• Home
  • Archives

Dave Knows Portland

Subscribe to Dave Knows Portland by Email

Portland Weekend Amusements (22-24 April 2016)

April 22, 2016 by Dave Leave a Comment

If you like German-style beer, cider, and Polish culture – well then you’re in luck this weekend! And it’s all going down on Saturday.

Saturday

Crown the Eagle Festival: A Polish Heritage Party

Crown the Eagle Festival To celebrate its rich and historically significant past, the White Eagle hosts a full-day of Polish and Polish-inspired fare, featuring members of Portland’s Polish community, a lively history presentation, live music, sing-alongs and traditional food and drink specials. Join us to enjoy: Polish games & crafts, facepainting, a beer special and a Passport Discovery Hunt.

Third Annual Hopped Cider Fest

Hopped Cider FestThe third annual Hopped Cider Fest, featuring the finest hopped ciders from across the country for the greatest showcase of hoppiness ever assembled in the known universe, takes place Saturday, 23 April 2016 at Reverand Nat’s Hard Cider public taproom (1813 NE 2nd Ave).

Most of the ciders (visit the event page for the full list) are made especially for the festival, and in addition to ciders from Nat’s other cideries participating include Cider Riot, Schilling & Company, Wildcraft, Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Wandering Aengus, and more.

The $20 admission included a commemorative tasting glass and 7 tokens, each good for a 4 ounce taster. Additional tokens are $2 each.

Reinheitsge-Not Beer Fest

Reinheitsge-Not BeerFestCelebrate the world’s oldest beer rules by drinking beers that break them! The German Beer Purity Law of 1516 turns exactly 500 years old on April 23rd, 2016. Also called the Reinheitsgebot, this law states that beer can ONLY be made from Water, Barley, Hops and Yeast. But that’s just boring! So we pulled together some our favorite breweries in the Northwest to brew some beers that break these silly beer rules.

GermanFest 2016

GermanFest at Bailey's TaproomThe 6th annual GermanFest takes place Saturday, 23 April 2016, at Bailey’s Taproom (213 SW Broadway).

From noon until midnight enjoy German-style beers brewed by Oregon breweries, German sausages from Altengartz German Brand Bratwurst (parked out front), and – after 4pm upstairs – School of Krautrock, a German Electronic Music Chronology.

Visit the event page for more details – including the full brewery and beer list.

Portland Weekend Amusements (25-27 September 2015)

September 24, 2015 by Dave Leave a Comment

Oktoberfest season continues! This weekend get your bier at Oaks Park, ride your bike at the last Sunday Parkways of the year, watch a film on the river, juggle to your heart’s content, and amazingly – a lot more!

Friday – Sunday

Oaks Park Oktoberfest

Oaks Park OktoberfestThe 2015 Oaks Park Oktoberfest takes place Friday through Sunday, September 25 through 27.

Bier!Bier! Main sponsor Paulaner will be offering a festival lineup of Oktoberfest, Hefeweizen, Paulaner Salvator, and their Pilsner. Wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available too.

Portland Juggling Festival and Vaudeville Extravaganza

Portland Juggling FestivalThe 2015 Portland Juggling Festival takes place 25 September through 27 September at the Reed College (3203 SE Woodstock Blvd) gym. The Juggling and Vaudeville Extravaganza takes place Saturday, 26 September the Reed College Kaul Auditorium.

One of the largest regional juggling festivals in the country, the festival provides a venue for jugglers from around the world to come together to share knowledge and hone skills in workshops and juggling sessions.

Saturday

Museum Day Live

Museum Day LiveThe Museum Day Live! ticket provides free admission for two people.

In the spirit of the Smithsonian Museums, which offer free admission every day, Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Live! ticket… for free.

Upriver: Outdoor screening at Sellwood Riverfront Park

Portland Ecofilm FestivalThe Portland EcoFilm Festival is proud to partner with Portland Parks and Recreation for the Portland premiere of UPRIVER, screening outdoors in the beautiful Sellwood Riverfront Park!

Home to roughly two-thirds of all Oregonians, the Willamette River system has endured a history of human use and abuse similar to most large river systems. UPRIVER, a locally-produced feature-length documentary, explores the recent movement of Oregonians from all walks of life to improve the health of the river and the diverse life it supports and provides a new look at what this river is, where it comes from, and where it’s going.

Sunday

Tilikum Crossing / Sellwood Portland Sunday Parkways

Sunday ParkwaysEnd the Sunday Parkways season big by exploring the new Tilikum Crossing Bridge of the People and the Sellwood area. This new route will include the Tilikum Crossing and circle the Sellwood area introducing participants to the Westmoreland, Sellwood Parks plus Brooklyn School Park where music, food, and fun are waiting.

Harvest Festival

OMSI Harvest Fest 2015Enjoy the bounty of Oregon while indulging in snacks, sweets, beer and music from the Pacific Northwest region! Learn about Oregon specialty crops from local farms, CSA’s, cooking demonstrations and artisan vendors. There’s fun for the whole family, including kids activities and live entertainment. Come celebrate the harvest season at OMSI!

Ongoing

Chapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2015

Swirling SwiftsIn September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts coalesce into a giant undulating swirl in Northwest Portland near Chapman School after spending the day eating bug. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the school’s huge old chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of mesmerized and picnic-sated Portlanders stare into the sky from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets while their oblivious children roll down the grassy hill screaming. Cheers erupt from the crowd when the slippery swifts dodge the opportunistic Peregrine falcons, boos when the predators get lucky.

