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

Free Events in Portland: February 3–5

February 2nd, 2012

Going to watch the Superbowl? If so, where?

Note: Admission is free for the following events, but you might be charged for activities or food and drink.

Events are sorted by start time. If I missed anything, please leave a comment.

All weekend

Cascade Festival of African Films runs from February 3 through March 3.

Friday, February 3

Family Martial Arts Night: Watch “Kung-Fu Panda” at 4:00 pm, followed by demonstrations from local martial arts groups. Fulton Park Community Center (68 SW Miles St, Portland), 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Portland Children’s Museum: It’s the first Friday of the month, which means admission is free from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

Camas First Friday: Businesses will be serving and selling chocolate delights and other romantic gifts. Downtown Camas, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

First Friday Art Walk in SE Portland: The galleries open from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Other galleries hosting openings: GalleryHomeland (2505 SE 11th Ave #136, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm), Architectural Heritage Center (701 SE Grand Ave, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm), and Land (3925 North Mississippi Ave, 6:00 pm).

The River Project will perform at Music Millennium (3158 E Burnside St, Portland) at 6:00 pm.

“Portlandia”: Watch the latest episode at Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan, Portland). 5:30 pm doors; 7:00 pm show. Minors admitted with parent or guardian. Encore showing at 10:00 pm for ages 21+.

Marty Marquis (of Blitzen Trapper), Thousands, and Tom Bevitori will perform at Al’s Den in the Crystal Hotel & Ballroom (1332 W. Burnside, Portland). 7:00 pm. Ages 21+.

Saturday, February 4

Kids Event at Multnomah County Libraries:

• Rainy Day Idea Cards: Join artist Sarah Fagan in making an activity game to stay busy during the wet Oregon winter. Sellwood-Moreland Library (7860 SE 13th Ave, Portland), 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
• Hand-Made Valentines: Make a one-of-a-kind valentine using copper wire, pipe cleaners, decorative papers and colorful beads and ornaments. Gresham Library (385 NW Miller Ave, Gresham), 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
• Can You Hear Me Now? Explore the science of sound with.hands-on science activities. For ages 4 and up. Capitol Hill Library (10723 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland), 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

Tax Help: Get help from trained tax preparers. Bring your photo ID, Social Security card, last year’s return, and this year’s paperwork. Signup for same-day appointments starts at 10:00 am. Woodstock Library (6008 SE 49th Ave, Portland), 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Author Kevin Renner presents his book “In Search of Fatherhood: A Mother Lode of Wisdom from the World of Daughterhood.” Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave, Portland), 1:00 pm.

Year-Round Gardening: Learn how to expand your vegetable and herb gardening throughout the year by using row covers, cloches, and cold frames. Seed saving, composting, and cover crops will also be discussed. Northwest Library (2300 NW Thurman St, Portland), 2:00 pm.

Gadget Petting Zoo: Curious about e-readers, iPads and other tech devices? Staff will demonstrate how some popular devices function and how they work with library services. Tigard Library (13500 SW Hall Blvd, Tigard), 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

A Literary Look at Parenting a Child with Autism: Two Portland writers, both mothers of children on the autism spectrum, share their experiences through fiction and poetry. Belmont Library (1038 SE 39th Ave, Portland), 3:00 pm.

Sip and Savor Oregon: Celebrate the Lake Oswego Reads 2012 novel, “Mink River,” with an afternoon of wine tasting and local cuisine. West End Building (4101 Kruse Way, Lake Oswego), 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Kid/Teen Book Swap in Camas (PDF): Trade your used books (or CDs or movies) with others. Take home as many as you bring. Camas Public Library (625 NE 4th Ave, Camas), 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

Marty Marquis (of Blitzen Trapper), John Totten, and Mike Coykendall will perform at Al’s Den in the Crystal Hotel & Ballroom (1332 W. Burnside, Portland). 7:00 pm. Ages 21+.

Museums on Us: Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders can enjoy free admission to the Lan Su Chinese Garden, Pittock Mansion, and Portland Art Museum.

Sunday, February 5

Black Composers of Oregon Past and Present: Join Aszemar Glenn, noted composer, pianist and conductor, for a lecture and performance that celebrates black musicians. Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave, Portland), 2:00 pm.

Be Happy: Learn exercises to change your thought habits and become fearless, appreciative, busy, and outgoing. Hollywood Library (4040 NE Tillamook St, Portland), 2:00 pm.

Museums on Us: Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders can enjoy free admission to the Lan Su Chinese Garden, Pittock Mansion, and Portland Art Museum.

More free events

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

For kids events, check UrbanMamas and PDX Kids Calendar.

For free concerts, see Concert Co-op, Mississippi Pizza, and McMenamins.

And please check out your local library!

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Entry Filed under: Free