During the two months of almost-no-rain here in Portland, July and August, it's a festival of festivals. In fact, there's so many festivals, it would be impossible to get to them all. Of course, if it rains, it all goes on anyway – but if the mountain is out (translation: Mt. Hood is visible today), it'll be a nice, sunny, warm, summer day and that's an added bonus.
In no apparent order of favorite-ness, here are My Six Favorite Mid-Summer Festivals:
Portland Bridge Pedal (Providence Bridge Pedal)
When: August 11, 2013
Where: in Portland, ranging from 3 miles to 36 miles, across 2 bridges (kids' ride) or as many as 11 bridges (longest adult ride)
What: Ride your bike across the bridges in Portland. Not designed as a race, it's fun for the entire family. There's even a 5-mile walking course! One year, I saw a dad on his bike, pulling five kid-bike-add-ons up the Fremont Bridge, with all five kids chanting "go dad! go dad! go dad!" They passed me by, going uphill so fast I couldn't even get my camera out to take a pic!
Click here for more information
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Festa Italiana (Italian Festival)
When: August 22-24, 2013
Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland
What: Celebrate Italian culture with delicious Italian cuisine from local Italian restaurants, and watch a bocce tournament or go to the celebratory Mass at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. You can even listen to someone singing Italian opera or a Pavarotti-sound-alike on the music stage!
Click here for more information
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mississippi Street Fair
When: July 13, 2013
Where: on Mississippi Street, Portland, between N. Fremont and N. Skidmore
What: A fun street fair celebrating the Mississippi Neighborhood, with food, music and vendors of all kinds. Spend the day and discover Mississippi!
Click here for more information
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Cirque du Cycling
When: August 9, 2013
Where: on Mississippi Avenue, Portland, between Shaver and Fremont
What: Part circus, part bicycle street race, Portland's bike riders and other seekers-of-a-fun-time turn out in force to race, to be entertained, to eat, to shop the cool little shops of Mississippi Street, to watch the spectacular bicycles and their riders. You won't believe what some of these bicycles and their riders can do!
Click here for more information
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Alberta Street Fair
When: August 10, 2013
Where: on Alberta Street, Portland, between NE 11th & NE 30th Avenues
What: A day of "eclectic activities celebrating the diversity and uniqueness" that is only found on Alberta Street – you'll definitely find something among the more than 300 vendors of local products, artists, crafts and foods to enjoy for yourself! Don't forget to bring your appetite!
Click here for more information
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Scottish Highland Games
When: July 20, 2013
Where: Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR
What: A fun, family-friendly event with Scottish Highland music, dancing, piping and drumming competition, athletics, and cultural activities. It's a day filled with great fun, good food and more kilts than you can imagine!
Click here for more information
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo
When: July 4-10, 2013
Where: Molalla, Oregon
What: The Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo has been an Oregon tradition since September 1913. I went to my first rodeo here not too long ago and I can honestly say I didn't know how much fun I was missing out on… I thought rodeos were only for cowboys, cowgirls and their wanna-bes, but I had a great time! Don't miss it, especially if you've never been to a rodeo. At least you can mark it off your to-do list!
Click here for more information
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And a bonus – one final festival in the beginning of September:
Art in the Pearl
When: Labor Day Weekend, September 7-9, 2013
Where: The Northwest Park blocks in Portland between W Burnside and NW Glisan at NW 8th Avenue
What: With over 100 artists, there's plenty of art to see and purchase, if it strikes your fancy. Food vendors, music, and hands-on art activities for both kids and adults will round out your weekend nicely and seal the mid-summer festival season nicely.
Click here for more information
i love love festivals….i have feather earrings i wear whenever i go!
we have tons of them here too…maybe i can talk Den into taking me to one…xoxo
Me, too, Debbie! Maybe we can go to one in Bend together – check them out and let me know what’s coming up! Thanks for the comment!
cool will do1