Explore Albany, Discover your story
Welcome to AVA’s monthly calendar of events. Take a peek and plan your stay-cation or your next visit to our region. The city’s most notable annual events include historic home tours, outdoor summer concerts and movies under the stars, and the Northwest Art and Air Festival.
*Note for event organizers: If you’d like to have your event listed on the AVA calendar, head over to our contact page and submit your event to us.
The Rasani Fair is Oregon’s largest premier body mind spirit holistic fair. There will be a large variety of alternative and holistic independent practitioners, high-quality artisans, creative craftsman, and more. 20 Free presentations; two at the top of each hour will be held on both days. See the lineup of inspirational speakers at www.RaSaniFair.com/speakers. A raffle will be held benefiting Family Tree Relief Nursery, our local nonprofit supporting children and their families to create a stronger healthier community.
Admission is $5 and kids 13 and under are free. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door on the days of the event. Cash is preferred, but cards are accepted.
Thai Express and N’Reeners New York Style Sandwiches will be available both days.
Open Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
This year: on Sunday morning only from 9:30 am-9:50 am the public is invited to our outdoor drumming circle where we set the intention for the day, honor our loved ones, and drum/rattle together. Feel free to bring a rattle or drum and join in or just watch. It’s a powerful event! Held outside the Santiam building near our entrance.
Future Fair Dates:
October 5 & 6, 2024
April 12 & 13, 2025
October 4 & 5, 2025
The Hallie Ford Museum of Art’s guided Tuesday Gallery Talks explore the exhibition at 12:30 p.m. on March 5, 12, and on April 2, 9 and 16, and are free and open to the public. A special Tuesday Gallery Talk will be held on March 19 at 12:30 p.m. with exhibition curator Jonathan Bucci.
“Singular Visions probes the dissolving cultural divisions in contemporary art, specifically the historic separation of self-taught and formally educated artists,” says exhibition curator Jonathan Bucci. “It showcases the distinct artistic voices of self-taught artists—artists who are driven to communicate through the creative impulse that is at the core of our humanity.”
The exhibition includes the work of 29 artists, each offering a unique lens into how they see the world, from personal life experiences to the communities in which they work and live. Alongside artists well-known in the contemporary art world such as James Castle, Louisiana Bendolph and James Lavadour, are works by lesser-known artists like Gregory Blackstock, Russell Childers, Burlon Craig and Royal Robertson.
“Singular Visions” also highlights the recent museum acquisitions created by contemporary artists working with Living Studios, a studio program for neurodivergent artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Living Studios is based in Corvallis and the museum is pleased to highlight and raise awareness of their newest studio in downtown Salem.
Living Studios director Bruce Burris says, “We believe the defining mark of a human being, that phenomenon which provides both purpose and pleasure, is our inherent human need to contribute to our community in a meaningful way. Artists working with Living Studios are encouraged to contribute to their community through their own inspired efforts.”
Living Studios artists featured in the exhibition include Kris Askew, Laura Bruyere, Matt Conklin, Patrick Hackleman, Ben Kelly, Greg Persons, Amy Turner, and Bonnie Wald, Linda Bach and Ruth Van Order. In addition, a collaborative artwork created by Living Studio artists titled “Walker, after Judith Scott” is on view in the museum lobby.
Complimentary collaborative events with HFMA and Living Studios
On Wednesday, February 28 and Saturday, March 2, from 1 to 3 p.m., visitors can join in the all-abilities art-making workshop, or just drop in with Jill R Baker, artist-in-residence at Living Studios and art faculty at Linn-Benton Community College, and Salem-based artist, Paul Meuse. Reservations are not required. For additional information, please contact Burris at bburris@cornerstoneassoc.org.
On Wednesday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m., Burris will discuss his own work and his work with neurodivergent artists at the Paulus Lecture Hall at the Willamette University College of Law at 245 Winter St. As part of the evening, attendees are invited to join in a participatory performance by Living Studios artist Pierre Pyke entitled “Unfold Your Book, Hold Each Page.”
May is dedicated to National Preservation Month. Also known as Historic Preservation Month, the month celebrates the nation’s heritage through historic places.
Albany is home to four national historic districts and the location of the most varied collection of architectural styles in the state. There are more than 800 historic buildings in three of the districts, dating from the 1840s to the 1950s, and all located within an area of approximately 100 square blocks.
Come and celebrate the heritage of Albany by participating in various events and exploring historic places all month long.
Events will include the Annual Tweed Ride, Walking History Tours, Building Tours, Vintage Bicycle Show, the Hidden History Scavenger Hunt, and more!
Scan the QR Code shown below and download the Albany Explorer App! You’ll find self-guided tours of our historic districts, great places to eat, and all things Albany!
We look forward to seeing you!
Photo: “Blue Sky for a Blue House” Monteith Historic District by Camron Settlemier
Albany Explorer App
We would also like to include Benton County’s all-month events! See Full List of Events Here
Trails Through Time is the theme of National Preservation Month in Benton County.
Many events are available to participate in and learn the history of the area.
Some events require registration, all are free. For updates, please check THE VISIT CORVALLIS OR ALBANY VISITORS websites.
This event schedule is a collaboration between the Benton County and Corvallis Historic Resources Commissions, the Albany Heritage Commission, and PreservationWORKS.
Join this walking tour of 1st Avenue to learn about the history of the buildings and the businesses that have occupied them over the past 150 years. The tour starts promptly at 6 PM and will be approximately 1 hour in length.
While the tour is free, there is a suggested $5 donation per person, to benefit the Monteith Historical Society.
Meet at Burkhart Square (next to the Albany Civic Theater) at the corner of 1st Ave and Lyons St.
This tour is sponsored by The Natty Dresser as part of Albany‘s celebration of National Historic Preservation Month.
Photo from Albany Regional Museum, Potts Photo Collection.
Join Chris Gustafson, owner of Vintage Window Restoration LLC, in a conversation about a niche business adventure, perspective of the historic preservation trades industry, and of course, no shortage of window jargon and jokes. Come prepared for a presentation, show and tell items followed by a Q&A.
History Bites is free to attend. Admission to exhibits is now fee-based, but always free for members!
Light refreshments provided.
Join this walking tour of 2nd Avenue to learn about the history of the buildings and the businesses that have occupied them over the past 150 years. The tour starts promptly at 6 PM and will be approximately 1 hour in length.
While the tour is free, there is a suggested $5 donation per person, to benefit the Monteith Historical Society.
Meet at Burkhart Square (next to the Albany Civic Theater) on the corner of 1st Ave and Lyons St.
This tour is sponsored by The Natty Dresser as part of Albany‘s celebration of National Historic Preservation Month.
Photo from Albany Regional Museum Potts Photo Collection.
Sponsored by Albany Regional Museum in partnership with Riverside Cemetery, the 14th annual History Through Headstones self-guided tour features docents presenting the historical contributions of local medical practitioners. This event is free to attend. Can’t make it on May 22? No worries! Signage will remain up at Riverside Cemetery following this event with QR codes. Once you scan the QR code with your smart phone, you will have access to a narration of the lives of this year’s subjects.
Photo credit: “Riverside Cemetary Heart of Linn County Genealogy” by Kimberly Richards
