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Portland Weekend Amusements (September 21-23, 2012)

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Truly the best weekend of the year, the third full weekend in September never quits. My two favorite fall festivals take place this weekend, the Oaks Park Oktoberfest and the Polish Festival, and this year we also have Feast PDX, Rheinlander’s Oktoberfest, train and streetcar events, and lots more – and weather looks delightful!

Ongoing

Swift WatchChapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2012

Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. After spending their day eating bugs, the Swifts coalesce in Northwest Portland, flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky above the school. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of Portlanders stare mesmerized at the sky, from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets. Boos erupt when opportunistic Peregrine falcons get lucky. [more]

All Weekend

Feast PortlandFeast Portland

Feast Portland, a celebration of Oregon Bounty, takes place Thursday through Sunday, September 20 through 23, 2012.

Presented by Bon Appétit, the fest is a four-day dynamic exchange of ideas, inspiration and dialogue that Feast Portland will create with food enthusiasts from Oregon, across the U.S. and around the globe. [more]

Bier!Oaks Park Oktoberfest

The 2012 Paulaner Oktoberfest at Oaks Park takes place Friday through Sunday, September 21 through 23.

This is one of Heather‘s favorite Portland festivals, because of the weiner dog races of course. I’m especially fond of the beer and accordion music! [more]

Friday

Offbeat Belly Dance

Avast! Noble Portlanders!

This Friday! Grab your party hat and head to the Blue Monk for the September edition of Offbeat Belly Dance!

Ah yes, the Blue Monk! Home of delicious beer! Complex and intriguing mixed drinks! Tasty food! Air conditioning! [more]

Friday-Saturday

Der Rheinlander Oktoberfest

Portland, Oregon’s favorite Rheinlander Oktoberfest will be Friday, September 21st & Saturday, September 22nd. Our family day “Family Fest” on Saturday from noon – 5pm.

Raise a Stein in the Rheinlander and Gustav’s Bier Stube’s Oktoberfest beer garden on the corner of NE 50th & Sandy Blvd! [more]

Saturday-Sunday

Heather at Portland Polish Festival 2010Polish Festival

The 17th annual Portland Polish Festival, my favorite local cultural event, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23, 2012.

Below the masthead on the festival website are the words: the best kept secret of Portland, Oregon. This statement hasn’t been true for several years – the Polish Fest is the premier fall festival in the Portland area. [more]

VegFestPortland VegFest 2012

Oregon’s largest plant-based food event!

VegFest celebrates and promotes sustainable, compassionate and healthy food choices and lifestyles. This low-cost, fun and food-filled event welcomes everyone! [more]

Saturday

Portland Streetcar Central LoopPortland Streetcar Central Loop Grand Opening Celebration

The Portland Streetcar Central Loop Grand Opening Celebration takes place Saturday, September 22, 2012.

As part of the celebration, streetcar rides are free all day Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23, 2012. Catch a ride to OMSI between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to attend the celebration. Visit the Portland Streetcar website for a full schedule of celebration events. [more]

SP 4449Oregon Rail Heritage Center’s Grand Opening

The grand opening celebration for the Oregon Rail Heritage Center takes place Saturday, September 22, 2012 from 10am -5pm. “See the three steam locomotives in their new home!”

Giveaways & Prizes * Live Music * Gift Shop * Kid’s Activities * Guides to tell you about us * Light Refreshments * ADA Accessible [more]

Back Fence PDXBack Fence PDX

As always we have an amazing lineup of storytellers ready to tell never-been-told-before true stories based on the theme HASHTAG NERD. From Portland: Iron Man comic book scribe, MATT FRACTION, Best Selling Thriller writer, CHELSEA CAIN, Co-host along with Felicia Day of a Geek & Sundry podcast, KIALA KAZEBEE, and Former High School Mathlete GABE CARLETON-BARNES. From Seattle: Jezebel staff writer LINDY WEST and math genius/creator of video games, BRUCE OBERG. [more]

For even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

Oaks Park Oktoberfest 2012

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Bier!The 2012 Paulaner Oktoberfest at Oaks Park takes place Friday through Sunday, September 21 through 23.

Entertainment (PDF) is provided by the usual suspects, including Greg Meier, the Polkatones, Still Kickin’, the Country Dutchmen, Wisler Accordion, and more.

Compete in (or watch) contests (PDF) like the pretzel toss, condiment art, chicken dance, the sausage eating contests, and the Oktoberfest Bear Hug Race throughout the weekend.

In addition there’s a vendor village where you can buy lederhosen and dirndls, and plenty of stuff for the kids.

This year the food menu gets interesting, with multiple food vendors offering their own take on Oktoberfest food, including (click links for PDF menus) EastBurn, Edelweiss Deli, Eis Hutte and Schnitzel Haus, the Scandinavian Cafe, Urban German, and more – everything is reasonably priced, and two festhallen and a multitude of outdoor picnic tables means there are plenty of places to sit down with your beers and friends.

Admission is $5 for adults 16 to 61, $3 for 62 and over, and kids get in for $2. Friday the fest goes from 3 p.m. to midnight (rides 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.), Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight (rides noon to 10 p.m.), and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (rides noon to 7 p.m.).

This is one of Heather‘s favorite Portland festivals, because of the weiner dog races of course. I’m especially fond of the beer and accordion music!

We usually attend on Friday night, which is usually rather laid back (it is Senior Excitement night at the fest after all). But it serves as a nice way to ease into a full weekend of festing (Saturday night we usually hit the Polish Festival, which unfortunately is always on the same weekend). This year the weekend is also shared by Feast Portland – whew, what a busy weekend! To give you an idea of what to expect, check out our reviews from past years:

Heather’s:

Mine:

And here’s a weiner dog race video!

