of live music, dancing, food, and entertainment. 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. For more information and a schedule of events, visit the event website.

• Sunday Parkways in SE Portland: A 9-mile route will be closed to cars so that people can bike or stroll through several SE neighborhoods. Activities will take place at Laurelhurst, Sunnyside, Col. Summers, and Mt Tabor Parks. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Hawthorne Street Fair: The event includes live entertainment, kids activities, free snacks, free movies, and more. Hawthorne Blvd, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information and a schedule of events, visit the event website.

• Arts Festival in the Forest: This two-day festival features visual and performing arts. Browse the creative works of professional artists and view a variety of entertaining performers, including the acrobatic AWOL tree dancers. Mary S. Young Park in West Linn, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Free Admission and Activities at Fort Vancouver: Visit the reconstructed stockade (1001 E. Fifth St) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Visitors can watch a flintlock musket firing talk and demonstration at 1:30 pm. For more information, contact the park’s Visitor Center at 360.816.6230.

• Modular Railroad Exhibit: The Beaverton Modular Railroad Club will have models set up for viewing and be available to answer questions about this fascinating hobby. Beaverton City Library (12375 SW 5th St), 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “The First Part of King Henry IV” at Gabriel Park (SW 45th Ave and SW Nevada Ct, past the tennis courts) at 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

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

• Matt Sheehy, Leonard Mynx, and Audie Darling will perform at Doug Fir (830 E. Burnside) starting at 3:00 pm. Ages 21+. For more information, visit the event website.

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

• Beltaine will perform at Tryon Creek State Park at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Northwest Opera Group will perform at Millennium Plaza Park (First & Evergreen Streets, Lake Oswego), 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

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

• “Amores Perros” will be showing at Press Club at 9:00 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

• Selling Handmade Goods on Etsy: Learn how and why to sell your handmade goods on the largest online craft consignment store. Let instructors from the IPRC (Independent Publishing Resource Center) be your guide. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), 2:00 pm 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.

5 comments August 13th, 2009

Free Events This Weekend in Portland: August 7–9

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

Have a great weekend!

All weekend

• Masque Alfresco will perform Goldoni’s “The Liar” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 pm at George Rogers Park Memorial Garden in Lake Oswego. For more information, visit the event website.

Friday, August 7

• Portland Twilight Criterium: Watch the area’s fastest cyclists compete for the region’s biggest purse. The course surrounds the North Park Blocks of downtown Portland, creating an island oasis of 360-degree viewing, music, food and beverage. 4:00 pm to 9:00 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. Tilde, Artful Goods, SCRAP and Press Club will also host an artist reception.

• 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, there will be live music performances, face painting, magic, balloon art, and chef demonstrations. For more information and event schedule, visit the event website.

• Tualatin Crawfish Festival: Admission is free on Friday. The event includes a crawfish cook-off and live music. For more information, visit the event website.

• Tualafest: Hear teenage bands from around the metro area compete for prizes and the Tualafest title. Enjoy food, henna tattoos, raffle prizes and more. Tualatin Community Park (8515 SW Tualatin Rd), 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Writing Workshop: Ibex Studios hosts a free writing workshop on the first Friday of every month. There’s room for 12 people, so be sure to come early enough to get a seat. 2021 SE Clinton, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland SummerFest Opera in the Park will present “La Traviata” by Verdi at Washington Park at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Ezra Weiss (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.

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

• The Old Elbows (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.

• ”Jurassic Park” will be showing at Pioneer Courthouse Square at dusk. Free popcorn provided. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Hairspray” will be showing at Willamette Park (SW Macadam Ave & Nebraska St) at dark. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” will be showing at Multnomah Arts Center (7688 SW Capitol Hwy) at dusk. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• ”My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding” will be showing at Beaverton City Park at dusk. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Muppets Take Manhattan” will be showing in downtown Vancouver at 23rd Street and Main Street. Show time is at 8:45 pm. There will be live, local music starting about 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Everyone’s Hero” will be showing at Main Street Park (219 S. Main Ave) in Gresham. The movie starts at dusk. Live music at 7:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Author Judy Sumner will talk about her book “Knitted Socks East and West” at 7:30 pm at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside (1005 W Burnside). For more information, visit the event website.

