Secular Holiday

Portland Labor Day Weekend Amusements (2015)

September 4, 2015 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

Labor day weekend!

Saturday and Sunday

Romanian Folk and Food Festival

ROMANIAN COMMUNITY CELEBRATES ITS HERITAGE AND CULTURE IN ITS GENUINE WAY

BBQ, traditional foods, pastries, beer, wine, live music, dance, kids activities, and much more!

The fest takes place at Saint Marys Romanian Orthodox Church (135th and SE Stark)

Labor Day (Monday 7 September 2015)

2015 Labor Day Picnics

The largest gathering by far takes place at in Southeast Portland. Sponsored by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, the picnic attracts members from multiple unions who enjoy barbecue, music, games, carnival rides, raffle drawings, vendor booths, and time to visit with local politicians. Gov. Kate Brown has confirmed that she will be in attendance.

The picnic runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Political speeches take place at 1 p.m.

Ongoing

Chapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2015

In 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.

Portland Film Festival

The festival focuses on the people, ideas, technology, skills and artistry behind filmmaking and provides both entertaining and educational opportunities to the public. The festival is anchored with outdoor screenings, offering its filmmakers one of the largest audiences available on the West Coast.

The festival is spread across seven theater and education venues including some of the oldest historic theaters in Oregon

Movies in the Park

Friday, September 4

Sewallcrest Park – Napoleon Dynomite

Saturday, September 5

Hamilton Park – Maleficent

Sunday, September 6

Overlook Park – Toy Story

Portland Area 4th of July Fireworks (2013)

June 10, 2013 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

You’ll find fireworks galore in the Portland area on Thursday, July 4th 2013. All of the shows listed below can be seen from the sponsoring event venues and at least the immediately surrounding areas – find a roof or a hill for the best viewing!

Fort Vancouver

Once the largest fireworks display west of the Mississippi River, the Fort Vancouver show no longer makes that claim, but it’s still a good one. The fireworks are launched from Pearson Field so they are best seen from the north side of the Columbia. The fireworks show is the climax to a day of festivities at the fort – visit the website for more information, including tickets and entertainment schedules. Gates open at 8 a.m. Fireworks start at 10:05 p.m.

Waterfront Blues Festival

This show, which kicks off at 10 p.m. at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, is the largest fireworks show in Oregon. Viewable from anyplace around town that has a nice view of downtown. Of course if you’re attending the blues festival, you’ll have a great view.

Oaks Park

The Oaks Park 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular starts at dusk. Viewable from the park, of course, but also other parts of SE Portland. The park opens at 10:00 a.m. on the 4th, and all picnic spaces are first come first served. Admission for July 4th is $5 ($3 for seniors 62 and up, and $2 for kids 15 and younger). No personal fireworks or alcohol allowed in the park! Ride bracelets valid until midnight, and there will be live music and entertainment throughout the day. Summertime at Oaks Park can be blissful.

Corbett Fun Festival

The Corbett Fun Festival features an annual parade, live music, and of course: Fireworks – around dusk. It’s the largest fireworks display in East County!

Fireworks photo by Wikipedia contributor Exec8, used here under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

World Toilet Day 2012

November 19, 2012 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

World Toilet Day 2012 is an annual celebration of the importance of sanitation, designed to raise global awareness of the struggle 2.6 billion face every day without access to proper, clean sanitation. It takes place today, Monday, November 19. Activities are planned throughout the world.

In 2010 Portland’s celebration included the Portland Loo unveiling, and though this year’s celebration is perhaps less exciting, it is no less important. Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human (PHLUSH), Portland, Oregon’s public restroom advocates, recognizing that Portland’s location in the Cascadia Subduction Zone puts us in considerable risk of a devastating earthquake in our lifetime, has launched a fall emergency preparedness campaign in conjunction with World Toilet Day:

Portland, Oregon is in the the Cascadia Subduction Zone that Scientific American calls “the biggest seismic hazard in the U.S.” The United States Geologic Survey says that Oregon faces a 37% chance of a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake within the next 50 years. So PHLUSH is launching a fall emergency preparedness campaign in conjunction with World Toilet Day, November 19. Through information, public workshops and exhibits, Portlanders will reflect on needs and build simple urine separation bucket toilets. Most Americans’ see urine and feces as “waste” rather than as nutrient-rich resources vital to the planet. Disaster preparedness is an appropriate context for putting people at ease with talking about the issues; simple emergency toilets are both important in themselves and an intermediate step toward ecological sanitation and nutrient-cycling.

Visit the World Toilet Day website for more information on the global effort, and visit PHLUSH.org for more information on World Toilet Day , and ongoing, sanitation advocacy.

Portland Weekend Amusements (September 14-16, 2012)

September 13, 2012 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

Holy crap what a weekend – the only thing this weekend lacks is fireworks!

Ongoing

Chapman 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]

Friday

Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival Friday is last day

The Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival, an annual series of events that bring together soccer and film enthusiasts to celebrate the beautiful game, touches down in four cities this year: Liverpool, New York City, London, and Portland, Oregon. . .

