Blog, Tigard, Travel Tips, Tualatin, WCVA
Washington County Visitors Association Announces Summer Events and Festivals!
Festival of Balloons in Tigard, June 21-23
Memorial Day has come and gone and that means summer is officially here! Summer truly is a magical time in Oregon’s Washington County. From strawberry, lavender and garlic festivals to fun, quirky and patriotic events, nearly each weekend during the season celebrates the richness of culture, agriculture and community throughout the region.
Here’s a preview of this summer’s multi-day events and festivals:
Dixie Mountain Grange Strawberry Festival, June 15-16: Sample fresh, Oregon berries at this annual Father’s Day weekend event. A tradition since 1952, the Dixie Mountain Grange hosts the popular Strawberry Festival, which features strawberry shortcake made with freshest ingredients, a quilt display, local craft booths and fresh local strawberries for purchase.
Festival of Balloons in Tigard, June 21-23: Join in an annual Tigard event offering fun for all ages. Weekend events will include a carnival, exhibitors, food, Twilight Run, Safety Safari, Festival of Cars, premiere youth soccer tournament, Rogue beer and morning hot air balloon launches (5:45 – 6:15 am) and NW Natural Night Glow launches (weather permitting)!
Oregon Lavender Festival, July 13-14
Oregon Lavender Festival, July 13-14: Enjoy visiting lavender farms at the height of the growing season, where each farm offers its own selection of different varieties, as well as activities special to this festival, including: lavender bouquet cutting, live music, food for purchase and other vendors. Visit each destination’s website for details. Participating locations in Washington County include: Barb’s Dutchmill Herbfarm, Helvetia Lavender Farm, Jackson School Lavender and Mountainside Lavender. Admission to the farms is free.
The 12th Annual Northwest String Summit, July 18-21: Get your bluegrass on at this four-day bluegrass and Americana music festival, held at Horning’s Hideout. This year’s festival features 26 artists–including three nights of headliner, Yonder Mountain String Band. Three-day and four-day passes are available, and tickets include primitive on-site camping and limited parking. Tickets start at $155, children 10 and under are free with a paying adult.
Sherwood Robin Hood Festival, July 19-21: For more than a half a century, Sherwood has celebrated Robin Hood, his Merry Men and Maid Marian. Medieval times come to life with Renaissance reenactments, a knighting ceremony, archery competition, castle building contest, parade, food, arts and crafts, live entertainment and other fun activities for the entire family. Admission is free.
Washington County Fair, July 25-28: The annual Washington County Fair returns to the Washington County Fair Complex in Hillsboro with a weekend of carnival rides, live music and entertainment, food and more. Admission is free; individual events may have admission fees.
2013 Oregon International Air Show, July 26-28: The Oregon International Air Show is one of the premier aviation events in the Pacific Northwest, and features some of the best in aviation from all over the United States and Canada. The Entertainment Center, KidZone and Military Village offer exciting displays and fun for kids and adults alike. Local vendors will be on hand selling everything from souvenirs to tasty food. Tickets start at $20 ($25 after July 19); discounts for seniors, military and kids, ages 6-12.
Oregon Renaissance Festival, Weekends, Saturday, Aug. 24 – Sunday, Sept. 29
Best of Oregon Food & Wine Festival, August 9-10: The fifth annual Best of Oregon Food & Wine Festival returns to Washington County to showcase Oregon’s culinary culture with dozens of world-class wineries, restaurants and numerous culinary artisans.
Summer Fest & Garlic Out West, August 9-11: Experience two evenings and three days of good music, food, entertainment, and fun at the 2013 Summer Fest & Garlic Out West. This event offers a 10k Run with Oregon Road Runners, a vintage Car Show, old fashioned parade down Main Street and a Pancake Breakfast. Kids can enjoy a full-size playground, exciting inflatables play area and rock wall. Free admission.
Tualatin Crawfish Festival, August 9-10: Celebrate good eating–and the city of Tualatin’s 100th birthday–at the Tualatin Crawfish Festival, the nation’s oldest crawfish festival, west of the Mississippi. This is a two-day, fun-filled family event with a variety of food, entertainment, contests, activities for all ages and more.
Oregon Garlic Festival, August 16-18, and the Annual Banks Bar-B-Que and Truck & Tractor Pull, August 17-19: Formerly known as the North Plains Garlic Festival, the Oregon Garlic Festival will be held in neighboring Banks, Oregon, in conjunction with the annual Banks BBQ and Truck & Tractor Pull. This popular community event must be seen to be believed, and features a combine destruction derby, parade, car show, truck tug-of-war, garden tractors and more. General admission is free. Grandstand admission starts at $10 for adults, $5 for kids, ages 6-16.
