Happenings in Greater Portland

Flowers, Food, Outdoor Adventure and the Arts in Greater Portland

It’s been a fierce winter, and Greater Portland is THE destination to step outside and celebrate the arrival of spring! From beer tastings, to inhaling flower aromas to listening and dancing to Blues music, Greater Portland’s spring events are guaranteed to awaken all of the senses. Find the diverse array of the region’s spring activities below.

Flowers

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival  Mar. 28 - ­May 1, 2011
For the 26^th year, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm bursts into bloom in a fantastic show of nature. Every year the farm’s tulip varieties are arranged differently in a new pattern of color over 40 acres, with sparkling Mt. Hood as a backdrop. During the festival, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities along with the beautiful fields of tulips and daffodils. www.woodenshoe.com/tulip-­fest

Blossom Fest   Apr. 16-17, 2011
The 56^th Annual Blossom Fest is a Hood River Valley tradition with over 20 vendors along the 47­ mile-long festival tour route. The route loops through the Hood River Valley, offering plenty of photo opportunities of pear blossoms and spectacular scenery. Most of the Hood River Fruit Loop member farms and many of the area's wineries are located on the route, and offer special blossom time activities during the weekend. These include orchard and winery tours, fresh fruit stands offering jams, pies and baked goods, art and craft shows, dinner dances and barbecues, and much more.  The Pacific Northwest is the largest pear­ growing region in the U.S., and this area of the Hood River Valley known as the Fruit Loop is also a wonderful destination during the autumn harvest season. www.hoodriver.org  

Portland Rose Festival  May 27 - June 12, 2011
For over one hundred years, the Portland Rose Festival has served families and individuals from Oregon and beyond with events and programs that spotlight the riches of our Pacific Northwest heritage and environment while offering colorful examples of many international cultures. Attended by more than two million people, the festival is annually one of the top three most highly decorated events by the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) and in 2007 was named Best Festival in the World. Among the festival's most popular events are the Grand Floral Parade, one of the nation's top two all ­floral parades, and the Waterfront Village, which features the Best Children's Programming in the World, according to the IFEA. www.rosefestival.org

Culinary

North Willamette Wine Trail Weekend   Apr. 9-­10, 2011
The North Willamette Wine Trail Weekend is a self-guided wine­ tasting event at 17 wineries located in Washington County, Oregon. This is the undiscovered Willamette Valley in Portland’s backyard. Here, owners are winemakers, and you’ll often find them working in their own tasting rooms. For just $45 for the entire weekend, guests are treated to wine tastings, including new releases, reserve label and barrel tastings, food pairings, entertainment, educational demonstrations and hands-on activities at each participating winery.  www.northwillamettevintners.org

Spring Beer & Wine Fest   Apr. 22-23, 2011
Known as the nation’s largest sampling-related, springtime event, the annual Spring Beer & Wine Fest is hosted at the Oregon Convention Center. Festival goers can hop aboard the Tour de Cheese, mingle with artisan brewers, vintners, distillers and cheese makers, nibble on tasty gourmet delights, and get schooled at the Chefs Stage. Admission is free for the first two hours (12:00 – 2:00 PM) each day.  www.springbeerfest.com/index.htm

Portland Indie Wine and Food Festival ­­  May 14, 2011
Join 40 craft producers that represent the heart and soul of Oregon’s world­ class wine industry as they pour their wines during the 7th annual Portland Indie Wine & Food Festival. The event is an exciting opportunity to meet rising star winemakers from emerging cellars across the state in a farmer’s market ­style setting. Most of the wines being poured are very limited in production and not widely available to purchase. The wines will be accompanied by bites from some of Portland’s finest restaurants and culinary artisans. www.indiewinefestival.com

Dining Month Portland   June, 2011
This month-long event features approximately 50 restaurants serving up three-course dinners for only $25. Patrons can enjoy meals any day of the week for the entire month. In 2010, renowned high-end restaurants such as Paley’s Place and the Heathman Restaurant participated, making June the ideal month for visiting foodies looking to explore all that Portland has to offer.   www.dowtownportland.org

Outdoor Adventure

Completion of the Banks-Vernonia Trail
Cyclists rejoice! The final stretch of the 21-mile Banks-Vernonia Trail in rural Washington and Columbia Counties is completed! Cyclists can enjoy a fully-paved, smooth ride past farmland, forest, rivers and mountains, and over old railroad trestles on this Rails-to-Trails path. The trail also weaves through L.L. Stub Stewart State Park, with camping and picnic areas. Banks Bicycle Repair and rental shop opened in October of 2010, offering single and tandem bikes to visitors and locals by the hour. www.oregonstateparks.org/park_145.php

Tree to Tree Adventure Park  Operates mid-March through November
In a first for the West Coast, visitors can now explore Pacific Northwest forests from the treetops at Tree to Tree Adventure Park in Gaston, Oregon. Located an hour toward the Oregon Coast from Portland, this family-friendly outfitter opened its platforms and zip lines in June 2010. The park, and its certified guides, welcome explorers of all ages and skill levels to test their agility on a variety of courses featuring zip lines, tunnels, tightropes, swings and more, all suspended amongst the Douglas Fir trees. The park also has a second course, tucked into the forest, created for team building and group retreats.  www.treetotreeadventurepark.com

Whitewater Rafting on the Clackamas River  May-July, 2011
When the snow starts to melt down from Mount Hood, the rivers run with the whitewater that rafters and kayakers are waiting for. Once the initial rush occurs, the whitewater can provide hours of fun and excitement for groups and families. Local outfitters run regular tours throughout the summer. On May 14^th & 15^th, during the 28^th annual Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival, spectators can watch the pros race and perform tricks on the river. www.mthoodterritory.com

Arts

Portland Jazz Festival  Feb. 18­-27, 2011
The nationally renowned Portland Jazz Festival returns Feb. 18-­27, 2011, bringing cross-cultural collaboration to the city by celebrating Jewish and African American influences under a Bridges and Boundaries theme. The festival features the premiere of the SF JAZZ Collective’s tribute to Stevie Wonder along with performances by Esperanza Spalding, Maceo Parker, Don Byron, Dave Frishberg and Regina Carter. Gospel and klezmer brunches and midnight jam sessions round out this annual festival. Featured shows are Esperanza Spalding, the 3 Cohens and Afro­ Semitic Experience, SF JAZZ Collective, Regina Carter and Joshua Redman.  www.pdxjazz.com

The Allure of the Automobile  June 11­-Sept. 11, 2011
The romance of the ‘30s and unique design elements of the ‘60s come to life as the stylistic development of the automobile
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