12 Things You Want to Do in Albany This September

Albany is joining in on First Friday activities. On September 7th, make it an afternoon and evening out in historic downtown. Our restaurants and brew pubs will be hopping, serving a variety of specialties from cheese platters to Hungarian food—plus local spirits, wines, and beer. Walk along the Willamette River and meander back to the Commercial District for a bit of art-gazing and shopping. Many downtown businesses will participate in First Friday extended shopping hours. So don’t be a stranger, make a great start to your September.

September 7th Come paint rocks with local artists and the Linn County Rocks Facebook group. Start your First Friday out in the afternoon at the Albany Historic Carousel Rock Painting Party. This is a free, all-ages event, taking place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Take a ride or two on the carousel and enjoy the day. Make it a date and plan on dinner at one of our great downtown eateries. 

September 7th Start your First Friday night out by experiencing the exhibits and history of our city at the Albany Regional Museum. Extended hours on First Fridays run from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Museum admission is free to all. The museum is located at 136 SE Lyon St.

September 7th Why not check the vintage clothing and antique shops or the Albany Antique Mall for a funky felt fedora or a beaded flapper dress, and then head over to the First Friday “Speak Easy Party” at the Natty Dresser from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It’s a prohibition era inspired party with live music by Lonna Capaci and cocktail samples by Vivacity Spirits (all legal for those 21 and over of course). Use the password “moonshine” for a special treat (while supplies last). The shop will show new fall fashions as well. Natty Dresser is located at 425 W 1st Ave.

September 7th Celebrate Gallery Calapooia’s 5th Anniversary (an artist’s collective and gallery) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on First Friday. Enjoy wine, munchies, live music, and the work of gallery members. The cooperative will be filled to the rafters with fiber art, jewelry, sculpture, paintings, prints, photography and ceramics. This is a free event. Gallery Calapooia is located at 222 W 1st Ave in downtown Albany.

September 7th Thinking about your fall garden or some great presents for earthy friends on holidays? How about stopping in at Albany’s local garden and urban agriculture store for their first First Friday event. The shop will be open for extended hours from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Urban Ag Supply is located across the street from Little Wuestens (where you can nab great desserts, coffee and German food) and the Albany Antique Mall, at 124 SW Ellsworth St.

More great September events 

Following close on the heels of First Friday, there’s plenty to keep you busy. From antique shows and remodeling expos to beer races and live theatrical performances, we’ve got a little bit of everything to fill up your calendar.

September 8th Come on downtown to a free and fun annual event, Antiques in the Streets and Classic Car Show. The show starts on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. for all early-bird treasure hunters and winds down at 3:00 p.m. There will be food carts, live music, and booth after booth of cool vintage finds. Antique and classic cars will be on display for automative buffs.

September 8th As we move firmly into harvest season, the Albany Farmers’ Market is going to be filled with prime ingredients for salsa, soups, and other baking or canning projects. Bins of heirloom tomatoes, garlic, onions, peppers, squash, and fresh greens are brought in from nearby farms. Honey, cheese, baked goods, jams, and coffee from local producers wait to tempt you. So stop by the market between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on the corner of Ellsworth and Fourth Ave.

September 8th Love craft brews? Wanna get some exercise too? Well save the date for the Albany Beer Run, coming up on Saturday September 8th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The 0.3K (no excuses couch taters) run starts at Calapooia Brewing Company and ends at Deluxe Brewing. $25 preregistration, $30 day of event, telephone 541-497-1512 for more information.

September 14th through 16th Plan on heading out to the Linn County Fair & Expo Center at 3700 Knox Butte Rd E, for Blackberry Junction, a shabby chic and up-cycled lover’s dream-show. The show starts with a buyer’s special pre-sale on Thursday, Sept 13th at 4:00 p.m., with regular starting hours over Friday and the weekend. Check all hours and other information on the show’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Blackberry-Junction-131375245675/

September 22nd The annual Craft Brew Smackdown takes place on Saturday, Sep 22nd from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in downtown Albany. This is your opportunity to sample beverages from 24 breweries, cider houses and distilleries, who will offer tastings at downtown businesses. For $20 you get 10 tasting tickets, a pint glass, a map of the locations and a beer passport for your chance to win a prize. Additional tickets are available at the tasting locations, five tickets for $5. This fundraiser is organized and sponsored by the Greater Albany Rotary Club and the Albany Downtown Association. For more information, contact Jessica Pankratz at 541-740-1466.

September 28th and 29th: Check out the new fall production at the Albany Civic Theater, Once Upon a Mattress. This is a musical comedy written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” The performance is set in a fictional medieval kingdom ruled by the devious Queen Aggravain and a mute king Sexitmus who suffers from a curse. The musical runs through October 20th, so head over to ACT’s website for the full performance schedule and ticket information http://www.albanycivic.org/shows/once-upon-a-mattress/

Rose remodel by Powell Construction

September 28th through 30th Albany’s premier fall remodeling and fix-it event bursts at the seams with home improvement ideas and tips from local experts. If you are considering hiring a pro or even doing the work yourself, the Albany Home Show is a must visit for you and your family. The event is held at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center on Knox Butte Rd. Get thousands of home decorating and improvement ideas at the largest ‘hub’ of building and remodeling resources in the area. For more information, email info@wvpevents.com

Make sure to check our full events calendar on the Albany Visitors Association website at albanyvisitors.com. There are many more family oriented activities to enjoy during September. Stop by and see us for a free visitors guide and a copy of “Seems Like Old Times,” a publication that highlights self-guided tours though our three national historic districts. Or, if you like to read info on the fly, check out the free “Albany Explorer App” on Google Play or the Apple App Store. You’ll find restaurants, hotels, interactive maps, digital postcards and ways you can qualify to win special “explorer” swag. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *