Portland and Area Activities Planner - August 16, 2024

by Geri And Tim Penner

WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND?
Excerpts From
TravelPortland .com
TualitinValley.org
TravelOregon.com

	GRAND PRIX OF PORTLAND Every fall since 2018, Portland International Raceway has hosted the celebrated open-wheel racing with the Grand Prix of Portland. Held from 1984–2007 under various names, the race is back at the Portland International Raceway. as the only Verizon IndyCar Series race in the Pacific Northwest. Unlike the most famous IndyCar race — the Indianapolis 500 — the Grand Prix of Portland isn’t run on a simple oval. Portland’s 1.967-mile (3.166 km) course boasts 12 turns and several exciting passing opportunities, including a quick chicane at the end of the front stretch, a hard-breaking right leading into the backstretch and a three-turn complex leading back to the front stretch.
	PDX ADULT SOAPBOX DERBY Put down your video game controllers and step away from your Mario Kart. The best way to race isn’t on a screen; it’s down an extinct cinder cone volcano in Southeast Portland. The annual PDX Adult Soapbox Derby pits grown-up kids against each other, with each team designing and assembling their own downhill racers in pursuit of maximum speed or big laughs. This race returns every August to Mt Tabor P{Ark, , an extinct volcano that is now a forested urban park. Dozens of teams build cars to zip down the course, a great mix of curves and straightaways, lined with picnicking onlookers — many sipping cool brews in the designated beer garden.
	HOOD TO COAST The Providence Hood and Portland To Coast Relay is the most popular and largest running/walking relay race in the world, drawing participants from over 40 countries and all 50 states annually. Known as the Mother of All Relays, the event takes 8-12 member relay teams through the unique and beautiful Oregon terrain, starting from the iconic top of Mount Hood and ending at the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. This 196-mile relay (128 miles for Portland To Coast) has filled its team limit for the past 36 years and on Opening Lottery Day for 31 consecutive years.
	PORTLAND CRITERIUM CYCLE RACE The Portland Criterium will return to the Portland North Park Blocks in August. This exciting form of bicycle racing will thrill racers and spectators alike as the race speeds around the streets over 30 mph. Bring the entire family to join a fun afternoon of racing and car-free events featuring some of the best athletes in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
	ROCKSTAR ENERGY OPEN Rockstar Energy Drink has teamed up with premier action sports veterans and creators of Platform, an all-new content destination, to launch the inaugural Rockstar Energy Open. Portland’s deep roots within the skateboarding community will be celebrated as the newly-minted Rockstar Energy Open brings street and park competitions, live music, art installations and more to the historic Waterfront Park in the heart of the city.
	PORTLAND HIP HOP WEEK Portland Hip Hop Day was founded in 2015 as a result of a collaborative effort to address concerns and conflicts between the Portland Hip Hop scene and various agencies representing the City of Portland. As the result of continued relationship building and successful annual events between the city and the Hip Hop community, in 2019, Hip Hop Day was extended as an official week celebration.
	MULTNOMAH DAYS This beloved annual event incorporates a one-day open-air, family-friendly street festival with scheduled musical acts, a community parade, an art fair and over 150 vendor booths, and food and beverage services available via outdoor street dining and food carts — plus outdoor street dining. The popular Community Parade, which includes an exciting and diverse range of local groups participating, and the Community Stage, which features local musical talent in addition to the Main Stage performers, will be back again this year. Kids' Zone at Multnomah Arts Center — fun activities for kids of all ages, including Bird House building with Guild of Oregon Woodworkers and more.
	DAHLIA FESTIVAL Celebrate the season of DAHLIAS. A Rainbow of Color. Stroll through almost 40 acres and a beautiful display garden of stunning dahlias featuring over 370 varieties. The beautiful fields are open from August to September each year, closed on Monday and Tuesday. Pick out and order your favorite dahlias for Spring delivery and planting. Purchase a beautiful bunch of cut dahlias to take home with you or to make someone’s day. Visit the Gift Shop with hundreds of local treasures, open year-round. Fill your belly with yummy treats from Food Carts, relax and enjoy the Live Music, attend the Sunday farmers’ market, or take one of the Classes throughout the festival dates.
