The Best Festivals in Oregon this Summer

Each summer, the city of Salem in the heart of the Willamette Valley plays host to one of the region’s most popular and respected art festivals. Held in the picturesque environs of Bush’s Pasture Park and organised by the Salem Art Association, the festival has been running for an impressive 67 years and shows no sign of slowing down. Around 200 artists will be present this year, each carefully selected by a jury of arts professionals using a criteria that guarantees both quality and diversity in the works on display. As for those who come to admire rather than exhibit, some 30,000 art aficionados are once again expected to descend on the festival, hailing from near and far. The event’s programme will also include art activities for children, live performances on two stages, and food, beer and wine. (Photo: Salem Art Fair & Festival))

The origins of the Corbett Fun Fest, a spectacular community event that draws thousands of visitors to the riverside town of Corbett each year, date back to 1970 when it was conceived as a parade for showcasing locally owned horses. Since those early days, the family-oriented festival has expanded far beyond its equestrian roots and, as it prepares to celebrate its 45th anniversary on American Independence Day, its popularity and renown has never been greater. Held in the grounds of Corbett Grade School, some of the festival’s stand-out features will include live music, a supervised Fun Zone for kids, and the culminating event, a stunning fireworks show. (Photo: Corbett Fun Fest)

The 2016 Art and the Vineyard Festival with July 4th Freedom Festival Fireworks takes place in Alton Baker Park, Eugene and has grown to become the premier fine art, wine, and fireworks festival in the Southern Willamette Valley. The three-day event features over 100 artists in the Artists’ Marketplace, an Art For Your Garden area, a Wine Court with 22 Oregon wineries, an International Food Court, Youth Art Arena and Youth Stage, and a Main Stage with entertainment throughout the weekend, including David and Linda LaFlamme of It’s A Beautiful Day Band headlining July 4th. (Photo: Art and the Vineyard & Freedom Festival Fireworks)

Nestled on the eastern edge of the Grande Ronde Valley in Union County, Cove is an idyllic place at any time of year. But for one particular day on the calendar, the city’s charm offensive goes into overdrive when it hosts its annual Cove Cherry Fair. The fair’s s origins date back to the start of the 20th century when it was designed to promote Cove’s prolific cherry and fruit production, but in its modern incarnation has become an all-encompassing community celebration that both honours its past and looks to the future. The programme has plenty for adults and children alike, including a fun run, a parade, live music, a lumberjack show, and plenty of food and drink. (Photo: Cove Cherry Fair)

With its tagline ‘Always Create! Always Encourage! Never Land!’, the inspirational ethos behind the 2nd Star Festival is clear from the start. Now in its second year, the cultural arts celebration honours creativity in all its forms, showcasing artisans, authors, illustrators, and performers of music, storytelling, and puppetry. Taking place in the coastal city of Florence, it offers visitors the chance to enjoy the diverse range of works on display, but also meet guest artists, listen to talks and watch musical performances on the theatre stage. But wait, there’s more! In the outdoor area, you’ll find mermaids, pirates, face painting, demonstrations, workshops, a gaming area, an acoustic music stage and – yes, it’s about to get even better – a beer garden. (Photo: The Hawks’ Aerie)

As this article attests, there’s certainly no shortage of arts festivals to enjoy in Oregon this summer. One of the finest takes place in the relaxed, sleepy city of Wilsonville which each year invites some 50 professional artists and 300 local students to showcase their talents in the wide open space of Wilsonville’s Town Center Park. The two-day outdoor event features a diverse range of artistic and cultural genres including live music, literature, and art installations, all carefully selected by a jury from the Festival Committee based on original thought and intent, overall concept, demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship, and consistency of style and presentation. The end result is one of the region’s most popular festivals – and one not to be missed. (Photo: Wilsonville Festival of Arts)

This Father’s Day weekend, you can head to The Oregon Garden in historic Silverton for the 12th annual Oregon Garden Brewfest, presented by Venti’s Café. Visitors are invited to enjoy 60 breweries, pouring 120 beers, ciders, and meads from all over the state and across the country. Sip your brew as you wander through 80-acres of beautiful gardens, listen to great regional bands, play lawn games, and taste amazing food from local vendors. Minors are welcome Saturday until 5pm and all day Sunday (Father’s Day) when there will be fun family activities and root beer tastings. (Photo: Oregon Garden Brewfest)

If you’re looking for a small Americana music festival this summer, Green Valley Music Fest, just outside the historic town of Oakland, is a fair bet for a great time. Located on a family farm, they have it all: top notch musical performances, an Oaks Savannah to pitch a tent or hammock in, delicious local food karts, and thirst-quenching Northwest IPA’s in the beer & wine garden. Visitors can walk through the arena to see art vendors, live painting and play games with friends or family, while there’s also volleyball, horse shoes and frisbee. In between musical sets, there’s also some eye-catching visual treats in the shape of hula hoopers, aerial silks and belly dancers. (Photo: Green Valley Music Fest)

The annual Southern Oregon Kite Festival in the city of Brookings, Curry County, is a popular event that attracts visitors from far and wide. Now into its 24th year, the two-day festival is free and fun for all ages, featuring nationally and internationally renowned kite flyers performing amazing routines choreographed to music on the kite field at the Port of Brookings Harbor. The programme activities also include free children’s kite building workshops and vendors selling eats, treats, crafts and merchandise, while an indoor kite flying demo will be held on the Friday evening in the Brookings-Harbor High School Gymnasium. Free parking and free shuttles to the kite festival field are provided. (Photo: Southern Oregon Kite Festival)

Anyone attending the annual Scandinavian Festival in Junction City would struggle to imagine that this was once an area dying on its knees. The fact that it now hosts one of the region’s most popular carnivals is testament to the achievements of Dr. Gale F. Fletchall, who founded the event in 1960 in an attempt to revise Junction City’s ailing fortunes. Today the 4-day festival, which celebrates the area’s rich Scandinavian heritage, puts on a dazzling programme of Scandi-themed events and activities, including instrumental groups, puppet shows, storytellers, folk dancers, hand and woodcrafts, jewellery displays and traditional food including meatballs and “vandbakkelser” (chocolate dipped cream puffs). Those who love dressing up also have the perfect excuse, with costumed trolls and Vikings often seen marching through the streets. (Photo: Scandinavian Festival)

There are few more scenic spots for a festival than the beautiful Coos Bay area, which each year hosts a hugely popular music festival that celebrates genres from Bluegrass to classical. The only festival of its kind in southwestern Oregon, the event draws some 5,000 revellers each year, hailing from the local area as well as further afield. Held over eleven full days, an action-packed programme includes two outdoor concerts (picnics welcome), two classical chamber concerts, and three classical concerts performed by the official Festival Symphony Orchestra. There’ll also be plenty of time between performances to enjoy the area’s attractions, including its pristine beaches, succulent seafood, sand dunes, fishing and more. (Photo: Oregon Coast Music Festival)

With Americans now able to travel to Cuba for the first time since 1960, it is a fitting time to remind ourselves of the rich culture of the Caribbean island. Step forward the 2016 World Beat Festival, which this year offers an action-packed programme of parades, activities, demonstrations, discussions and much more – with a spotlight on Cuba. Taking place in the Riverfront Park in Salem, there’ll be ethnic food, music, salsa dance lessons, cultural exhibits and performances, dragon boat racing and a closing concert by award-winning blues musician Ty Curtis. In addition to its celebration of Cuba, the festival will also feature over 125 performances from 70 different countries – further demonstrating the event’s multicultural outlook. (Photo: World Beat Festival)