*Update* 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: MULTNOMAH OUTDOOR CINEMA
WHEN: Fri, Sept 10, dusk
WHERE: Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hsy
DETAILS: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the lack Pearl (PR-13). Entertainment at 6:30 pm, movie at dusk. FREE. 503-823-2787, MultnomahArtsCenter.org
WHAT: ROCK N SKATE
WHEN: Fri &Sat, Sept. 10 & 11, 7:30 – 10 pm
WHERE: Lloyd Center Ice Rink, 953 Lloyd Center
DETAILS: Ie skate to rockin’ hits. $7 includes skate rental. 503-288-6073, lloydcenterice.com
WHAT: BEAVERTON CITY LIBRARY 10th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
WHEN: Fri, Sept 10 – Sun, Sept 19th, check website for schedule
WHERE: Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW Fifth St, Beaverton
DETAILS: Join in the 10th Birthday Celebration with special guests: Michael Allen Harrison, Oregon Poet Laureeate PaulAnn Peterson, Joe Becker, and Matt Love plus movies, music, special events for children and teens and more. 503-644-2197, beavertonlibrary.org
WHAT: VANCOUVER PEACE & JUSTICE FAIR
WHEN: Sat, Sept 11, 9 am – 5 pm
WHERE: Esther Short Park, Columbia St/8th St, Vancouver
DETAILS: Entertainment, info, re-enactors, games, children’s activities. FREE. 360-696-4840
WHAT: MUDDY BOOTS ORGANIC FESTIVAL
WHEN: Sat, Sept 11, Noon – 6 pm
WHERE: St. Phillip Neri Church, 2408 SE 16th Ave
DETAILS: Entertainment, susutainable kids’ activities, arokshops, more muddyboot.org
WHAT: FREE FAMILY DAT – WASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM
WHEN: Sat, Sept 11, 10 am – 2 pm
WHERE: 17677 NW Springville Rd (PCC Rock Creek Campus)
DETAILS: Try quilting and enjoy art and history activities. 503-645-5353, washingtoncountymusum.org
WHAT: WEST LINN ARTS FESTIVAL
WHEN: Sat & Sun, Sept 11 & 12
WHERE: Willamette Park at 12th St between Tualatin Ave and Volpp St, West Linn
DETAILS: Music, art and kids’ activities. FREE, westlinnartsfestival.com
WHAT: CELEBRATION OF COURAGE
WHEN: Sun, Sept 12, noon – 4 pm
WHERE: World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon St, Portland
DETAILS: Family festival – music, carnival games, crafts & more to honor kids with cancer.. FREE. 503-244-3141, childrenscancerassociation.org
WHAT: BELMONT STREET FAIR
WHEN: Sun, Sept 12, 10 am - pm
WHERE: SE Belmont, 33rd – 37th
DETAILS: Music, trolly, games, vendors and more. Vendors charge. 503-313-2665, belmontstreetfair.org
WHAT: HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK at LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN
WHEN: Mon – Fri, Sept 13 – 17, 10 am – 6 pm
WHERE: 239 NW Everett St
DETAILS: Games & birthday fun. FREE w/ admission of $8.50 adults, $6.50 ages 6-18, 503-228-8131, lansugareden.org
WHAT: SECOND TUESDAY at the OREGON ZOO
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept 14, 9 am – 4 pm
WHERE: 4001 SW Canyon Rd
DETAILS: Visit the Zoo for $4 per person. 503-226-1561, oregonzoo.org
WHAT: MT ANGEL OKTOBERFEST
WHEN: Thurs – Sun, Sept 16 – 19, check site for hours
WHERE: Venues around Downtown Mt Angel
DETAILS: Live music, “kindergarten” with rides, shows and weiner dog races. Most events FREE. $4 to park. 503-845-9440, Oktoberfest.org
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH ON……….
