Dave Knows Portland

Portland Oktoberfest Trifecta (September 23-25, 2011)

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If you enjoy Oktoberfests (and who doesn’t?!), get ready to don your dirndl or lederhosen this weekend, September 23 through 25, 2011. You have three area Oktoberfests to choose from (not to mention the Portland Polish Fest). The truly dedicated will attend them all!

Friday – Sunday

Zenner's Oktoberfest 2011Oaks Park Oktoberfest 2011

The 2011 Zenner’s Oktoberfest at Oaks Park takes place Friday through Sunday, September 23 through 25.

The authentic German beer and food (e.g. Zenner’s sausages, chicken schnitzel, braised red cabbage, sauerkraut, German Potato Salad, and Tater Tots!) 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. [more]

Friday-Saturday

Der Rheinlander Oktoberfest 2011Der Rheinlander Oktoberfest

The Rheinlander 2011 Oktoberfest takes place Friday and Saturday, September 23 and 24 at the restaurant (5035 NE Sandy).

The outdoor bier tent features beer directly from Munich, German – including Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier and Paulaner Salvator Dopple Bock. Live music in the evenings is provided by Oktoberfest band Paloma from Chicago, and participate in (or observe with a smirk) the sausage and pretzel eating contest and costume competition. [more]

Sunday

McMenamins EdgefieldOktoberfest at Edgefield

When you imagine Oktoberfest, what comes to mind? Oom-pah bands, loads of beer, bratwurst and hamburgers and more! One and all are welcome to participate in the German celebration that is Oktoberfest! 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. [more]

Labor Day Weekend 2011 – Portland-Area Amusements

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The end of summer may be nigh, but the summery events aren’t over yet. This Portland weekend has something for everyone: the Pirate Festival, the State Fair, Movies in the Park, a big ol’ union picnic, and much more!

Ongoing

Oregon State FairOregon State Fair 2011

The 2011 Oregon State Fair runs from Friday, August 26 through September 5, at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. Heather and I had a blast at last year’s fair.

Competitions this year include 4-H of course, along with categories such as fine art, farm and garden, photography, floral, creative living, and grill offs. And of course there will be horse shows, and exhibits of livestock and the best part: small animals. [more]

Movies in ParksMovies in the Park

Movies in the park this weekend:

Thursday: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 @ Columbia Park
Friday: Roman Holiday @ Director Park
Saturday: Gulliver’s Travels @ Wallace Park [more]

Swift WatchChapman Vaux’s Swift Watch 2011

So here’s the deal. Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. They spend their days eating lots of bugs. In the late afternoon the Swifts begin flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky about the school. Around sunset they swirl more tightly, like a ground pepper tornado, and begin disappearing, measure by measure, down the chimney. On the lawn below, hundreds of Portlanders gather on lawn chairs and blankets to stare at the sky, mesmerized. Boos erupt when opportunistic Peregrine falcons occasionally get lucky. The crowd cheers, however, when the predators are thwarted. Meanwhile unruly oblivious children scream and roll down the grassy hill. [more]

Portland Timbers NASL era logoSoccer City USA: The Portland Timbers and the NASL Years, 1975-1982

The Oregon Historical Society‘s newest exhibit, Soccer City USA: The Portland Timbers and the NASL Years, 1975-1982, kicked off the day after the Timber’s home opener, and runs through Sunday, September 4, 2011.

The exhibit curators have assembled an exhibit which focuses on the years the Timbers played in the original North American Soccer League, and is the largest collection of Timbers artifacts in one place at one time. [more]

Friday-Sunday

Art In The Pearl

Our 15th annual festival will be held this coming September 3th to September 5th, 2011 and hopes to be one of our best ever. Our festival fills the Northwest Portland Park blocks with art, theater, music, and hands-on activities for people of all ages …

Art In The Pearl® is a wonderful community event. Over one hundred artists show and sell work ranging from fine wooden furniture to beautiful paintings to photography, glass, clay, metal, jewelry, and much more! Art In The Pearl is ranked in the TOP 25 Fine Art events nationwide by the Art Fair Sourcebook. [more]