	PORTLAND FESTIVAL OF CINEMA, ANIMATION AND TECHNOLOGY OMSI is the place to be in Portland, as the Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation and Technology will present five days of screenings, panels, presentations, parties, and an annual award ceremony. Screening over 110 films and animations from 23 countries, the event will include parties, panel presentations, and Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers. The festival is open to various genres and will highlight films and animations created by visionary filmmakers and animators from across the globe. The festival also features VR and other special technology showcases and dome screenings in the Kendall Planetarium. The festival embraces cutting-edge technology and its role in modern filmmaking.
	PORTLAND BURGER WEEK Hamburglars, it's your time to shine. You have one week to see how many juicy burgers you can put away at an absolute steal ($8 each). You won't get a trophy or anything, but you will have bragging rights among your fellow burger lovers and one very satisfied stomach. Brought to you in partnership with Jim Beam, Laurelwood Brewing, and Electric Lettuce, The Merc's most popular food week event by a landslide features vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, so no growling belly is left behind. Plot your own personalized burger adventure and try as many as you like. For maximum success, wearing something with an elastic waistband
	FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: TEEN SUMMER PRODUCTION Winner of nine Tony® Awards, Fiddler on the Roof has touched audiences worldwide, bridging barriers of race, class, nationality, and religion with its wit, warmth, and honesty. Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, as he tries to protect his five daughters and instill them with traditional values. Come see the musical classic that has thrilled audiences for generations with iconic and beloved songs such as “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Tradition,” “To Life,” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker.” The intensive 3-week training workshop is designed for young performers who are serious about pursuing musical theatre in high school, college, or professionally. The participating students will focus on building real-world experience in a professional setting while staging a full-scale musical.
	MY FAIR LADY This is a musical masterpiece where wit, charm, and an unlikely partnership challenge the status quo. Step into Edwardian London, where social classes clash and hearts open wide. A determined professor bets he can refine a rough-edged flower vendor into a polished member of high society. Delight in this journey of laughter and romance, proving true beauty lies within. This award-winning musical will captivate your heart and leave you humming its iconic tunes long after the curtain falls.
	JUNIOR BROWN Junior's writing style is dependable (he writes nearly all his material), yet he's always full of pleasant surprises. Though Junior always knew he could sing and play what he wanted, he had yet to explore his potential as a songwriter. With his writing coming together by the mid-eighties, Brown upgraded his gear in a way that no artist had ever done. Struggling through each show, going back and forth plugging and unplugging guitar to steel guitar while singing, he had a dream one night about the two instruments mysteriously melding into one. The result was Brown's unique invention, the "Guit-Steel", a double-necked instrument combining standard guitar with steel guitar. Built by Michael Stevens of Stevens Electric Instruments, the Guit-Steel allows Junior to switch instruments quickly in mid-song while singing.
	CLACKAMAS COUNTY FAIR AND CANBY RODEO Dates (10:00am - 11:00PM All Days) Fri Aug 16 - Military Appreciatioon Day Sat Aug 17 - Agricultural Day
	CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: KOOZA Undeniably the most daring Cirque du Soleil touring production, KOOZA takes audiences on a thrilling, emotional ride with its nail-biting, mind-boggling acrobatics. Inspired by traditional circus arts from around the globe, the show’s performances display remarkable showmanship, exceptional execution and incredible agility — notably in the High Wire, Teeterboard and Wheel of Death acts.
	EDGEFIELD CONCERTS ON THE LAWN: MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, activist and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Throughout his multi-decade career, Franti has earned three Billboard No. 1’s with triumphantly hopeful hits “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You,” as well as six Top 30 Hot AC singles, 10 Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. Spearhead’s Follow Your Heart was released in June 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Chart behind Harry Styles. Praised by American Songwriter as “an energizing batch of songs that spotlight the common threads that connect us,” Franti & Spearhead’s 13th studio album Big Big Love is available everywhere now, featuring 17 tracks cowritten by Franti, reflecting his tenacity, inclusiveness, and optimism.
