Dave Knows Portland

Subscribe to Dave Knows Portland by Email

Portland Weekend Amusements (Sept. 30 – October 2)

by Leave a Comment

Ease your transition to real Autumn weather with beer, cheese, and Greek food this weekend. And if you have the gumption, ride your bike a bit around Sellwood and Milwaukie.

All Weekend

Greek Festival 2016Portland Greek Festival

After six decades, The Greek Festival has become one of the largest festivals of its kind, sharing our Greek Orthodox faith and rich culture with over 15,000 guests annually. The festival is an iconic event in the Portland Metropolitan area and has been designated as an Oregon Heritage Tradition by the Oregon Heritage Commission. Each year a portion of proceeds from the festival go toward worthy philanthropic endeavors in the greater Portland community.

prostProst! Portland Oktoberfest

It’s the biggest party of the year at Prost!

Everything kicks off on Friday Night with a ceremonial keg tapping at 7pm. We will also be selling a limited amount of our 2016 Oktoberfest Liter Steins.

Saturday and Sunday we are taking the party outside. We will have the entire Marketplace, with extra biers available on tap outside, German BBQ on a charcoal grill, games, a face painter and more!

Portland Juggling Festival and Vaudeville Extravaganza

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.

The Juggling and Vaudeville Extravaganza highlights the festival on Saturday night. In past years it’s featured a family-friendly assortment of local and national juggling and variety acts in one live performance.

Friday-Saturday

Fresh Hop Fest 2016Portland Fresh Hops Fest

The Portland Fresh Hops Fest is a celebration of the annual hop harvest that takes place from mid-August to mid-September in Oregon. This year’s 13th annual event will take place Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way. Hours are 5pm to 9pm on Friday and 12pm to 8pm on Saturday. The festival features more than 60 Oregon craft beers made with hops that are freshly picked off the vine and used within hours of harvesting.

This year’s festival will feature more than 60 Oregon brewed fresh hop beers . . . Beers may run out; for the greatest selection, arrive on Friday or before 3pm on Saturday.

Saturday

The WedgeThe Wedge: Portland Celebrates Cheese

The Wedge is a Farmers Market-style event, featuring cheese and foods/beverages that go well with it. Sample and purchase local, artisan cheese, specialty foods, beer, wine, and cider, take a class, snap a pic with our mascot, and try your hand at cheese wheel bowling! . . .

This is a family and pet friendly event that is open to the public. Children and well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome . . .

Belgianfest 20168th Annual Belgianfest

Join North 45 for our 8th Annual Belgianfest!

Old World vs. New World Belgian Beer Battle:

Taste the best in Belgian beers with our expansive collection of authentic Belgian beers and try some of the best domestic craft Belgian style ales in our one-day celebration of all things Belgian!

Sunday

Sunday ParkwaysSellwood-Milwaukie Sunday Parkways

This is the last event of the season, but we will end it with a bang! We are once again teaming up with the Salmon Celebration and the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) for the second year in a row. For the first time ever, we will be going to Milwaukie. It’s going to be amazing! This new route will include Westmoreland, Sellwood, and Water Tower Parks plus the Milwaukie Farmers Market and the Milwaukie Business District. Stop by this event to share in some Sunday Parkways history in the making, and also enjoy the live music, delicious food, and fun that awaits you!

OMSIOMSI Harvest Fest

Enjoy 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!

Salmon Celebration3rd Annual Salmon Celebration at Westmoreland Park

Join us in celebration of the restoration of Crystal Springs Creek and the return of salmon to the city on Sunday October, 2 from 11am to 4pm at Westmoreland Park.

The program will include salmon and lamprey tasters, inter-tribal cultural activities, and wonderful storytelling. Booths will include hands-on science activities, wilderness skills, nature crafts, and games for children and adults alike. The event will be free and open to all.

Portland Weekend Amusements (23-25 September 2016)

by Leave a Comment

Oktoberfesting continues – German bier, sausages and schnitzels, wiener dog races and dirndls galore!