Weiner Dog Race! from Mile73 on Vimeo.

Portland Polish Festival 2012

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Polish FestivalThe 17th annual Portland Polish Festival, my favorite local cultural event, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23, 2012.

The fest features non-stop music (much of it featuring accordions!) and dance performances, polka contests, and a can’t-miss Saturday night street dance. Enjoy Polish food like pierogies, kielbasa, gołąbki (cabbage rolls), placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), and other delectable options – and of course delicious Polish beer! In the vendor village, check out the jewelry, clothing, Polish pottery, and sundries for sale.

Below the masthead on the festival website are the words: the best kept secret of Portland, Oregon. This statement hasn’t been true for several years – the Polish Fest is the premier fall festival in the Portland area.

Entrance to the Polish Festival is free. Hours on Saturday are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The fest takes place on North Failing street, on the east side of Interstate, between the St. Stanislaus Church and the Polish Library (3832 N. Interstate). Take the 4 – Fessenden to Mississippi and Failing and then take the Failing Street Pedestrian Bridge across the freeway and you are there. Or take the Yellow Line MAX to the Overlook Stop – Failing street is two blocks north up Interstate. Check out the festival website for more information, and follow @PDXPolishFest on Twitter!

Heather and I have blogged the festival the past few years:

Mile73.com

Dave Knows

Protip: arrive Saturday evening after sunset to avoid the bulk of the crowd, and the ridiculously long lines. (Read more tips here!)

Widmer Oktoberfest (September 7-8, 2012)

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Widmer OktoberfestThe eighth annual Widmer Brothers Brewing Oktoberfest expands to two days this year, taking place Friday and Saturday, September 7 and 8, 2012 at the brewery (929 N. Russell Street).

Widmer’s beers, brats, chicken schnitzel wraps, sauerkraut, and pretzels are available, and of course there will be accordions!

The first Oktoberfest of the season, Widmer’s is not my favorite – the rock and roll bands are too loud [get off my lawn, and really, rock and roll bands at an Oktoberfest?], but the beer is good, the food is decent, and the crowds aren’t so thick that beer lines are arduous. Consider it a good warm up for the Fall festival season.

Admission is free to this 21 and over, cash only, event (buy a $6 commemorative stein to buy beer – or use a previous year’s stein if you have one!). The fest runs from 7 p.m. to Friday and 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Don’t drive – take the Yellow line MAX, get off at the Albina/Mississippi stop and you’re only a block away. Visit the Facebook event page for more fest details.

Portland Weekend Amusements (August 24-26, 2012)

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Ongoing

Movies in ParksPortland Movies in the Park

Portland Parks and Recreation has released the 2012 summer schedule of Movies in the Park. From June 29 through September 18 sprawl out at one of Portland’s fine municipal parks several times a week for an evening of free entertainment.

Friday 8/24: Hugo @ Laurelhurst Park
Saturday 8/25: Gamera vs Zigra @ Sewallcrest Park
[more]

All Weekend

Festa ItalianaFiesta Italiana

The 21st Festa Italiana turns Pioneer Courthouse Square into a piazza Thursday through Saturday, August 23 through 25, 2012.

One of my favorite Portland festivals, and not just because of the strolling accordionists, I recommend you arrive early to secure a table in the beer and wine garden! [more]

Saturday

Powell's BooksPowell’s Block Party

Powell’s Books, Portland’s pride and joy and the largest independent bookstore in the world, opened 41 years ago this year on West Burnside.

Through the end of the year Powell’s is celebrating with special author events, sweepstakes, and this Saturday, August 25, 2012 – a Block Party to kick things off! [more]

Viva La Riverlution!UnRock the Bowl

Let’s make a beach in downtown Portland! UnRock the Bowl will take place Saturday, August 25 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park – in the grass bowl just south of Hawthorne Bridge.

Rip-wrap rocks installed in the 1980’s have migrated to the water’s edge. We will simply pick these rocks up and put them back on the bank. [more]

Portland TimbersCascadia Cup Match: Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

Cascadian rivals Vancouver Whitecaps (10-9-7) and the Portland Timbers (5-13-6) meet again at Jeld-Wen Field on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The only bright spot this season is that the Timbers sit atop the Cascadia Cup standings – tied with Seattle . . . a good result against Vancouver Saturday will put them back in the driver’s seat . . .

Sunday

Sunday ParkwaysSoutheast Portland Sunday Parkways

The fourth of five 2012 Sunday Parkways takes place this Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Southeast Portland.

From 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. wind your way on bike or foot through mostly residential streets free of car traffic, from one park to the next. This year’s route is 9 miles long. [more]

Hawthorne Street Fair 2012Hawthorne Street Fair

The 2012 Hawthorne Street Fair takes place Sunday, August 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard.

For the fourth year running the fair coincides with the Southeast Portland Sunday Parkways . . . Most of the street fair activities take place between 12th and 51st . . . Clusters of arts, crafts, and food vendors pepper the side streets, sidewalks, and adjacent parking lots. [more]

42nd Ave Street Fair 201242nd Avenue Street Fair

The third annual 42nd Avenue Street Fair takes place Sunday, August 26, 2012 at Northeast 42nd and Alberta Court.
Join the fun from noon until 5 p.m.

The fair features live music, kids’ activities, vendors, a beer garden, and more! [more]

Zach's ShackZack’s Shack Hot Dog Eating Contest

The 9th annual Zach’s Shack Hot Dog Eating Contest takes place Sunday, August 26, 2012 at the shack (46th and SE Hawthorne).

The entrance fee is a mere $5, and includes all the hot dogs and buns you can eat in 10 minutes – but remember, regurgitation is grounds for disqualification. No puking! Spectators get in free. Shit goes down at 4 p.m. [more]

And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.