	BIGFOOT ADVENTURE CRUISE Explore the history and lore of Bigfoot while traveling 80 miles (129 km) roundtrip on a high-speed jetboat from Portland to Multnomah Falls. See the landmarks along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers that make the Northwest famous while listening to exclusive narration by Cliff Barackman (star of Animal Planet‘s “Finding Bigfoot”) and a live tour guide. You’ll enjoy curated information about the legend of Bigfoot and sightings in the Columbia River Gorge on this exhilarating, informative journey.
	ENCHANTED FOREST The Enchanted Forest has been a destination for Oregon children since it opened in 1971. Generations of kids have slid down the creepy witch slide, delighted in the Crooked Man’s house, and ridden on the carousel. The Enchanted Forest is a theme park – there is a section with carnival rides and a haunted house – but what most people remember is the creative world contained in the paths and structures of the park.
	THE OREGON GARDEN Home to Oregon’s garden city, Silverton is known for its natural beauty and stunning sights. Encompassing that small-town feel and hospitality, locals and visitors can feel right at home in Silverton. Take a stroll through Oregon’s breathtaking botanical garden in the heart of Silverton at The Oregon Garden. You will love visiting this majestic garden with a relaxing, magical escape full of nature’s finest offerings. Offering 80 acres and more than 20 specialty gardens to see and appreciate, there is something for everyone to enjoy of all ages.
	LENTS INTERNATIONAL FARMERS MARKET The Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) is the only one in Portland with an intentional international focus. LIFM provides fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate produce to the diverse community of Lents neighbors. Founded in 2006 by a community of volunteers and then run by Zenger Farm, it is an important sales outlet for immigrant and new farmers and small food-business owners. The market features culturally specific products, including Northwest-grown traditional Mexican produce and Asian greens.
	STERNWHEELER RIVER TOURS This once primary mode of transportation has become more of a fun commodity for tourism, as river cruise ships provide visitors a chance to get out on the water and take in the sights of their new surroundings. Oregon joined in on the trend in the early 1980s. Since then, several non-steam-powered sternwheel riverboats have been built and operated on major waterways in the state, primarily on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in Marion County. Each is a fun ride for visitors and locals alike as they seemingly tug along and transport them to yesteryear.
	HIGH LIFE ADVENTURES Enjoy a tour of 8 zip lines in a beautiful setting. Join two tour guides on an exhilarating zip line experience around and over a seven-acre lake. A mile of zipping, sure to create lasting memories for the whole family. Take your team to the next level: High Life Adventures also offers customized Team Building Programs to challenge your group while bringing them together as a team.
	PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET Combining the vibes of an art show, a live street concert and an open-air bazaar, the Portland Saturday Market has been a beloved Rose City tradition since 1974. In fact, the market is considered the largest continually operating arts-and-crafts fair in the United States, drawing up to one million visitors during its annual season.
	ST JOHN'S FARMERS MARKET The St. Johns Farmers Market will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday May 4 through November 23, the weekend before Thanksgiving. There will also be a Holiday Market on Saturday, December 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The market is held at the corner of N. Charleston Ave. and N Central St, next to the St. Johns Bachelor Club. The 2024 season has a full vendor roster, including new and returning small businesses spanning local, sustainably-grown agriculture, artisan food, and handmade arts and crafts, Some exciting new products at the market this year include organically grown vegetables and quail eggs from Tiny Acre, a St. Johns-based small scale organic farm; breakfast burritos from Poblano Pepper Mexican Food; and plant-based, farmer-forward pastries and treats from Poppy Shop. To see which vendors are scheduled for each week, check out the interactive market map: https://maps.managemymarket.com/6336
	PORTLAND INDIGENOUS MARKETPLACE Portland Indigenous Marketplace will host the Indigenous Marketplace. Over 30 vendors, food, art exhibits, and more will be present. A marketplace specifically for Indigenous/Black vendors, all the artists/entrepreneurs featured on Indigenous Marketplace have Indigenous/Black ancestry. Vendors sell their hand made and original designs.
	KENTON FARMER'S MARKET The Kenton Farmers Market is located in the heart of the historic Kenton neighborhood in North Portland. Founded in 2012, the market’s live music and the festive street-fair atmosphere thrive in this growing business district. Proximity to a MAX station and easy access for bicyclists and those on foot make this market a lively and convenient mid-week destination for fresh, local food.