On Thursday and Friday films, including Argentina Futbol Club, Loucos de Futebol Gringos at the Gate, A Most Improbable Life, and [more]

Saturday

El Grito y Fiestas Patrias

Join Consul Enrique Romero-Cuevas and Portland Mayor Sam Adams in celebrating Portland’s El Grito y Fiestas Patrias at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Saturday, September 15 2012 from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.

El Grito refers to the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence. The event is remembered and celebrated each year on the night of September 15. [more]

Slabtown Community Festival

The sixth annual Slabtown Community Festival takes place Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the NW Portland library parking lot.

“Over the past six years, support of the Slabtown Community Festival has been tremendous. The neighborhood came together, participating as volunteers, merchants and festival-goers.” [more]

Cascadia Cup Match: Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Flounders

The Portland Timbers (7-14-6) play host to their Cascadian rivals, Seattle Sounders (13-6-8), at Jeld-Wen Field Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

A rare bright spot for the Timbers this season has been their play against the Cascadia rivals, Seattle and Vancouver – two wins and one draw – a win Saturday would go a long ways toward securing the Timbers’ first Cascadia Cup since 2010, and first ever against all three rivals in MLS.

Saturday-Sunday

Portland Serbian Fest 2012

The sixth annual Serbian Fest takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 15 and 16, 2012 at St. Stephen in Milwaukie (11447 SE 27th).

The fest features delicious serbian food: barbecue, roast pig and lamb, desserts and live music, National Dance, beer & wine, kids’ activities, and much more! [more]

Portland Mini Maker Faire

Portland Mini Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly showcase of creativity and cool technology, and a celebration of the Maker movement. It’s inspiring, stimulating, and fun for all ages.

Maker Faire is a weekend filled with an incredible variety of exhibits, talks, demonstrations, and performances bridging arts, crafts, science and engineering—many of them hands-on and all of them engaging. Maker Faire, presented by Intel and MAKE Magazine, is a reflection of our community at its very best. [more]

Sunday

Gay Fair on the Square

Join the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and dozens of other LGBT organizations for a day of music, fun, and information in Portland’s living room. Meet other members of the community and learn all about the various organizations and teams throughout the Willamette Valley. Whether you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, just out, considering coming out, or an ally to the gay community, it’s guaranteed to be a wonderful event. [more]

Attack of the Flix #9

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, September 16, 2012.

Submit your film if you are an Oregon or Washington filmmaker! Entries must be 10 minutes or less, and submitted on USB thumb drives encoded as AppleTV (see the FAQ for full details). [more]

“One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” 50th Anniversary Party

Join the Kick Ass Oregon History crew and the fine folks from Nestucca Spit Press on Sunday, September 16, 2012 as they present the “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” 50th Anniversary Party at Mississippi Studios (3939 N. Mississippi) – the celebration begins at 7:30 p.m. [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.

Portland Labor Day Weekend Amusements (2012)

August 30, 2012 by Dave Knows Leave a Comment

Summer sure was fine, but now it’s Fall – happy Labor Day weekend!

Ongoing

Portland 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 8/31: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (71) @ Dawson Park
Friday 8/31: The Adventures of Tintin @ Mt Scott Park
Saturday 9/1: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 @ Wellington Park
[more]

Chapman 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

Art In The Pearl

Art In The Pearl®, Portland Oregon’s annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival, occurs every year on Labor Day weekend. The 16th annual festival will occur on Sept. 1-3, 2012 in the Pearl District’s North Park Blocks. Art In The Pearl has been named one of the top 10 Arts and Crafts Festivals in the country (source: Art Fair Source Book). Our festival fills the Northwest Portland Park blocks with art, theater, music, and hands-on activities for people of all ages. [more]

Friday

Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids

The Portland Timbers (6-13-6) host Colorado Rapids (8-16-2) Friday at Jeld-Wen Field. Kick off is at 7:30 p.m.

Portland aims to maintain form in this battle of the Western Conference cellar dwellers. After an inspiring Cascadia Cup victory over Vancouver last weekend, do the Timbers have enough in them to beat the second worst team this Friday? [more]

Saturday-Sunday

Portland Pirate Festival 2012

The seventh annual Portland Pirate Festival invades Historic St. Helens, Oregon again year, on Saturday and Sunday, September 1 and 2, 2012. . . .

The fest features pirate-themed and non-pirate-themed music, dance and performance, tall ships, stuff for kids, the marauders market, and of course there is grub and grog! [more]

Monday

Labor Day Picnic at Oaks Park

Oregon was the first state to officially recognize the Labor Day holiday in 1887, so it’s only fitting that to this day we throw huge Labor Day picnics throughout the state.

The largest local union picnic, which an estimated 20,000 people attended last year, is the Northwest Oregon Labor Council‘s Labor Day Picnic held Monday, September 5 at Oaks Amusement Park from 10am until 5pm. [more]

Authors in Pubs

Authors in Pubs takes place tonight, Monday, June 4, 2012, at the Jack London Bar (529 SW 4th – in the basement of the Rialto Pool Room).

Created by local writer Don Van Kirk last September, Authors in Pubs is a First Monday event that aims to give local writers a chance to share their work, and receive feedback. The shows run about two hours, but visitors are encouraged to arrive early and stay late to talk with authors and peruse their books. [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.

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