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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.
Sixth Annual Ornament Hunt and Sweepstakes in the Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association announces its annual ornament hunt, encouraging participants to connect with public lands through the spirit of holiday cheer!
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association (WVVA) will launch its sixth annual ornament hunt throughout the region and on non-wilderness trails of the Willamette National Forest and the Umpqua National Forest.
Beginning November 17, 2023, two hundred locally crafted wooden ornaments will be hidden
along non-wilderness trails in the following ranger districts: Detroit, Sweet Home, McKenzie
River and Middle Fork on the Willamette National Forest and Cottage Grove on the Umpqua
National Forest for lucky hikers to find.
This year’s ornaments will feature an agricultural scene that highlights the unique wine-growing
areas or AVAs throughout the Willamette Valley, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the
Willamette Valley AVA designation. Each ornament found includes instructions on how to
register to win the Grand Prize: a two-day getaway to the Willamette Valley.
For the first year ever, WVVA is offering a limited number of additional ornaments that will be
available for purchase at four ranger stations throughout the forest. All proceeds will benefit
Cascade Volunteers — a nonprofit organization that supports trail keepers and trail
maintenance. Learn more at https://cascadevols.org/.
Not only does the Ornament Hunt provide the perfect hiking opportunity, but participants are
also encouraged to go Christmas tree hunting. Be sure to register for a permit before taking
home the perfect tree, straight from the Willamette National Forest. More at
https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits/ebd4facc-ec56-11ea-bcba-fa43c1aabce3
Participants venturing into the forest are asked to abide by Take Care Out There and Leave No
Trace Principles. WVVA and the forest service encourage hikers to plan ahead and take a look
at the winter safety tips.
The Willamette Valley Visitors Association website, https://willamettevalley.org/ornament, will
serve as the hub for ornament hunt details and hiking planning tips. It is also where you can
register your ornament to win the grand prize, a weekend getaway to the Willamette Valley. You
can also find trail information and hints throughout December on the following social channels:
@gowillamettevalley and @willametteNF.
WVVA encourages sharing adventures using #FindYourOrnament, #FindYourTrail, #IwonderWV,
#pnwonderland, #willamettenationalforest. The Willamette Valley Visitors Association abides by
Leave No Trace Principles; once the contest closes, all remaining ornaments will be picked up
by U.S. Forest Service professionals.
About Willamette Valley Visitors Association
Willamette Valley Visitors Association (WVVA) is a private, non-profit organization that supports
travel and tourism in the Willamette Valley – Oregon Wine Country.
About the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service is a Federal agency that manages 193 million acres of public lands in
national forests and grasslands.
The Annual Festival of Wreaths Auction is a huge fundraiser for the carousel and an event we look forward to all year long!
You’re invited to stay in, curl up with some cocoa – or wine – and do some bidding with the trusted online auction platform, 32 Auctions.
Bidding will begin on November 27th at 9 AM and will close December 3rd at 7 PM.
Items will have pictures and descriptions online for you to browse or you can stop by the carousel Wednesday- Sunday during the auction 11AM – 4PM to view the auction items.
https://www.32auctions.com/FestivalofWreaths2023
Many thanks to this year’s Festival of Wreaths sponsor, Aasum-Dufour Funeral Home. Events like this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of local businesses and community sponsors.
Shop from over 200 artists for unique hand-crafted goods for the home and garden.
Handmade items include candles, skin care, toys, jewelry, tasty treats, knit items, local art, decorations, and more! Admission $2. Kids 13 and under free.
Get into the holiday spirit, bring the entire family to Storybook Land, and Albany holiday tradition!
Want to be a vendor? Visit: https://www.lcfairexpo.com/ChristmasBazaar for more details.
Linn County Arts Guild, 846 Main St. Nov. 1st through Dec. 24th (11-5 Tues-Sat).
Many local artists offering ‘handcrafted in Linn County’ items!
The Friends of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library will be holding its annual Holiday Book Sale Dec. 1-2 in the Corvallis Library’s main meeting room, organizers announced.
The sale is open to the general public from 3-6 p.m. Dec. 1 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 2. On the first day, the event is open to members only from noon-3 p.m. The Corvallis Library is located at 645 NW Monroe Ave.
Organizers said the books, which will be individually priced, offered for sale are in very good condition and suitable for gift-giving. There will be fiction, nonfiction, children’s books and much more!
Books. CDs and DVDs will also be for sale. Items may be purchased with cash, check or credit card.
Sales benefit activities at all library locations — Alsea, Corvallis, Monroe and Philomath.
THE PENNY COTTAGE CHRISTMAS
December 1st, 4:00-8:00
December 2nd, 10:00-4:00
At The Gathering Barn, 35476 Knox Butte Road E, Albany, OR
Come shop local vendors offering unique gifts, baked goods, local food, and holiday decor all within a country Christmas setting!
Free entry and family friendly!
More details are on The Penny Cottage on Facebook and Instagram.
On the 1st Friday of every month, the carousel is open from 5:30-8:00 p.m., and for just $5 per person you get UNLIMITED CAROUSEL RIDES, plus a fun activity or craft for the family, along with gift shop specials and a great deal on a tasty treat at the Carousel Café! Photo by Nathan Pendley.
Peter and the Starcatcher
by Rick Elice
Music by Wayne Barker
Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Directed by: Mirinda Keeling
Performances: Dec. 1, 2, 3(m), 8, 9, 10(m), 14, 15, 16, 2023
A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure. (Music Theatre International)
Box office opens 45 minutes before performances
Food, fun, and karaoke at the Dixie Creek Saloon in Tangent!
Menu: https://dixiecreeksaloon.com/dixie_creek_menu.html
32994 Hwy 99 E, Tangent, OR, United States, Oregon
Toland Tree Farm🌲Christmas Tree & Wreath ❤️Sale❤️
🎄December 2&3 (9am – 4pm)
Fresh, Pre-cut Doug Fir trees 5’-8’
Trees will be cut and ready to go!🎅🏻 cash or Venmo accepted.
Priced per tree, TBD
Come on out and help celebrate the season!
They are working on raising funds this year to help us offset the cost of Craig’s cancer treatments. They appreciate your support🙏
