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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.
2023 ANNUAL LAMB AND WOOL FAIR
“COUNTING ON EWE TO JOIN US”!!
The City of Scio is excited for this year’s fair – “Counting on Ewe to Join Us”. The theme is very appropriate, as it depicts the partnerships that help make Scio and the surrounding area a great place to live, work and play!
It is their hope that you experience a warm welcome when attending this year’s fair. Fair time allows you an opportunity to gather together and enjoy family and friends, reconvene old traditions and celebrate Scio’s rich family heritage, agricultural history and beautiful natural resources.
Photo by Melinda Martin.
Come celebrate the 85th year of what organizers say is the longest-running sheepdog trial in the country on May 19 through 21. The NW Champion Sheepdog Trial is held in conjunction with the Linn County Lamb and Wool Fair, which is celebrating its 88th year.
The sheepdog trials will take place at Wolston Farm, 39562 Highway 226 off of Franklin Butte Road beginning at 8am and last until all dogs have run.
Photo by Melinda Martin.
It’ll be family fun for all at the Official Fireworks of Salem, with a carnival, food and beverage, and a concert by Alabama, wrapping up with a FREE 20-minute fireworks show that will light up the sky above the Oregon State Fairgrounds!
Tickets are on sale now!
Alabama concert tickets include access to the VIP Party Zone. Carnival tickets will be sold onsite at the event.
ALABAMA: $67-135
PARKING: $10-20
VIP ZONE: $5
FIREWORKS: FREE!
Gates and Carnival: 3pm / Pre-Show Party with Live Band: 4pm
L.B. Day Amphitheater Doors: 6pm / Alabama: 8pm / Fireworks Show: 10pm
PLEASE NOTE: NO PERSONAL FIREWORKS ALLOWED.
BAGS WILL BE CHECKED UPON ENTRY.
STAYING IN YOUR PARKED CAR IN OUR PARKING LOTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
Photo: “Red, White & Blue” by Donald Bacher
“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
It’s Iron Water Ranch’s 5th Lamb & Fleece Summer Sale and it is set to be the best yet. They will have fleeces and fiber for sale, lambs available for sale and pickup, and classes for those looking to learn something new!
Saturday, July 22, 11:00 AM-4:00PM
Sunday, July 23, 10:00AM-3:00 PM
Their summer sale is all about showcasing their hard work throughout the year! Typically, this sale would be hosted in May but due to a bit of a later lambing season, they are doing it in July this year.
If you are on their list to get lambs, this is a great weekend for pick ups! Shepherding 101 which covers basic care of your new flock will also be hosted during this event so be sure to register soon!
There will be gorgeous fleeces, yarn, dryer balls, and all manner of fibery goodness available. Also available will be purebred lambs and fiber animals to go home with you and grow beautiful wool.
Vendors:
Photo: Motherhood by Stephanie Low
It’s Iron Water Ranch’s 5th Lamb & Fleece Summer Sale and it is set to be the best yet. They will have fleeces and fiber for sale, lambs available for sale and pickup, and classes for those looking to learn something new!
Saturday, July 22, 11:00 AM-4:00PM
Sunday, July 23, 10:00AM-3:00 PM
Their summer sale is all about showcasing their hard work throughout the year! Typically, this sale would be hosted in May but due to a bit of a later lambing season, they are doing it in July this year.
If you are on their list to get lambs, this is a great weekend for pick ups! Shepherding 101 which covers basic care of your new flock will also be hosted during this event so be sure to register soon!
There will be gorgeous fleeces, yarn, dryer balls, and all manner of fibery goodness available. Also available will be purebred lambs and fiber animals to go home with you and grow beautiful wool.
Vendors:
Photo: Motherhood by Stephanie Low
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
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
Visit Salem for the free Englewood Forest Festival in beautiful Englewood Park for a day of art, music, dance, environmental education, wonder, and discovery!
Englewood Park is about one mile west of I-5 exit 256 at Market St. The park is adjacent to Englewood Elementary, located between D St. and Market Streets NE.
Street parking is available in the neighborhood. Additional parking is available at the Evergreen Church, 1110 17th St. NE and at the Salem First Church of the Nazarene’s parking lot east of 16th St NE.
ADA parking for visitors with ADA placards is adjacent to the park behind Englewood School. Enter on Nebraska St. NE and 20th St. NE.
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)
