Mississippi Ave.

Portland Weekend Amusements (8-10 July 2016)

July 7, 2016 by Dave Leave a Comment

Now the real summer kicks in: concerts, movies, and theater in the park; the always fabulous Mississippi Street Fair, Bastille Day, and more!

Ongoing – in the Parks

Movies in the Park

Fri, July 8 – Wilshire Park (NE 33rd Ave & Skidmore St) – Minions (2015)
Sat, July 9 – Dickinson Park (SW 55th & Alfred Ct) – Shaun the Sheep (2015)
Sun, July 10 – Woodlawn Park (NE 13th Ave & Dekum St) – The Sandlot (1993) PG

Concerts in the Park

Friday, July 8 – Fernhill Park (NE 37th, North of Ainsworth St) – Tony Starlight

Original Practice Shakespeare Festival

OPS Fest brings a new style of Shakespearean performance to the Portland area by reviving the old.

This weekend’s performances at Irving Park (NE 9th & Fremont):

Romeo & Juliet – July 8 @ 7PM
The Tempest – July 9 @ 2PM
Hamlet – July 9 @ 7PM

Saturday

Mississippi Street Fair

The 15th annual Mississippi Avenue Street Fair takes place Saturday, July 9, 2016 from 10 am until 9 pm on Mississippi Avenue from Skidmore to Fremont.

One of the most festive and well-attended street fairs in town, the Mississippi Street Fair features five car-free blocks (plus the adjacent side streets), multiple stages of music and dance, hundreds of fantastic craft and food vendors, a Kids Zone, Grandfather’s Rib Off competition, and more!

This year’s fair beneficiary is the Boise Business Youth Unity Project – Fosterinq a stronqer & community throuqh internships for teens.

Bastille Day Festival

The Alliance’s 14th annual Bastille Day Festival takes place on Saturday, July 9, 2016, from noon-6 pm. The Portland festival is one of the largest Bastille celebrations on the West Coast. This year’s festival is celebrated for the second year outdoors at the Portland Art Museum across from the SW Park Blocks. And of course the Bastille Festival is free and open to the public!

Look for fun activities for the whole family, including music, a photo booth, street performers, le marché (the marketplace), French cuisine, and the Spirit of Bastille Costume Contest.

Sunday

Songbook PDX – A Literary Mixtape

Songbook is a reading series comprised of reactions to writers and their own interpretations of songs whether horrid or ethereal. We hear the reader read the piece then we hear the piece of music played at the venue. It’s the literary mixtape you always wanted.

July’s lineup includes: Liz Prato, Shannon Brazil, Shawn Levy, RV Branham, Hobie Anthony, Stephen O’Donnell, and Daniel Elder at Post 134, Alberta Street.

Mississippi Ave Street Fair 2012

July 8, 2012 by Dave 1 Comment

The 11th annual Mississippi Avenue Street Fair takes place Saturday, July 14, 2012 from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Mississippi Avenue from Skidmore to Fremont.

The annual Mississippi Ave. Street Fair is a community-building event that celebrates the neighbors, businesses and organizations that make their home in the Mississippi Avenue neighborhood. The event honors history and tradition while embracing diversity and sustainability.

The event is brought to you by the Historic Mississippi Ave Business Association (HMBA) & the Boise Neighborhood Association (BNA). A portion of the proceeds goes to Boise-Eliot Elementary and the Boise Business Youth Unity Project.

There’s a Craft Beer Garden, food carts, and other great restaurants.

Five stages feature dozens of bands throughout the day.

And of course over 100 local vendors will be on hand offering their wares, causes, and notions.

Read my posts about previous Mississippi street fairs to see how much fun it is: Mississippi Avenue Street Fair 2010, 2009, and 2008.

Visit the Mississippi Ave website for the press release, fact sheet, entertainment schedule, and more, and see you on July 14th, 2012 on Mississippi!

Dog Day Afternoon (18-September-2011)

September 17, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Beer West Magazine and Amnesia Brewing present Dog Day Afternoon, a benefit for Portland’s Pixie Project, this Sunday, September 18, 2011 at the brewpub (832 N Beech).

The event is free to the public and all dogs and their owners are welcome (no kids under 21, please!). Events include a raffle and a “coolest dog trick” contest at 4 p.m. during which dogs can show off their best tricks to an audience of judges. Prizes will be awarded to the dogs that perform the best tricks.

Buy raffle tickets for chances at prizes donated by Beer West, Amnesia, Dogswell, Cycle Dog, and more.

Event entry is free, but 21 and over only. The fun runs from 2pm to 5pm. The raffle drawings take place at 4:30pm!

Mississippi Street Fair (9-July-2011)

July 2, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

The 10th annual Mississippi Avenue Street Fair takes place Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 10am until 9pm – on North Mississippi Avenue, of course, between Skidmore and Fremont.

This is still my favorite Portland street fair. Only five blocks from Skidmore to Fremont, you’re guaranteed to run into your friends amongst the 30,000 or so other festival goers.

“Grandfather” Leonard Smith’s BBQ Rib-Off contest is unique to the festival, and is back again this year. And there’s a Craft Beer Garden, food carts, and other great restaurants. Moloko will be celebrating 5 years with a special street fair anniversary party.

Five stages feature 36 bands throughout the day.

And of course over 100 local vendors will be on hand offering their wares, causes, and notions.

Read my posts about previous Mississippi street fairs to see how much fun it is: Mississippi Avenue Street Fair 2010, 2009, and 2008.

Visit the Mississippi Ave website for the press release, fact sheet, entertainment schedule, and more, and see you on July 9th, 2011 on Mississippi!

Cirque Du Cycling (12-June-2011)

June 7, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

This year’s Cirque du Cycling takes place Sunday, June 12, 2011. A benefit for Albina Youth Opportunity School, it’s a street festival, a circus, a bike race and a parade on North Mississippi.

The Cirque features an art bike parade, a criterium-style street race, a cargo bike race, and a family ride. And to accompany the festivities? Exhibitors and a beer garden!

Check out the website for the schedule of events (beer garden opens at 2pm!).

Below is a taste (of the 2009 festival), in video form, by Brewcaster (and check out my 2010 sideways race footage!):

Cirque du Cycling Bike Parade from brewcaster on Vimeo.