Reptiles and Amphibian ShowOMSI Reptile and Amphibian Show

Crawl, creep, and slither your way to one of the largest gatherings of reptiles and amphibians in the Pacific Northwest when OMSI presents the Reptile and Amphibian Show, Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-5, 2011. Over 100 exotic animals will be on display at this popular event, including a large variety of captive-bred snakes, lizards, turtles, alligators, and more. [more]

Friday

Who Framed Roger RabbitCort and Fatboy’s Midnight Movie: Who Framed Roger Rabbit

This is the original 35mm film, filling the Bagdad’s screen with Bob Zemeckis’ genius, Bob Hoskins’ grumpiness, Roger’s ridiculousness and Jessica’s allure, with Bugs, Mickey, Donald, Daffy, Betty Boop, Droopy Dog and about a hundred other classic cartoons sharing the screen for the first and likely only time together. [more]

Saturday-Sunday

Portland Pirate FestivalPortland Pirate Festival

The sixth annual Portland Pirate Festival invades Historic St. Helens, Oregon this Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4, 2011.

I have never made it to this event (for one thing I have no swashbuckling outfit), so all I can vouch for is what they say on the website – looks like fun! The fest features pirate-themed and non-pirate-themed music, dance and performance, historical reenactments (with cannons!), stuff for kids, and of course there grub and grog! [more]

Monday

Union YesLabor 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]

And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Blogging Portland on the Cheap, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

Portland Pirate Festival (September 3-4, 2011)

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Portland Pirate FestivalThe sixth annual Portland Pirate Festival invades Historic St. Helens, Oregon this Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4, 2011.

I have never made it to this event (for one thing I have no swashbuckling outfit), so all I can vouch for is what they say on the website – looks like fun! The fest features pirate-themed and non-pirate-themed music, dance and performance, historical reenactments (with cannons!), stuff for kids, and of course there grub and grog!

The aaarrrs and blimeys begin at 10am both Saturday and Sunday, and continue until midnight pm Saturday and 10pm Sunday. Chervona (one of my favorite Portland bands) finishes off the festival with exuberance on Sunday night!

Tickets can be acquired at the gate, via Brown Paper Tickets, or at select local retailers.

Weekend Amusements (August 12-14, 2011)

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It’s Baconfest weekend! Plus there’s a whole lot of other stuff to do, including the Alberta Street Fair, Bridge Pedal, Movies in the Park, Adult Soap Box Derby, and more!

All Weekend

Columbia Gorge International Film FestivalColumbia Gorge International Film Festival

The fourth annual Columbia Gorge International Film Festival takes place August 10 through 14, 2011 in Vancouver, Washington.

The official selections include several films with Portland connections, including Patrick’s Story, produced by Portland-based Galaxy Sailor Productions, Portland-based filmmaker Jacqueline Gault‘s Sack Lunch, and others. The festival program includes brief descriptions of these and all the other selections. [more]

Movies in ParksMovies in the Park

Movies in the park this weekend:

Friday: Gamara vs Guiron (live dialogue & music) @ Sewallcrest Park
Saturday: James and the Giant Peach @ Dickinson Park
Sunday: Tangled @ Hazeltine Park [more]

Friday

Portland StreetcarPortland Streetcar 10th Anniversary Celebration

The Portland Streetcar celebrates 10 years of service this summer.

The modern Portland Streetcar debuted on July 20, 2001, carrying passengers between the Good Samaritan Hospital in Northwest Portland to Portland State University in Southwest.

This is a free, all ages, celebration open to everyone! [more]

Twilight CriteriumPortland Twilight Criterium

The Portland Twilight Criterium returns to the North Park Blocks (near NW 9th and Couch) this Friday, August 12, 2011 . . .

Assuming you’re not racing, I recommend watching from the beer garden, which features a happy hour from 4-6pm! Festivities include a Food Carts Expo, a Handbuilt Bike Exhibition, and a chance to meet the women of the Rose City Rollers. [more]

Saturday

PDX Adult Soap Box Derby PDX Adult Soap Box Derby

The 2011 PDX Adult Soap Box Derby takes place this Saturday, August 13 on Mt. Tabor.