WHAT: ROCK N SKATE
WHEN: Fri &Sat, Sept. 17 & 18, 7:30 – 10 pm
WHERE: Lloyd Center Ice Rink, 953 Lloyd Center
DETAILS: Ie skate to rockin’ hits. $7 includes skate rental. 503-288-6073, lloydcenterice.com
WHAT: CASCADE OF ROCKS AND GEMS
WHEN: Fri – Sun, Sept 17 – 19, 10 am – 5 pm
WHERE: Washington County Fair Complex, 873 NE 34th Ave, Hillsboro
DETAILS: Exhibits, demos, kids’ corner and more. $5 adults, free up to 12 yrs. 503-666-2905, portlandregionalmineral.org
WHAT: STURGEON FESTIVAL
WHEN: Saturday, Sept 18, 11 am – 4 pm
WHERE: Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver
DETAILS: Eartha the Ecological Clown, birds of prey, fish dissection, reptile show and more. 360-487-7111, cityofvancouver.us
WHAT: GRAHAM OAKS GRAND OPENING
WHEN: Sat, Sept 18, 10 am – 2 pm
WHERE: 11825 SW Wilsonville Rd, Wilsonville
DETAILS: Fete new nature park with family activities. FREE, 503-813-7586, oregonmetro.gov
WHAT: PORTLAND VEGFEST
WHEN: Sat & Sun, Sept 18 & 19, 10 am – 6 pm
WHERE: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE MLK Blvd
DETAILS: Family activities, demos, exhibits and samples. $5, 503-746-8344, nwveg.org
WHAT: OREGON HISTORY MUSEUM FAMILY DAY
WHEN: Sat, Sept 18, 11 am – 3 pm
WHERE: 1200 SW Park Ave
DETAILS: Explore exhibits about first car built in Oregon, design license plate. 2 kids free w/ one paid adult, $11 adult, $9 student, 503-222-1741, ohs.org
WHAT: GRAND CENTRAL BAKERY FAIR
WHEN: Sat, Sept 18, 10 am – 4 pm
WHERE: 714 NE Fremont
DETAILS: Entertainment, demos, contests, bike rodeo, urban farming info and more. $5 adults, $3 child, $10 family, 503-546-5311, grandcentralbakery.com
WHAT: SERBIAN FESTIVAL
WHEN: Sat & Sun, Sept 18 (11 am – 10 pm) & 19 (11 am – 6 pm)
WHERE: St Stephen’s, 11447 SE 27th Ave, Milwaukie
DETAILS: Music, folk dance, kids’ activities and food. FREE, cost for food. 503-659-4705, svetistefanportland.org
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH ON……
WHAT: FREE FOURTH FRIDAY
WHEN: Friday, Sept 24, 5 – 8 pm
WHERE: Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave
DETAILS: Visit the Portland Art Museum for FREE and enjoy music and tours. 503-226-2811, pam.org
WHAT: OAKS PARK OKTOBERFEST
WHEN: Fri – Sun, Sept 24 – 29, see website for hours
WHERE: 7805 SE Oaks Park Wy
DETAILS: Food, oompah bands, Kinderplatz with drafts and shows, pretzel toss, chicken dance contests and more. $5 ages 16-61, $2 ages 0-15, food, drink for purchase. 503-233-5777, oakspark.com
WHAT: PORTLAND JUGGLING & VAUDEVILLE EXRAVAGANZA
WHEN: Fri – Sun, Sept 24 – 26, see website for times/prices
WHERE: Reed College Sports Center, 3202 SE Woodstock Blvd
DETAILS: Workshops for all levels. Big Show with world’s top jugglers, 503-683-2408, vaudevilleextravaganza.com
WHAT: POLISH FESTIVAL
WHEN: Sat & Sun, Sept 25 (11 am 0 10 pm) & 26 (Noon – 6 pm)
WHERE: 3900 N Interstate Ave
DETAILS: Entertainment, polka contests, children’s village (closes at 6 pm) with face painting, games and more. 503-287-4077, portlandpolonia.org
WHAT: SUNDAY PARKWAYS – NW PORTLAND
WHEN: Sunday, Sept 26th, 10 am – 3 pm
WHERE: NW Portland , SW Stark/Old Town Chinatown, Pearl
DETAILS: Ride bikes, run, blade or hula hoop on streets closed to cars. Entertainment, food and activities in Couch Park and Wallace Park. FREE. 503-823-5909, portlandsundayparkways.org