All Weekend

Oaks Park OktoberfestOaks Park Oktoberfest

German bier, sausages and schnitzels, wiener dog races and dirndls galore! A multitude of picnic tables in the festhallen and under the trees means there are plenty of places to sit down with your beers and friends.

I’ve been to every one of these fests since 2008 at least, and the weather is almost always perfect and I always have a fantastic time. Oaks Park is the best spot in Portland to spend the last few summer-like days of the year drinking beer with friends.

Friday-Saturday

Portland Night MarketPortland Night Market

100 of Portland’s best vendors celebrating local food, culture, music, drinks and retail.

The Portland Night Market showcases the many unique & diverse businesses that call the great City of Portland home. Blending food, culture, music, drinks and retail together for an adventurous evening in the Industrial District. The event allows people to meet some of Portland’s best makers and creators set in the unique venue of a 100+ year old produce row warehouse. The PNM is a free event and open to all ages.

Saturday

Museum Day LiveMuseum Day Live

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

Museum Day Live! is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity hosted by Smithsonian magazine. Participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day Live! ticket.

Where will your curiosity lead you on Museum Day Live!?

Occidental BrewingOktoberfest at Occidental Brewery

Are you ready for Occidental’s biggest Oktoberfest yet? You know the drill! Join us Saturday September 24th for our biggest Oktoberfest so far. As many of you know we have recently teamed up with Urban German Grill and opened Occidental Wursthaus. This year’s Oktoberfest will also serve as the grand opening of The Wursthaus so come ready to break it in! Beer (Festbier with a handful of others) will be flowing in multiple places, there will be live music and delicious food.

Portland Weekend Amusements (26-28 August 2016)

by Leave a Comment

Summer ain’t over yet! The Organic Beer Fest, Festa Italiana, Hawthorne’s annual street fair – and more!

Thursday-Saturday

Festa Italiana 2016Festa Italiana

This is our 25th Festa Italiana Portland so we are going to celebrate it in a special way! The event takes place in "Portland's Piazza" Pioneer Courthouse Square. We will have Italian Music, Wine/Beer Gardens, Vendors, Dancing and plenty of Italian Food . A great celebration of Italian American culture in beautiful Portland, Oregon. Come join the fun at this family friendly event August 25-27th. Right on the Max Train line. The event is Free admission.

Thursday-Sunday

Organic Beer FestOrganic Beer Fest

Two of Portland’s beloved industries – organic beer and sustainability – come together in an annual celebration designed to raise awareness about organic beer and sustainable living. We’re serving up more than 50 organic beers, ciders and mead along with live music, food, sustainability-oriented vendors, non-profits and a children’s area, all in a beautiful park setting.

Drink Organic, Save the Planet – One Beer at a Time!

Saturday

Jade International Night MarketJade International Night Market

The Jade International Night Market takes place every year and provides a unique cultural event that reflects the diversity of the Jade District communities. We envision an event that supports and roots the Jade District community in place, while providing an opportunity for community members and businesses to benefit economically from the event.

Sunday

Hawthorne Street FairHawthorne Street Fair

Come visit Portland’s original “shop local” district on Sunday, August 28th between 11am and 7pm and explore over a hundred businesses dedicated to community involvement, making the area a desirable place to live, work, and shop.

Some of the highlights include:

  • Main Music Stage at 34th Avenue
  • Kids Activities at Kids At Heart (35th Ave)
  • Muse Art Activities
  • Beer gardens at Bazi Bierbrasserie (32nd Ave) and Hawthorne Hophouse (41st and Hawthorne)
  • Vendors along the street between 31st and 38th Avenues

Ongoing – in the Parks

Movies in the ParkMovies in the Park

  • Fri, August 26 – Mt Scott Park (SE 74th & Reedway St ) – Cinderalla (2015)
  • Fri, August 26 – Hamilton Park (SW 45th & Hamilton St) – Pirates of the Caribbean – Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Sat, August 27 – Laurelhurst Park (SE Cesar E Chavez & Stark St) – Star Wars – The Force Awakens

Concerts in the Park

  • Sunday, Aug 28 – Laurelhurst Park – Providence Stage Band

Portland Weekend Amusements (12-14 August 2016)

by Leave a Comment

This weekend’s activities: Bridge Pedal, Alberta Street Fair, Seaport Celebration, Taste of Croatia, Timbers Army Block Party, India Fest – and more!

