Fairs & Festivals

July and August are prime time for fairs and festivals! Today, you can catch the tail end of the Waterfront Blues Festival or Estacada’s Big Bang , or check out any number of rodeos around the region. As the summer continues, you’ll find plenty to see and do at the Great Oregon Steam-Up , the 50th anniversary of TurkeyRama , the Robin Hood Festival , da Vinci Days , the West Linn Old Time Fair and more. And then of course there are all the county fairs coming up around the greater metro area! How’s a family supposed to keep track of all this fun? Never fear! We’ve put together a roundup of Fairs & Festivals to make scheduling your family’s summer fun as easy as possible. (And don’t forget to take a peek at our Family Favorites listings for fireworks fun , too!) What’s your family’s favorite summer fair or festival? Are there any fairs or festivals you hope to check out for the first time this year?

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Fairs & Festivals

Our Annual Family Resource Guide

The Metro Parent 2011 Family Resource Guide is currently being distributed throughout the region. It’s the ONLY regional directory of family-friendly activities, destinations, businesses and resources made available to area parents free of charge! Inside the guide you’ll find everything from Educational Attractions to Visual and Performing Arts to Playgrounds, Public Fountains and Hiking Opportunities to Sports, Gymnastics and Horseback Riding to Family-friendly Restaurants and Cafes to area Farmers Markets and so much more. There’s also a special section with resources for parents and families and a guide to Multicultural Fairs and Festivals happening around the area all year long. Pick up a copy wherever Metro Parent is distributed, or read it online today.

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Our Annual Family Resource Guide

Explore the World at Local Fairs & Festivals

Our August issue features an Ages & Stages article focused on raising global citizens , starting when kids are babies and continuing throughout their lives. One simple and entertaining way to introduce kids of all ages to diverse cultures is by attending culturally diverse fairs and festivals – which you’ll find year-round in the Portland metro area! This month seems to be especially rich in cultural celebrations – including the ones below – making it the perfect time to start exploring the cultures of the world with your family! India Festival. Entertainment and food from India. Aug. 15, 11 am to 9 pm. FREE, vendors charge. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave. 503-645-7902. icaportland.org . Glendi. Greek festival with entertainment, pony rides, face painting, crafts and more. Aug. 20 and 21, 11 am to 10 pm. FREE, charge for food and children’s activities. St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 14485 SW Walker Rd., Beaverton. 503-644-7444. glendipdx.com . Explore Japan. Drink tea, learn how to use chopsticks, make crafts and more. Aug. 20, 11 am to 1 pm. FREE w/museum admission. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org . Soberiha. A Russian-American cultural festival in the style of a traditional Russian folk carnival with American music. Aug. 21, noon to 6 pm. FREE. Esther Short Park, W Columbia/8th St., Vancouver, Wash. 360-907-4876. cityofvancouver.us/calendar.asp . Celebrando la Familia. A Latino Summer Resource Fair with information on health, education, legal and other topics along with entertainment and more. Aug. 22, 1 to 5 pm. FREE. Esther Short Park, W Columbia/8th St., Vancouver, Wash. 360-907-4876. cityofvancouver.us/calendar.asp . Festa Italiana. Italian entertainment plus marionettes, pizza toss, grape stomp and more. Aug. 26 and 28 noon to 11 pm; Aug. 27 noon to midnight. FREE, vendors charge. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave. festaitalianaportland.shutterfly.com . Salsa en la Calle PDX. Salsa lessons for all ages, a children’s art tent from noon to 6 pm, and dancing in the streets! Aug. 29, 11 am to 11 pm. $15; free ages 12 and under. East Bank Festival Plaza, SE Main/Water. 503-314-2639. salsaenlacallepdx.com . What’s your family’s favorite local cultural celebration?

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Explore the World at Local Fairs & Festivals

Our July Issue

Our July issue is out this week and we think it epitomizes the best of Portland-area summers! We guide you through some of the metro region’s most inviting family-friendly farms and take you to Newport to explore the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s newest exhibit, Swampland . Our Family Fare column features Bob’s Red Mill – the perfect partner to all your summer baking projects and a wonderful family day trip to tour the mill and enjoy a fabulous wholesome meal. If you’re concerned about summer learning loss, we’ve got you covered with Cool Summer Science you can share with your kids in your home, your backyard, and even on the road, and we’ve invited some of the area’s finest children’s librarians to recommend this Summer’s Best Reads for kids of all ages and reading levels. Our Angels Among Us is especially exciting this month as we announce the long-awaited opening of Café au Play , a community gathering spot in southeast Portland. After years of ambitious planning, fundraising and hard work, the café and community hub is opening its doors on July 17 with a grand opening celebration for the whole community. Our Viewpoint offers tips for parents to help kids manage stress today and throughout their lives. As always, our Family Calendar is packed with summer fun for every day of the month, including a special section on Fairs, Festivals and Rodeos ! We hope you enjoy our July issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together. You can pick up a copy beginning this week, or read it online starting tomorrow. What does your family have planned this summer?

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Our July Issue

2010 Festival of Balloons

June 25th – 27th, 2010

Location:
Cook Park
17005 S.W. 92nd Ave
Tigard, OR

http://www.tigardballoon.org

Weekend events will include a carnival from Funtastic Traveling Shows, a premier youth soccer tournament, exhibitors, food, BBQ contest, Festival of Cars, Rogue beer garden and of course morning hot air balloon launches and NW Natural Night Glows!