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Portland Weekend Amusements (10-12 June 2016)

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Cooler temperatures, beer and bike and Scandinavian festivals – must be June in Portland

Ongoing

Portland Beer Week

Portland Beer Week is eleven days of fun, educational, eye and palate opening eating and drinking events in the greatest beer city on earth. More than just a beer festival, Portland Beer Week is a celebration of craft beer culture and all of its tangents from food pairings to beer ice cream, artwork and design, film and science.

Pedalpalooza 2016

Pedalpalooza is 3+ weeks of bikey fun. With 280 different events, most organized by individuals, bikers of all persuasions are likely to find many events of interest. Nearly all events are free.

All Weekend

Fruit Beer Fest 2016Portland Fruit Beer Festival

The world’s first dedicated fruit beer festival will return for it’s 6th year on June 10-12th, 2016. Due to overwhelming support and overcapacity crowds, organizers are excited to announce a new and larger venue for 2016’s festivities at the North Park Blocks in downtown Portland. The new grassy and tree lined location is only slightly more than a mile away from the original venue and just a straight shot west on Burnside Avenue.

The 6th annual Portland Fruit Beer Festival more breweries and cideries to the lineup with more national brewery presence without forgetting some of our favorite local makers. The expanded venue will also allow for more food options, more places to relax and more music and all-ages activities.

Saturday

Portland Midsummer Scandinavian Festival

Portland Scandinavian Heritage FoundationScandinavians have a long tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice with bonfires and the raising of the Maypole. Here in Portland, that tradition has been celebrated for 88 continuous years at the Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Everyone is welcome at this summer solstice festival! As anyone who’s been there before knows, that it’s always a fun, family-friendly day filled with games, dancing, food, Nordic vendors and crafts and, of course, the raising of the Maypole.

Toffee Club Block Party

Toffee-Club-Block-PartyWe will be closing SE 10th Avenue between Hawthorne and Clay on Saturday 11th June to celebrate the two big tournaments of the summer – England playing in the Euros at 12pm and USA playing in Copa at 4pm.

There will be multiple screens, street soccer, BBQ, DJs and loads more.

Portland Vegan Beer & Food Festival

Vegan Beer and Food FestivalVegan Beer and Food Festival features the best of the region’s craft beer, wine, ciders, kombucha, cold brew and craft sodas on draft. We curate the top vegan food carts, trucks, vendors and restaurants. Our “pop up” marketplace showcases vendors selling everything from clothing to ceramics to craft goods. And, of course, great live music from some of the best talent around.

Portland Weekend Amusements (June 14-16, 2013)

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Welcome, once again, to your weekend itinerary. I can’t think of any better way to spend a weekend than with books, pride, and a good old fashioned pagan festival (with beer garden!).

Friday-Saturday

Rose City Used Book Sale

Rose City Book FairThe 2013 Rose City Used Book Fair takes place Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15 at The Double Tree Lloyd Center (1000 NE Multnomah). The fair runs from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is only $2, or $1 with a can of food for the Oregon Food Bank.

Sponsored by the Portland Area Used Booksellers’ Association, this unpretentious book fair features thousands of books from independent booksellers from Portland and beyond. Over forty exhibitors will be displaying and selling used books, bargain books, collectible books, prints, and ephemera. Experts will be on hand for appraisals, several seminars are scheduled, and there are door prizes.

Visit the fair website and Facebook page for more details, including a map and list of exhibitors.

Saturday-Sunday

Portland Pride Festival & Parade

Pride NorthwestPortland’s official LGBTQ Pride Parade and Festival, Portland Pride, takes place Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, 2013.

The Portland Pride Parade takes place Sunday, June 16 downtown – kicking off at 11:00 a.m.

The Waterfront Festival Saturday and Sunday at entertainers, vendors, and more at Tom McCall Waterfront Park along Naito Parkway in Downtown Portland between SW Pine and the Morrison Bridge.

Find more information at the official site and the Facebook page.

Sunday

Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival at Oaks Park

Scandinavian Midsummer FestivalThe 85th annual Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival takes place Saturday, June 15, 2013 at Oaks Park.

Midsummer in Scandinavia’s northern climate is the biggest coming out celebration of the year and everyone is invited. At Portland’s Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, it is a celebration of fertile fields, warmer and longer days with games, dancing, food, Scandinavian crafts and of course the raising of the Maypole.

Scandinavian roots are not required to celebrate at this summer solstice festival. As all people of Nordic descent know, it’s always a fun, family friendly and important day no matter your personal traditions.

Festivities begin at 11 a.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for kids (6-12), and $15 for families (2 adults, 2 kids). Enjoy food and crafts, entertainment on two stages, and a beer garden. The Maypole will be raised at 1 p.m.