The Bite of Oregon takes over Waterfront Park all weekend with Oregon food, wine, and beer. The Bridge Pedal take place Sunday, August 14, 2016.

Saturday

Alberta Street Fair 2016Alberta Street Fair

The 19th Annual Alberta Street Fair, presented by Legacy-GoHealth Urgent Care, is Saturday, August 13, 2016. The Fair offers an eclectic mix of activities and events that could only be found on Alberta Street and showcases the best of the Alberta Street community. The event features entertainment, music, vendors, food and drink for people of all ages.

Seaport CelebrationSeaport Celebration

Join the fun on the waterfront at the family-friendly event of the summer!

The Port of Portland’s Terminal 2 will open up for a unique opportunity to go inside the fences of a working marine terminal, normally closed to the public. Best of all, parking and admission are free!

Experience Portland’s thriving working harbor by jumping on a jet boat ride, or throw on a helmet and try your hand at welding. Enjoy interactive booths from harbor businesses. From great musicians and delicious food, to thrilling activities for all ages, Seaport Celebration is the event not to be missed!

Taste of CroatiaTaste of Croatia

The Taste of Croatia festival takes place Saturday, 13 August 2016 at the St. Birgitta Catholic Church in Linnton (11820 NW St. Helens Road, Portland, OR) from 11 AM to 9 PM.

Enjoy delicious Croatian food including roasted lamb and pork, traditional pastries – plus imported beer and wine while taking in Croatian folklore, music, and much more. There are kids activities too.

Timbers ArmyTimbers Army Block Party

Hey, kids! Time for our annual block party!

As in years past, we’ll take over the block in front of the Fanladen with match viewing, music, a dunk tank and bouncy house, and many options for beer, cider, and food.

Festivities go from 1 to 9pm. The match is at 4pm.

Sunday

India Festival 2016India Fest

Bring your friends and family and come to Pioneer Courthouse Square for a free taste of Indian Culture! Get ready to experience a day of back-to-back dances, musical performances, and food from Portland’s finest Indian restaurants.

Don’t miss out on a memorable event that draws crowds from all over the West Coast!

Ongoing – in the Parks

Movies in the ParkMovies in the Park

  • Fri, August 12 – Dawson Park (N Stanton St & Williams Ave) – Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
  • Fri, August 12 – Kenilworth Park (SE 34th & Holgate Blvd) – Big Hero 6 (2014)
  • Sat, August 13 – Parklane Park (SE 155th & Main St) – Big Hero 6 (Spanish with English Subtitles)
  • Sun, August 14 – April Hill Park (SW 58th & Miles St) – Star Wars – The Force Awakens (2015)

Flicks on the Bricks – and Pioneer Courthouse Square

  • Fri, August 12 – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (G)
    with pre-movie entertainment by Kory Quinn

Concerts in the Park

  • Sunday, Aug 14 – Washington Park – Portland Festival Symphony

Portland 4th of July Weekend Amusements 2016

by Leave a Comment

Fireworks
“Lacroix display WFC2010” by Fieldington at English Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

Monday – Portland Area 4th of July FIREWORKS!

Blues, beers, and fireworks.

Ongoing

Pedalpalooza 2016 – final weekend!

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.

Friday-Sunday

Portland Craft Beer Festival

Portland Craft Beer FestivalThe Portland Craft Beer Festival (PCBF) is an annual opportunity for patrons of legal-drinking age to sample a substantial representation of beers originating from every brewery in Portland. What makes the PCBF unique is the fact that only beers brewed within the city limits of Portland will be featured at the PCBF – this is different from the other beer festivals that occur in the city. Aside from beer, there will be selections of Portland’s crafted ciders and wines, as well as locally based food vendors.