Oaks Park Oktoberfest (25-27 September 2015)

September 22, 2015 by Dave Leave a Comment

Oaks Park OktoberfestThe 2015 Oaks Park Oktoberfest takes place Friday through Sunday, September 25 through 27.

Bier!Bier! Main sponsor Paulaner will be offering a festival lineup of Oktoberfest, Hefeweizen, Paulaner Salvator, and their Pilsner. Wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available too.

Multiple food vendors offer their take on Oktoberfest food, including Taste of Oktoberfest by Scandinavian Cafe, Schnitzel Haus, Edelweiss Deli, Urban German, Eis Hutte, Deutsche Desserts, 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.

If you love accordion music you’re in for a treat (if you don’t love accordion music, I pity you). Performers include Alpine Echoes, Edelweiss Tanz Gruppe, German International School, Joe the Accordion Man, The Kleinstädtlers, Leikarringen of Portland, Polkatones, Rose City Accordion Club, and more. There are three stages – the Main Festhalle, the Family Festhalle, and the Comcast Stage. Visit the fest website for the full performance schedule.

Compete in (or, as I do, watch and guffaw at) the Main Festhalle Games like the pretzel toss, condiment art, and the chicken dance throughout the weekend.

Additionally there’s a Craft and Import Vendors village where you can buy lederhosen and dirndls, and plenty of knick knacks and stuff for the kids.

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 PM to midnight, Saturday, 11 AM to midnight, and Sunday 11 AM to 7 PM. (Friday from 3 PM to 6 PM is Senior Excitement Night at the fest; guests 55 and older receive FREE admission and discounts at some vendors.)

This is one of Heather‘s favorite Portland festivals, because of the weiner dog races of course.

To give you an idea of what to expect, check out our reviews from past years:

Heather’s:

  • Oktoberfest: Beer, Wiener Dogs and Schnitzel (2008)
  • A Night at Oktoberfest (2009)

Mine:

  • Oaks Park Oktoberfest 2009
  • Oaks Park Oktoberfest 2010 by me

And here’s a weiner dog race video!

Weiner Dog Race! from Mile73 on Vimeo.

Portland Weekend Amusements (18-20 September 2015)

September 17, 2015 by Dave Leave a Comment

Oktoberfest season – the best season of the year in my book – is in full swing. This weekend get your bier at Stammtisch and Kennedy School, and don’t miss the Polish Festival either!

Friday – Sunday

Stammtisch Oktoberfest

Stammtisch Oktoberfest 2015Portland German restaurant Stammtisch (401 NE 28th Ave) knows how to throw a party: A three day Oktoberfest block party (18 Friday through 20 Sunday 2015).

“Bust out your lederhosen and dirndls for what is always the best party of the year!”

Saturday-Sunday

Portland Polish Festival

Portland Polish FestivalThe 22nd annual Portland Polish Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, 19-20 September 2015, between the Polish Hall (3832 N. Interstate Avenue) and the St. Stanislaus Church (3916 N. Interstate Avenue) on N. Interstate – right at the west end of the famous Failing Street pedestrian bridge.

My favorite Portland festival features non-stop music and dance performances, polka contests, and the can’t-miss Saturday night street dance featuring Chervona! 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.

Sunday

Kennedy School Oktoberfest

McMenaminsWhen you imagine Oktoberfest, what comes to mind? Beer, live music, more beer, bratwurst and hamburgers, and more—exactly how McMenamins pictures it.

One and all are welcome to participate! Begun as a wedding party for Germany’s Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese in 1810, today Oktoberfest is celebrated all over the world with music, singing, dancing, beer, food and revelry, so join in our fun. Get the cool event stamp for your Passport, too.

Ongoing

Chapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2015

Swirling SwiftsIn September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts coalesce into a giant undulating swirl in Northwest Portland near Chapman School after spending the day eating bug. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the school’s huge old chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of mesmerized and picnic-sated Portlanders stare into the sky from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets while their oblivious children roll down the grassy hill screaming. Cheers erupt from the crowd when the slippery swifts dodge the opportunistic Peregrine falcons, boos when the predators get lucky.

Stammtisch Oktoberfest (18-20 September 2015)

September 14, 2015 by Dave Leave a Comment

Stammtisch Oktoberfest 2015Portland German restaurant Stammtisch (401 NE 28th Ave) knows how to throw a party: A three day Oktoberfest block party (18 Friday through 20 Sunday 2015).

Bust out your lederhosen and dirndls for what is always the best party of the year!

Once again we will be closing off Flanders at 28th for a weekend street festival with a massive biergarten, 10 Oktoberfest style biers, BBQ, live music, glassware for sale, games, face painting and more!

For the BBQ, Chef Graham Chaney will be grilling up Roast Chicken, Bratwurst Sandwiches, Curry Wurst, Döner Kebabs, Giant Pretzels, and more out on the street.

Oktoberfest and Märzen draft beers available come from the following breweries: Ayinger, Andechs, Benediktiner, Hofbräu, Paulaner, Schlenkerla, Schwabenbräu, Spaten, Warsteiner, Weltenburger.

Flanders street at NE 28th will be closed to traffic from 5 PM until 10PM on Friday, noon until 10 PM on Saturday, and Sunday from noon until 9 PM – all three days the party continues inside after the street reopens.

Visit the Facebook event page for more information.

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Dave Knows Portland Archive

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in