1859 Summer 2009

Photo courtesy Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Although festivals
earn the spotlight in
summer, there are
other great things to do.
Around the State
takes you there.
[top left] Don Quixote plays at Ashland's Oregon Shakespeare Festival. [top middle] The Pendleton Roundup brands its 100th anniversary this year. [top right] Pinot growers
and drinkers in the Willamette Valley. [bottom left] Keep Portland weird, but keep Eugene even weirder at the Saturday Market. [bottom right] The Mt. Hood Jazz Festival in
its 28th year.
Mt. Hood/The Gorge
Discover la vie provençal at Hood River's Lavender
Festival (7.11-12) in Oregon's most aromatic
festival. The Timberline Mountain Music
Series returns on Wednesdays with the Freak
Mountain Ramblers and others at the outdoor
amphitheater (8.05-9.02). The Hood River Fruit
Loop Cherry Celebration strewn over 35 miles
of berry country is also worth a taste (7.11-12).
Eastern Oregon
The Cascade Range divides eastern and western
Oregon, but the Pendleton Round-Up (9.16-
19) brings both cultures together in the 100-
year tradition, one of the largest rodeos in the
world. Git yerself to The Rainbow (est. 1893),
Pendleton's oldest continuously open and operated
bar. Still farther east in Oregon's outback
is Hells Canyon Mule Days (9.11-13) with a
mule show, cowboy poets, pit BBQ dinner, and
Western art. Baker City celebrates pioneerera
music in the Oregon Trail Music Festival
(7.11-12). Don't forgo the Oregon Trail Interpretive
Center in Baker City, where (9.12-13)
you can learn blacksmithing. If blue skies and
the blues are your bag, hit Crossing the Blues
La Grande Summer Festival (8.21-22), with a
midnight movie.
The Coast
Coos Bay hosts the ocean, wine, food and music
at the Oregon Coast Music Festival (7.11-24);
the Blackberry Arts Festival (8.22-23). Follow
on with cheese at the 100th anniversary
celebration of Tillamook cheese (8.01). And
what would the beach be without the Seaside
Beach Volleyball Tournament (8.07-8). Guys,
practice Speedo restraint. ... Unless you can run
like Pre at the Prefontaine Memorial 10k Run
(9.19) at Coos Bay. In the Scandinavian north
coast, hit the oldest settlement in the West
(8.12-16) for the Astoria Regatta. The Cannery
Pier Hotel and the downtown Elliot are two
retreats that will float your boat. The Oregon
Coast Aquarium in Newport has a new exhibit
that brings together some of the most bizarre
underwater life with colorful blown glass.
Central Oregon
The Cascade Cycling Classic (7.21-26), the longest
standing stage-race in America, is great for
spectators; and the Haulin Aspen full and half
marathons (8.09) on singletrack is a must for
trail runners. The top summer events in Sisters
are the world class Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show
(7.11) and Sisters Folk Festival (9.11-13), which
brings in top regional and national acts. For kids
and other hungry minds, head over to see the
world's rarest and largest bats at The Live Bat
Experience at the High Desert Museum (7.13-
7.19). Downtown favorite Merenda is now 900
Wall, the same good food and wine but at a more
reasonable price. And Zydeco Kitchen, with its
upscale comfort food, is now downtown at 919
Bond Street.
summer 09 1859 oregon's magazine 13