Blog Posts
- Celebrate History and Architecture with Us April 26, 2024
- April in Albany March 31, 2024
- Spring over to Albany February 28, 2024
- 2024 Photo Contest February 7, 2024
- Love from Albany! January 30, 2024
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.
Join us for another Living History Saturday in the cozy kitchen of the historic Monteith House in Albany Oregon. This month, we’re learning how to make hand-dipped taper candles!
All supplies provided with your $5.00 donation, and you can take your candles home with you. Choose either the 11:30 am class or the 1:00 pm class.
The Albany Regional Museum will host Debra Plymate, pilot, retired air traffic control specialist, and member of Oregon Pines 99s, to present this month’s History Bites on Amelia Earhart. This is in celebration of the anniversary of her visit to Oregon and to kick off our new exhibit, “Picturing Women Inventors.” Come retrace her steps and celebrate her life and legacy!
History Bites is always free to attend. Admission to exhibits is waived today 2/14 to celebrate Oregon’s birthday!
Light refreshments provided.
Documentary viewing at Philomath High School.
Admission is free, but a canned food donation for the Philomath Food Bank is encouraged and appreciated.
IN 1866, SIX ALL-BLACK CAVALRY AND INFANTRY REGIMENTS WERE CREATED AFTER CONGRESS PASSED THE ARMY ORGANIZATION ACT. THEY CAME TO BE KNOWN AS BUFFALO SOLDIERS.
Established by Congress in 1867, Many African American men enlisted in exchange for full citizenship as promised by the 14th Amendment, but were denied this right by the Jim Crow laws established in the Reconstructionist South. In spite of that, these patriotic men helped lead the United States expansion westward; they built and guarded the Pacific Railroad and served as park rangers in places like Yosemite before the U.S. government established the National Park Service.
These African American soldiers fought bravely in the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, the Mexican Punitive Expedition, World War I & World War II, but the Buffalo Soldiers also participated in the subjugation of Native peoples as the United States appropriated tribal land, the persecution of striking silver miners in Idaho, and against Filipinos fighting for independence during the Spanish-American War, resulting in a complicated legacy.
It is particularly relevant today as our country is roiling with the agony of racial strife. By combining a multitude of diverse perspectives, the film examines the profound and often-contradictory roles played in American history by The Buffalo Soldiers, and how they fought on two very different sets of front lines: military conflicts abroad and civil rights struggles at home.
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 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
REENACTORS TALK ON CIVIL WAR MEDICINE
Keith Menk and Ashley Wendell, Civil War reenactors, who specialize in happenings within the medical tent, will give a talk on Civil War medicine on Wednesday, April 17, at the Lebanon Public Library. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last for about an hour.
Sponsored by the Lebanon Museum Foundation and the Lebanon Public Library, this program is open to the public and free for all. The library is at 55 Academy Street.
For more information about this program or about the Lebanon Museum Foundation visit “Lebanon Museum” on Facebook, or see the website at lebanonmuseum.org.
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
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.