Saturday, August 8

• Central Library Block Party: The event includes The Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, zoo animals, an all-ages clothing swap, circus skills demonstration, art projects, and more. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave), noon to 4:00 pm. Ask the library for the schedule of the swap. For more information, visit the event website.

• Passport to Sellwood-Westmoreland: There will be entertainment in each neighborhood including a variety of live music, stilt walkers, and more. Collect stamps from local businesses (no purchase required) to enter to win prizes. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Celebrate Hillsboro: This two-day event includes live music and other entertainment, kids activities, a street soccer tournament, and more. For more information, visit the event website.

• Guided Walk of St. Johns Waterfront: Enjoy a challenging and very scenic route through downtown St. Johns, Cathedral Park and Willamette Cove. Meet at N. Philadelphia & Lombard, by the Town Clock, at 9:00 am. 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. 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.

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “The First Part of King Henry IV” at Washington Park (SW Washington Way, in the lower park, just north of the Holocaust Memorial) at 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Belly Ice Cream Social: According to Willamette Week: “Belly restaurant opens its doors to the neighborhood every Saturday through the end of August to dish out free ice cream.” 3500 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• The Toy Trains will perform at 3:30 pm at Holgate Library (7905 SE Holgate Blvd). For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Festival Symphony will perform works by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Beethoven at 6:00 pm at U.S. Grant Park (NE 33rd Ave & US Grant Pl). For more information, visit the event website.

• Devin Phillips will perform at Washington Park at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Mia Nicholson 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.

• Rachel Taylor Brown and Sean Flinn will perform at Press Club at 8:30 pm. All ages. Press Club is located at 2621 SE Clinton St, 503.233.5656.

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

• Jack McMahon (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.

• “Coraline” will be showing at Dickinson Park (SW 55th Ave & Alfred Ct) at dark. Pre-movie entertainment begins at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “The Goonies” will be showing at Mary S. Young Park in West Linn at dusk (around 8:45). Kids activities start at 6:30 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• “Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3-D” will be showing after sunset to Tualatin Commons. For more information, visit the event website (PDF file).

• Colleen McKee and Sara Ohlin will read from “Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak About Health Care in America,” an anthology of twenty-one personal essays by women around the country. In Other Words Women’s Books and Resources (8 B NE Killingsworth St), 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

Sunday, August 9

• Happy Meal’s 30th Birthday: Pioneer Courthouse Square will host family activities that include a visit from Radio Disney, the Portland Children’s Museum, and Ronald McDonald. 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Celebrate Hillsboro: This two-day event includes live music and other entertainment, kids activities, a street soccer tournament, and more. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Actors Ensemble will perform “The First Part of King Henry IV” at Washington Park (SW Washington Way, in the lower park, just north of the Holocaust Memorial) at 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Portland Festival Symphony will perform works by Haydn, Beethoven and others at 6:00 pm at Peninsula Park (700 N. Rosa Parks Way). For more information, visit the event website.

• Art Abrams’ Swing Machine will perform at Washington Park at 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Adam Shearer (Weinland) and Justin Power will perform at Doug Fir starting at 3:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Millennium Brass will perform at Tryon Creek State Park at 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Americana Music: Enjoy multiple genres of Americana music, from Appalachian to bluegrass, from cowboy to the Kingston Trio, and many points in between, with local artists the Stumptown Stars. St. Johns Library (7510 N. Charleston Ave), 2:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

• Vienna Teng (website) will perform at Millennium Plaza Park (First & Evergreen Streets, Lake Oswego), 6:00 pm. For more information, visit the event website.

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

• “Donnie Darko” 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.

4 comments August 6th, 2009