“Once a year a brave group of racers convene on the daunting slopes of Mt. Tabor to test their metal to their mettle. These pages are dedicated to all those who have spilled their blood, or even worse, spilled their beer. We thank our beloved volcano for allowing us to
tickle her spine.” [more]

Alberta Street Fair 2011Alberta Street Fair

The 2011 Alberta Street Fair takes place this Saturday, August 13 on Alberta, from NE 10th through 30th.

Things kick off at 11am with the Kids Parade – which starts at 15th and ends at the 21st Avenue stage. Enjoy the line up of activities for kids and families throughout the day. [more

Baconfest!Portland Baconfest

Portland’s third annual Baconfest takes place Saturday, August 13, 2011. The street party runs from noon until 8pm at 18th and East Burnside – adjacent to the East Burn (1800 E Burnside).

Over 2000 bacon lovers attended last year’s fest, thoroughly lubricating their cardiovascular system and contributing over 900 pounds of food for the Oregon Food Bank. [more]

Outpost Block Party 6Outpost Block Party 6

The 6th annual Outpost Block Party takes place this Saturday, August 13, 2011 at Kenilworth Park (SE 32nd and Holgate) from 1pm until 10pm.

SE PORTLAND’S ORIGINAL BLOCK PARTY returns with a massive lineup, a new location, and a whole new look… BUT STILL FREE! [more]

Portland’s Black Panthers: Comic Release and PresentationPortland’s Black Panthers: Comic Release and Presentation

Join The Dill Pickle Club, Portland’s creative cultural club, on Saturday, August 13, 2011 for Portland’s Black Panthers: Comic Release and Presentation.

“The Black Panthers have a rich and important history in Portland—this new comic from the Dill Pickle Club tells their story.” [more]

Sunday

Bridge PedalBridge Pedal

Join us for the 16th anniversary celebration of Providence Bridge Pedal this Sunday!

Since 1996, Providence Bridge Pedal has grown to be a signature event on Portland’s summer event calendar. It offers you the one opportunity each year to enjoy the Willamette River bridges – including the top decks of the Fremont and Marquam bridges – from the best possible vantage point: the seat of a bicycle. [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.

Weekend Amusements (June 3-5, 2011)

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A pair of beer festivals, amongst other amusements this weekend – not bad, summer must be close!

Friday

Zoo Brew 2011Zoo Brew

The fifth annual Zoo Brew takes place Friday, June 3, 2011 from 5pm until 10pm at the Oregon Zoo.

Entertainment at the fest, performing on the the zoo’s main stage, provided by DJ Angry Little Man, Keegan Smith and the Fam, and the Rolling Tones. [more]

Superman 2Cort and Fatboy’s Midnight Movie: Superman II

The June 2011 edition of Cort and Fatboy’s Midnight Movie takes place this Friday, and it’s super: Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut.

“On June 3rd, the Cort and Fatboy Midnight Movie will unleash upon the Bagdad the full fury of Terence Stamp’s General Zod in Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut.” [more]

Saturday

State Park Day 2011Oregon State Parks Day

Oregon State Parks Day 2011 is Saturday, June 4. Enjoy free park day-use parking, and free camping (for Saturday night, regular campsites only).

Several parks within a couple hours of Portland are hosting special events [more]

Amnesia Single Hop Fest 2011Amnesia Single Hop Fest

The first annual Amnesia Single Hop Fest takes place Saturday, June 4, 2011 at Amnesia Brewing (832 N Mississippi).

The New School explains: “On Saturday June 4th Amnesia Brewing will host a mini beer fest dedicated to one hop beers. These are beers made with just one variety of hop throughout the brewing process from bittering to finishing.” [more]

Rose FestivalStarlight Parade

With the wide variety of entries, we will have something for every Portlander. From traditional marching bands and flood-lit floats, to glow-in-the-dark umbrellas and hand-built entries, you’ll see the best of Portland’s diverse community groups and entries from the surrounding Northwest region. Keep an eye out for the final entry of the parade — it’ll certainly be worth the wait! [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 PDX Pipeline!