Calendar

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.

Jul
19
Wed
History Through Headstones Tour @ Albany Riverside Cemetery
Jul 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
History Through Headstones Tour @ Albany Riverside Cemetery | Albany | Oregon | United States

“Celebrating Our Agricultural Heritage” is the theme of the annual History Through Headstones Tour at Albany’s Riverside Cemetery on Wednesday, July 19. It is sponsored by the Albany Regional Museum and the Riverside Cemetery Board of Directors.

 

This is the 13th year for the free event where light refreshments will be served from 7 pm to dusk. Visitors can park on either side of 7th Ave. west of Albany General Hospital and can begin their tour at either cemetery entrance.

 

Eleven people associated with the area’s agricultural community will be featured, including six members of the prolific Jenk’s family.

Here is a list of those to be honored along with the names of the docents who will talk about each one: James Benton Jenks (1833-93) and Mary Callaway Jenks (1838-1919), docent and great-granddaughter Mary Jacque Jenks Burck; Enoch Marvin Jenks (1880-1965) and Elizabeth Moser Jenks (1887-1965), docent and great grandson Tim Jenks; Howard Benton Jenks (1893-1963) and Eunice Luper Jenks (1890-1984), docent and grandson Howard Benton Jenks.

Also being honored are Amos Conrad (1925-94), docent and family friend, Pat Hagerty; Cyrill Koos (1863-1943) and Adele Koos (1864-1936), docent and family member Kathryn Koos-Lee; and John Gale Swatzka (1925-09), docent Darrel Tedisch, Riverside Cemetery Board member.

Concluding the featured subjects are Samuel Hill (1804-54), docent Bill Maddy, ARM member; and Mary Pettibone Buchner (1905-2002), docent and family member Kitty Buchner.

Photo credit: “Riverside Cemetary Heart of Linn County Genealogy” by Kimberly Richards

Aug
1
Tue
Jefferson’s Public Library Centennial @ Jefferson's Public Library
Aug 1 @ 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Jefferson's Public Library Centennial @ Jefferson's Public Library | Jefferson | Oregon | United States

In May of 1923 the Jefferson Women’s Club appointed a committee to find a suitable place to house a public library. The first library was opened on July 10, 1923, in the Smith and Fontaine General Merchandise Store with club members serving as volunteer librarians.

Join the Jefferson Public Library for their Centennial Open House on Aug. 1 from 10am – 7pm. They’re celebrating the library’s past, present, and future with games, food & fun!

Photo: Santiam at Rest by Dave Maestas

Aug
5
Sat
Brownsville Antique Faire @ Brownsville Pioneer Park
Aug 5 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Brownsville Antique Faire @ Brownsville Pioneer Park | Brownsville | Oregon | United States

No matter what you’re searching for, you’re sure to find it at Brownsville’s annual Antique Faire in Pioneer Park. 70+ of vendors come together with their treasures and there’s something for everyone. Breakfast and lunch will be available and there’s plenty of shade and tables to relax for a while. You’ll enjoy live music and a beautiful park setting and leave with vintage goodies. Also, be sure not to miss the vintage car show!

Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023 9am-3pm
Location: Brownsville Pioneer Park, 200 W Park Ave.

Free Admission

Photo: “Antique St. Car Show 1” By Oliver J. Anderson

Aug
19
Sat
Fiechter House Open House @ William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
Aug 19 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Fiechter House Open House @ William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge | Oregon | United States

The John Fiechter House, also known as Failing Cottage, is is believed to be the oldest house in Benton County. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors to the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge will be able to visit and tour this historic 1855 pioneer house every Saturday, July 8 through Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and learn the history of one of Benton county’s early families.

The Fiechter House is located on Finley Refuge Road, across from the red Cabell barn. Visitors can also stop in at the refuge’s Nature Store for directions.

Photo credit: John Fiechter House, by Ian Poellet. (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Aug
26
Sat
Fiechter House Open House @ William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
Aug 26 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Fiechter House Open House @ William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge | Oregon | United States

The John Fiechter House, also known as Failing Cottage, is is believed to be the oldest house in Benton County. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors to the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge will be able to visit and tour this historic 1855 pioneer house every Saturday, July 8 through Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and learn the history of one of Benton county’s early families.

The Fiechter House is located on Finley Refuge Road, across from the red Cabell barn. Visitors can also stop in at the refuge’s Nature Store for directions.

Photo credit: John Fiechter House, by Ian Poellet. (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Hands on History @ Linn County Historical Museum
Aug 26 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Hands on History @ Linn County Historical Museum | Brownsville | Oregon | United States

The event is held in Library Park adjacent to the Linn County Historical Museum in Downtown Brownsville. It begins at 10am. Come early and beat the heat!

Step back in time and try your hand at the crafts and activities practiced by the folks who lived here long ago. The Mid-Valley Prospectors will be here for you to pan for gold and the Boston Mill will be bring their Stone Quern for grinding wheat. You can wash clothes on a washboard, press apples into cider, dip beeswax candles and spin wool. Try your hand at crosscut sawing and make a cornhusk doll. Plan to stay the whole day…you won’t want to leave! This free activity is supported by a generous donation from Randy Tripp.

Photo: Sunrise in Brownsville by Mike Moshofsky

Sep
2
Sat
Fiechter House Open House @ William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
Sep 2 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Fiechter House Open House @ William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge | Oregon | United States

The John Fiechter House, also known as Failing Cottage, is is believed to be the oldest house in Benton County. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors to the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge will be able to visit and tour this historic 1855 pioneer house every Saturday, July 8 through Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and learn the history of one of Benton county’s early families.

The Fiechter House is located on Finley Refuge Road, across from the red Cabell barn. Visitors can also stop in at the refuge’s Nature Store for directions.

Photo credit: John Fiechter House, by Ian Poellet. (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Jan
10
Wed
History Bites: The Miracle on First Avenue, the story of the Albany Carousel @ Albany Regional Museum
Jan 10 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
History Bites: The Miracle on First Avenue, the story of the Albany Carousel @ Albany Regional Museum | Albany | Oregon | United States

History Bites: The Miracle on First Avenue, the story of the Albany Carousel
Coming up on Wednesday, January 10th at noon.

The Albany Regional Museum will host the founder of the Albany Carousel and co-author of “The Miracle on First Avenue” Wendy Kirbey as she shares the story of one woman’s dream becoming reality. Kirbey along with co-author Jennifer Moody have assembled a wonderful history of how the Albany carousel came to be, from dream to opening. The book also highlights the unique stories of the carousel animals, and the inspiration behind each carving.

The History Bites program is free to attend. Admission to exhibits is now fee based, but always free for members!

Light refreshments provided.

Feb
10
Sat
Monteith Living History Saturday @ Monteith House
Feb 10 @ 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Monteith Living History Saturday @ Monteith House | Albany | Oregon | United States

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.

Feb
11
Sun
Monteith Living History Saturday @ Monteith House
Feb 11 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Monteith Living History Saturday @ Monteith House | Albany | Oregon | United States
SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH
12PM-2PM
Monteith LIVING HISTORY ACTIVITIES
Step into 1850 with them on the second Saturday of each month, from 12 pm to 2 pm, at the Historic Monteith House. Exciting activities like, woodworking, pioneer doll making, baking biscuits, making butter, and so many other family-friendly activities! Each time will be something new, and you’ll learn a little more about this important piece of Albany’s history.