Cheap and Free Family Activities for September

This month’s list of Cheap and Free Family Activities is provided by my friend Char, who volunteers with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Columbia Northwest – they put together this list of cheap and free family-friendly activities (Thanks, Char!)

WHAT:  Oregon State Fair
WHEN:  Daily through Monday, 10 am – 10 pm
WHERE:  Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St NE, Salem
DETAILS: Livestock exhibitions, carnival rides, talent shows, bbq, live music.  $5 – $11.503-947-3247 or www.oregonstatefair.org

WHAT: Romanian Fal Festival
WHEN:  Sst & Sun, Sept 4 & 5, 11:30 am – 8 pm
WHERE:  St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox, 13505 SE Stark St
DETAILS:  The Romanian community holds its 7th annual festival featuring traditiional food and drink, folkloric dances and Eastern European music.  Food and cultural items available for purchase, FREE admission

WHAT:  FREE music at Art in the Pearl
WHEN:  Sat – Mon, Sept 4-6, 11 am – 5 pm
WHERE:  NW Park Blocks between W Burnside and NW Glisan St
DETAILS:  The annual Labor Day festival offers free art and music.  Check website for complete list of bands.  www.artinthepearl.com

WHAT:  FREE “The Comedy of Errors”
WHEN:  Sat – Mon, 3 pm
WHERE:  Reed College Amphitheater, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd
DETAILS:  Portland Actors Ensemble’s Shakespearean farce features identical twins, mistaken identity and slapstick.  Good for the whole family!  www.portlandactors.com

WHAT:  OMSI Reptile and AMphibian Show
WHEN:  Sat – Mon, 9:30 am – 7 pm
WHERE:  OMSI, 1465 SE Water Ave
DETAILS:  One of the NW’s largest gatherings of reptiles and amphibians with more than 100 exotic animals on display including captive-bred snakes, lizards, turtles, alligators and frogs. FREE with regular OMSI admission, $9 – $12.  www.omsi.edu
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Portland Art Museum Bank of America FREE Day – Bank of America Museums on Us free admission for card holders to the Portland Art Museum & Pittock Mansion.  Just bring your photo ID and any Bank of America card to get in for free every FIRST WEEKEND of the month -Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday, 12 noon – 5:00 pm

$2 Sunday at OMSI – The FIRST SUNDAY of every month, 9:30 – 5:30.   See their feature exhibit “Space: A Journey toour Future.” All ages.  1945 SE Water Ave, 503-797-4000,www.omsi.edu