Oregon Renaissance Festival, Weekends, Saturday, Aug. 24 – Sunday, Sept. 29: Transport yourself to a 16th century European village at the inaugural Oregon Renaissance Festival, in town for 13 days of merriment. Enjoy talented artists, non-stop stage entertainers, food, crafts, pageantry and encounter beautiful maidens, wandering minstrels, joking jesters and jugglers. Magicians, acrobats, comedians, swordfighters, pirates and fairies will entertain and delight. Be sure to meet the “washing well wenches” and daily performance of an armored jousting. Feast on renaissance-inspired food and drink, including: savory turkey legs, steak on a stake, bangers & mash and chocolate-covered cheesecake.
For a complete list of summer events, including one-day annual events and special events, please visit the WCVA’s Events & Festivals Calendar.
photo credit: Randy Kashka via photopin cc
photo credit: Slideshow Bruce via photopin cc
photo credit: Dustin C Oliver via photopin cc
Photo credit @ Washington County Fair
Visting Washington County in July? You are in luck! Summer is a wonderful time to visit our region, whether you plan to go shopping, wine tasting, or want enjoy the great outdoors, there is something for everyone.
Bridgeport Village (walking distance from our hotel) will launch a number of activities for the whole family this month including their very popular Summer Concert Series which kicks off July 12 . Vist their Event Center Calendar to learn more.
Here are some other upcoming local events and festivals we found on Washington County Visitors Association:
Oregon Lavender Festival (July 14-15, 2012)
Multiple locations throughout Washington County and neighboring counties. Explore six lavender farms in Washington County as part of this annual Festival: Helvetia Lavender Farm, Jackson School Lavender, Mountainside Lavender, and Seasonal Mary Herb and Flower Farm. Each location will feature specials and events, including u-pick lavender, food infused with lavender, and lavender plants for sale. Admission to the farms is free.
Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance (July 15, 2012)
Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR
Celebrate the Mercedes-Benz at this year’s annual Concours d’Elegance. The show features more than 300 antique and special-interest cars, as well as live music and food booths. Ticket prices range from $5 (youth) – $17 (adults).
Sherwood Robin Hood Festival (July 20-21, 2012)
Old Town, Sherwood, OR
Sherwood continues its signature festival, which celebrates Robin Hood, his Merry Men and Maid Marian. Enjoy Renaissance reenactments, an archery contest, a parade, sword fighting, medieval kids’ area, live music, a beer garden and more. Admission to the festival is free.
Washington County Fair (July 26-29, 2012)
Fair Complex, Hillsboro, OR
This annual county fair includes carnival rides, food, booths, and activities for kids. This year’s fair features shows, such as a truck and tractor pull, draft horse show and monster truck show, as well as a headline performance from Miranda Cosgrove, star of Nickelodeon’s hit series, iCarly, Friday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the fair is free; some events and shows may require separate, paid ticket; tickets to headline act are $20-25.
The Main Course (July 28, 2012)
Main Street, Forest Grove, OR
This unique event showcases local food and wine with an outdoor dinner held on Main Street. Local wineries offer tastings and pairings to top off the fine dining. Participants can choose from a wine and appetizer option or the wine tasting and full dinner. Ticket prices range from $30-80.
Warmer weather means one thing in Oregon: time to hit the great outdoors! Hopping on your bicycle and hitting one of the many bike paths and trails in our region is nothing less than blissful.
Fortunately for us, there is no shortage of bicycle trains to explore for all levels. Whether you are a seasoned cyclist or a newbie- there is something for everyone here.
Just remember to travel at a safe speed and follow the rules of the road!
WCVA recommends checking out the Banks-Vernonia State Trail for 21 miles of uninterrupted, car-free, smooth riding.
L.L. Stub Stewart State Park (featured in the above video), a 1,673 acre park where outdoor lovers are invited to explore more than 20 miles of trails. Bring your horse or bicycle and spend hours exploring the far reaches of the park.
Other tips:
- Be sure to visit the City of Tigard’s new bicycle resource featuring bike maps, links, and a listing of upcoming events.
- Visit the WCVA’s new comprehensive bike map detailing bike trails, lanes and designated paths and routes throughout Washington County,
- Check out rideoregonride.com for featured Itineraries, events, maps, recommendations and more.
