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

Free Events in Portland: September 15–18

September 14th, 2011

Your eyes do not deceive you. The free events post is a day early and will be for the foreseeable future. Have a great weekend!

Note: These events offer free admission, but might charge for activities or food and drink.

Events are sorted by start time.

Thursday, September 15

El Grito y Fiestas Patrias: Celebrate Mexican independence with dance and live music, food and drink, and more. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Friday and Saturday, September 15–16

PICA Time-Based Art Festival (TBA): These are the final days of the TBA Festival, showcasing contemporary performance and visual art from around the world. Some events are free (this, this, this, and more).

Friday, September 16

VintageTek Grand Opening: Here’s another free museum to add to your list (for others, go to Hidden Portland). VintageTek, a museum for vintage Tektronix equipment and memorabilia from 1946–1985, celebrates its grand opening today from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Thereafter, it will be open on Fridays and Saturdays. 4620A SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.

Movies in the Park: “Mary Poppins” will be showing at Hoyt Arboretum.

“21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart”: Dr. Neal Barnard shows readers how, in three short weeks, they can drop pounds, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, improve blood sugar, and more. Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 7:30 pm.

Saturday, September 17

Sturgeon Festival: This family event offers opportunities to learn about fish and other animals in and around the Columbia River. Vancouver Water Center, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Autumn Adventure 25-Mile Bike Ride: Celebrate the cooler weather on a 25-mile ride crossing I-5 and I-205. Helmets required. Water and lights recommended. Meet at Wilshire Park at 10:00 am.

Oregon City Cruise to Downtown & Car Show: Check out the cars, trucks, and motorcycles at this cruise-in in downtown Oregon City. Free downtown parking, games, food specials, and more. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Swapnplay Open House: Discover Swapnplay, a co-op play space in North Portland. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, craft activities from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Poetry Reading: S. Alexander Smith will perform a dramatic reading of the poetry that accompanies the art exhibit: Houses, Landscapes, Flowers and Dreams: The Poetic Art of CJ Hurley. Architectural Heritage Center, 11:00 am (doors at 10:30 am).

Vose Neighborhood Bicycle Parade and Picnic: Parade begins at Ridgecrest Park at 11:00 am. (Registration begins at 10:45 am.) Picnic is at Wonderland Park from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Kids Book Fair, Do the Right Thing and READ: Get free books and enjoy entertainment and activities including book making, button making and art tables. North Portland Library, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Aquifer Adventure: Dress up in your finest pirate garb and come to this family festival all about groundwater. Games, scavenger hunt, and more. Columbia Slough Trailhead, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Biketobeerfest, the World’s Only Bike-In Oktoberfest Party: Four bands, kids activities, climbing wall, breakdancers, BMX trick riders, and more. Hopworks, Noon to 10:00 pm.

Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day: McMenamin’s celebrates the fact that we’re halfway to St. Patrick’s Day with entertainment and specials at Edgefield, Kennedy School, Wilsonville Old Church & Pub, and Cornelius Pass Roadhouse & Imbrie Hall.

National Gymnastics Day: Rose City Rhythmic will offer gymnastics demonstrations, interactive rhythmic and dance classes, and more. Activities are free and open to kids of all ages. 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Rent Green, Rent Clean, Resources for Renters: Geared toward low-income renters in East Portland, this event is a series of 30-minute workshops that cover a variety of concerns, including tenant rights, green cleaning, mold prevention, and more. Workshops will be in both English and Spanish. Midland Library, 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

Radical Suggestions for Encouraging the Love of Reading: Be prepared to laugh, sing, learn stories and songs, and take home great ideas you can use immediately. Capitol Hill Library, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Local kids author and illustrator Johanna Wright reads her newest picture book “Bandits,” a story about rascally raccoons. A Children’s Place Bookstore, 2:00 pm.

Canning, “Tart and Sweet”: The craft of canning has undergone a renaissance. “Tart and Sweet” is the essential canning manual for the 21st century, providing an easy-to-follow tutorial on small-batch canning and 101 sweet and savory recipes for preserved fruits and vegetables. Pastaworks, 2:00 pm.

Laurelfest: Laurelwood Brew Pub hosts its 10th annual celebration with live music, kids activities, seasonal beer, and special food menu. 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Big Lebowski Party: Grand Central Bowling will show the movie, followed by a “dream sequence” burlesque performance from Itty Bitty Bang Bang. Costume contest, $3 games, and more. 9:00 pm to 2:00 am.

Sunday, September 18

Gay Fair on the Square: Join Portland’s Gay Men’s Choir, Portland Lesbian Choir, Portland Gay Symphonic Band, Confluence, and more than 60 LGBT-friendly organizations for an afternoon of entertainment and information. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

Wilsonville Goat Day: As it does every year, Wilsonville puts 300 goats in Memorial Park. Meet the goats and learn the important role they play in controlling invasive plants. Free samples of goat products will be provided. 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Landscaping for Conservation, Let Nature Work for You: Save time, save money, and help out the environment by creating a garden that functions more like the natural system surrounding us. This is a free program for adults but enrollment is limited, pre-registration is requested. 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Portland Opera Open Chorus Rehearsal: The Portland Opera Chorus invites you to watch them rehearse for Portland Opera’s upcoming BIG NIGHT concert. Director Park, 3:00 pm.

“Tales from the Oregon Ducks Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Ducks Stories Ever Told”: Author Brian Libby will talk about his book, which takes readers on a fun-filled trip through Oregon’s gridiron history. Powell’s City of Books on Burnside, 7:30 pm.

More free events

For more free and low-cost events, check PDX Pipeline and Dave Knows Portland.

For kids events, check UrbanMamas and PDX Kids Calendar.

For free concerts, see Concert Co-op.

Entry Filed under: Free