SK&H has compiled a list of fun things to do this weekend with an emphasis on festivals, food, and wine. The weekend kicks off with Pioneer Courthouse Square’s celebration of all things Italian at Festa Italiana. Food and wine lovers can attend two wonderful fests in Yamhill County and Vancouver, Washington. And music lovers will love the bluegrass-tinged Picker’s Fest at Zigzag Mountain Farm in Rhododendron or the always incredible MusicFestNW, right in our own Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Festa Italiana
Thursday-Saturday, August 25 – 27, 2016
Festa Italiana offers live music, pizza tossing, grape stomping, Italian food, a wine and beer garden, and lots of vendors selling Italian goodies. All things Italian take place in Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Cost: Free!
Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival
Friday-Sunday, August 26 – 28, 2016
Drink wine, listen to jazz, and shop from arts and crafts booths at Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival at Esther Short Park in Vancouver, Washington.
Cost: 3-day pass, $60. Single day pass, $25-35.
Bounty of Yamhill County
Friday-Sunday, August 26 – 28, 2016
Placed in the Top 10 Best Food Festivals by USA TODAY and The Culture Trip, the highly acclaimed Bounty of Yamhill County offers meals, tours, outings, and even classes that feature local farms, chefs, and wineries. This food festival is split up into several different events, however, Sunday is deemed The Big Night: enjoy an idyllic outdoor evening of fine food, fine wine and fine company on the lawn at Sokol Blosser Winery. This signature event brings together Yamhill County chefs and farmers to create a walk-around meal of seasonal delights to be accompanied with selected wines from 25 Yamhill County vintners.
Cost: Varies per event.
Picker’s Fest
Friday-Sunday, August 26 – 28, 2016
Oregon Bluegrass Association’s Picker’s Fest offers music in the mountains and optional camping at Zigzag Mountain Farm in Rhododendron. Bring your mandolin, guitar, fiddle, dobro, ukulele or whatever makes great bluegrass music, or just hang out and enjoy the Farm and being up at the mountain with surrounded by music. Single day tickets, as well as weekend tickets, are available, with meals also up for purchase. If you’re not particularly fond of camping, you can rent a yurt for two nights minimum at the rate of $60 per night.
Cost: Weekend- camping, $50. Weekend- no camping, $25.
MusicfestNW
Saturday and Sunday, August 27 – 28, 2016 (1 to 10 p.m.)
MusicfestNW is a 21+ only music festival spanning two days and 18 acts. Everyone from Duran Duran to Ice Cube, Ween to Andrew W.K. will be performing. Of course, food carts and pop-up restaurants will also make an appearance. All this and more takes place at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Individual night acts at separate venue locations are also available to attend.
Cost: 2-day admission, $90. Single day admission, $55.
Dahlia Festival
Saturday-Monday, August 27 – 29 and September 5-8, 2016
View 400 floral arrangements of dahlias indoors, 40 acres of dahlias outdoors, and dahlia growing and arranging demos at the Dahlia Festival at Swan Island Dahlias in Canby.
Cost: Free!
Hawthorne Street Fair
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Hawthorne Street Fair has vendors, family activities, beer gardens, and live music on the sidewalks of SE Hawthorne Blvd., mostly from 31st to 41st.
Cost: Free!