- Check out the WCVA list of local Bicycle rental and repair shops
The Santa House at Bridgeport Village Photo Credit @Bridgeport Village
I know there are many of you who have not finished their holiday shopping right? The Washington County Oregon Visitors Association has created a helpful shopping itinerary to help you take advantage of tax-free holiday shopping! Here is how you can finish all of your holiday shopping in a single day:
Start off at Washington Square located near three of Portland’s main roadways (I-5, HWY 217 and HWY 26). With five major department stores, 170 distinctive shops, nationally recognized restaurants, such as the Cheesecake Factory, and a large food court, Washington Square is a shopper’s paradise. This shopping center even boasts Oregon’s largest Nordstrom.
Next, visit Bridgeport Village, (walking distance to our hotel) one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier fashion and lifestyle shopping centers. Consisting of 500,000 square feet, the center offers one of-a-kind boutiques and well-known brands including crowd pleasers such as the Apple Store, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and J. Crew. Stop and have lunch at one of the dozen delectable restaurants, whether it is at a popular national chain or a one-of-a kind eatery.
Tea aficionados flock to the Stash Tea Retail Store, which features hundreds of varieties of loose-leaf and bagged teas made with leaves from around the globe. As one of the first internationally recognized tea brands, Stash Tea remains to be one of the pioneers of Oregon tea.
Another option for the power shoppers: Take a drive down HWY 26 to 4 The Streets of Tanasbourne. Mixing European charm with shopping center convenience, this is a great place to meet for dinner. Enjoy tax-free shopping at more than 50 fabulous shops, or grab something to snack on at Buffalo Wild Wings or P.F. Chang’s before searching for great buys at Macy’s, REI, Abercrombie & Fitch or Coldwater Creek.
An entirely different option is Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing in Beaverton. This sister location to the famed Powell’s City of Books in downtown Portland is an ideal addition to a Washington County shopping itinerary. At 32,500 square feet, filled with new and used books, appearances by noteworthy authors, and a knowledgeable, book-loving staff, this bookstore is a haven for bibliophiles.
For more shopping ideas and a map to these locations, download the WCVA Shopping Guide.
There is a bounty of local festivals and celebrations this month in and around Portland, Oregon! Here are a few highlights of what you will find just minutes from The Grand Hotel at Bridgeport. A special thanks to the Washington County Visitors Association for sharing this great info!
Beaverton Harvest Market Saturday, Nov. 19 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Fill your cornucopia at this one-time harvest market, timed perfectly for the Saturday before Thanksgiving. In addition to seasonal foods, the market features vendors offering flowers and crafts
German Holiday Market at German American School, Beaverton
Saturday, Nov. 19 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) &
Sunday, Nov. 20 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Enjoy traditional German food, novelties, nutcrackers and live entertainment at this free, two-day event, which is in its 12th year. Admission is free. For more information, please contact the school at 503-626-9089
Thanksgiving Wine Weekend- Various Washington County wineries Friday, Nov. 25 – Sunday, Nov. 27
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend in Washington County’s wine country, when wineries are all open and often have special perks such as vintage tastings, live music and/or light appetizers.
16th Annual Holiday Ale Festival November 30th – Sunday, December 4th, 2011. Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland. Each year, the Holiday Ale Festival annually gathers up dozens of these winter warmers for a joyous five-day celebration. More than 40+ breweries will be featured at this year’s event, all of which are created specifically to bring warmth and cheer to the holiday season.
Hillsboro “Holly Days” Market Saturday, Dec. 3 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Second & Main Streets, downtown Hillsboro
This seasonal market is held in conjunction with the tree lighting and Santa visit. This year, there will be about 35 vendors, as well as live entertainment and activities for children. More info.
The Zip, Sip and Stay package in Washington Country Oregon was selected as one of Frommer’s “Last-Minute Labor Day Deals” this week! Frommer’s is one of the most trusted name in travel with over fifty years of providing authoritative travel information and high quality recommendations- so this is an exciting honor for all of us!
To learn more about and to follow up on Frommer’s recommendation, visit our Adventure Passport Page where we feature the Zip, Sip, & Stay package. You can also call our Front Desk for info and to make a reservation at 866-968-5757.
Zip, Sip, & Stay is your passport to Washington County Oregon’s extreme adventure, vibrant flavors, and peaceful rest.
Passport for 2 Adults $245.00 and Includes
- Deluxe Suite for (2)
- Tree to Tree Adventure Admission
- Wine Tasting + $29 Wine Voucher
- Gourmet Lunches
- Specials at Local Restaurants
The only thing better this summer than reserving a room or suite at the Grand Hotel is saving money on a unique Oregon adventure with a Grand Hotel package. Packages combine our luxurious guest rooms and suites with some of the best that the Bridgeport, Tigard and Tualatin areas have to offer.