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

ScanFair 2012

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I'm a Viking!Celebrate the sights, sounds, tastes and traditions of a Scandinavian Christmas at the 28th annual Portland ScanFair, presented by the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, this Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2, 2012.

The fair returns this year to the Exhibit Hall in the Memorial Coliseum (300 N Winning Way). Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and children under 12 are free. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Though primarily a holiday bazaar featuring Scandinavian food, crafts, and sundry, there is also an impressive entertainment lineup (pdf) featuring live traditional music and folk dancing performances and classes.

But my absolute favorite part of the fair is the annual pickled herring eating contest! Check out Nick Capri’s impressive 2008 win below. He took home as a prize a bottle of Krogstad Aquavit, made by Portland’s House Spirits. This year’s contest goes down at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday – don’t miss it!

Portland Weekend Amusements and Events (June 15-17, 2012)

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How is it possible that PDX Beer Week continues? Beer Week in Portland, my friends, is 10 days long! And you won’t want to miss the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival at Oaks Park, and the opening of OHS’s new exhibit Saturday, and lots more!

Ongoing

PDX Beer Week 2012PDX Beer Week

The 2nd annual PDX Beer Week takes place June 7 through 10, 2012 throughout the city.

“In addition to having more breweries than any other city in the world, Portland enjoys one of the most advanced beer cultures — and a thirst for fun and educational craft beer events.” [more]

Pedalpalooza 2012Pedalpalooza 2012

“Pedalpalooza is 3+ weeks of bikey fun. With 272 different events, most organized by individuals, bikers of all persuasions are likely to find many events of interest. Nearly all events are free.”

Runs June 7-30. [more]

All Weekend

Pride NorthwestPortland Pride Festival & Parade

Portland’s official LGBTQ Pride Parade and Festival, Portland Pride, takes place Friday, June 15 through 17, 2012. The Portland Pride Parade takes place Sunday, June 17 downtown – kicking off at 11:30 a.m.

The Waterfront Festival runs Friday though Sunday and features entertainers, vendors, and more [more]

Friday

Offbeat Belly DanceOffbeat Belly Dance

Every third Friday of the month the Blue Monk (3341 SE Belmont) hosts the Offbeat Belly Dance collective, a club rocking, good timing, genre-defying gang of badass belly dancers.

This Friday, June 15, 2012 is now exception: Offbeat Belly Dance! Free! Fantastic! This Friday! Wooo! [more]

Saturday

Scandinavian Midsummer FestivalScandinavian Midsummer Festival

The 84th annual Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival takes place Saturday, June 16, 2012 at Oaks Park.

Scandinavians have a long tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice with bonfires or raising of the Maypole (Majstång). Here in Portland that tradition is being celebrated for 84 continuous years at the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. [more]

Oregon VoicesOregon Voices: Change and Challenge in Modern Oregon History – Public Opening

OHS is opening its doors for free on Saturday, June 16. Explore the exhibit’s interactive areas with theatre instructor Morgan Cox. At 1 PM, listen to historian and author Bill Robbins’ talk, “Reflections on Modern Oregon.” After learning about Oregon’s natural resources, kids can decorate their own backpack and fill it with fun tools for exploring Oregon’s great outdoors! [more]

Sunday

Attack of the FlixAttack of the Flix #06

Attack of the Flix, presented by Microflix, is a monthly competition for Portland filmmakers held at the Curious Comedy Theatre (5225 NE MLK). This month’s show takes place Sunday, June 17, 2012.

Films are shown in the order they are submitted, and screened live on the interwebz! [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, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival (June 16, 2012)

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Scandinavian Midsummer FestivalThe 84th annual Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival takes place Saturday, June 16, 2012 at Oaks Park.

Scandinavians have a long tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice with bonfires or raising of the Maypole (Majstång). Here in Portland that tradition is being celebrated for 84 continuous years at the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Midsummer in Scandinavia’s northern climate is the biggest coming out celebration of the year and everyone is invited. At Portland’s Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, it is a celebration of fertile fields, warmer and longer days with games, dancing, food, Scandinavian crafts and of course the raising of the Maypole.

However, Scandinavian roots are not required to celebrate at this summer solstice festival. As all people of Nordic descent know, it’s always a fun, family friendly and important day with century old traditions.

The festival runs from 11am until 9pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for kids (6-12), and $15 for families (2 adults, 2 kids). Two stages feature live music and entertainers (acts include Catarina New Jazz Quartet from Sweden, Danish Troubadour Flemming Behrend, and juggler Henrik Bothe) and vendors will be offering their wares. There will be dancing (6pm-9pm), nordic food, and there’s a beer garden (open noon until 8pm)! The Maypole will be raised at 1 p.m. Visit the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation website and Facebook event page for more information, including full entertainment schedule.