We are very excited to introduce our new Up, Up, and Away! package this summer. We partnered with Pacific Peaks Balloons to offer guests a breath-taking hot air balloon adventure through October 2011 (weather permitting).
Visit grandhotelbridgeport.com for more information on the Up, Up, and Away Package and our other packages suited for Golfers, Shoppers, Wine Lovers, Romantics and More…..
For a fun preview of this adventure, check out Hot Air Ballooning in the skies over Tigard, Oregon: Create Your Adventure by Visit Washington County
During the mild Oregon summer months, hopping on your bicycle and hitting one of the many bike paths and trails in our region is nothing less than blissful. Bicycling is one of the most popular activies among outdoor enthusiasts in the area, and there is no shortage of trails and rentals! The warm weather combined with miles and miles of beautiful countryside are ideal for cyclists of all abilities.
Here are some tips for cyclists who want to experience the great outdoors- Oregon style:
- Visit the City of Tigard’s new bicycle resource featuring bike maps, links, and a listing of upcoming events.
- Visit the WCVA’s new comprehensive bike map detailing bike trails, lanes and designated paths and routes throughout Washington County,
- Ride the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon’s first rails-to-trails project, which is open to cyclists, hikers and equestrians.
- Check out the WCVA list of local Bicycle rental and repair shops
Check out this great video from Travel Oregon featuring 4 friends taking on the great outdoors on bicycles!
Carfree Adventure from Travel Oregon on Vimeo.
We were delighted to learn from our friends at the Washington County Visitors Association that The Grand Hotel at Bridgeport was nominated for TWO 2010 WCVA Tourism Industry Awards: “Top Responders, WCVA Sports Sales Leads” and “Hotel Stakeholders- Group Tour.”
All nominees will be recognized during the WCVA’s annual Stakeholder Appreciation Luncheon and Tourism Awards event in Tigard, OR on Thursday, May 12th. This annual event is held in honor of National Travel & Tourism Week and celebrates Washington County’s tourism community.
Stay tuned! We will keep you posted on the results!
About the Washington County Visitors Association
The Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA) is a non-profit destination marketing organization (DMO), which markets Washington County, Oregon, as a tourism destination.
Visitors to Washington County include: business, leisure and group travelers, meetings, sports and event planners, and tour operators, among others.
Destination marketing outreach includes advertising, public relations, online marketing, tourism research and other activities, as well as stakeholder and tourism development, group, tour and tourism sales, and sports sales, and more.
Here is some recent news to share from our friends at the Washington County Visitors Association that road trippers and wine lovers will love!
Panels Provide a Glimpse into the Rich Agricultural and Pioneer History of Washington County
BEAVERTON, Ore. – The first two of four new interpretive panels were installed this month along the Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour Route, a 50-mile driving tour, from Helvetia to Sherwood, through the agricultural and historical region of Washington County, Oregon. Each panel offers a quick lesson about the area’s history, and bridges the area’s history with today’s modern culture.
Located at the Old Scotch Church in Hillsboro, a history of Washington County interpretive panel provides a historical perspective about the earliest settlers in the area, from the Atfalati tribe of the Kalapuya Native Americans, to the arrival of early settlers Joe Meek, Joseph Gale and David Hill. The location is fitting, as Meek’s grave and headstone can be found in the church’s cemetery.
An interpretive panel that illustrates the rich agricultural history of Washington County is at the Smith Berry Barn, also located in Hillsboro. From the 1870s to present day, this panel provides a brief account of some of the area’s earliest farmers, as well as the site itself.
The Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour Route is an experiential tour through Washington County’s rural countryside, with opportunities to stop at the various attractions along the route: wineries, farms, pioneer settlements, wetlands and natural habitats. The route officially was launched in April 2009, and several projects have enhanced the site, including the installation of crop signs, created with the assistance of the Oregon Agribusiness Council.
Two additional installations of interpretive panels, which will explore the area’s natural and viticultural history, are slated for completion in 2011.
About the Washington County Visitors Association
The Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA) serves the region’s tourism industry by actively promoting Washington County, Ore., to travelers outside of the Portland Metropolitan area as a tourism destination for leisure, business and sporting events. Washington County is scenically situated between Portland and the Oregon Coast, and spans 727 square miles. The destination includes the growing communities of Banks, Beaverton, Cornelius, Durham, Forest Grove, Gaston, Hillsboro, King City, North Plains, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville. For more information about the WCVA, visit www.yourwaytoplay or www.visitwashingtoncountyoregon, or call 503-644-5555.