Blog Posts
- 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
- Outdoor Fun for Wintertime January 4, 2024
Explore Albany, Discover your story
January 7, 2017
Mild to Wild Swap Meet
This is a great time for everyone involved in the motorsports community to come out and get together and interact with one another as well as get some parts for their cars as they rebuild them for the coming season. Alongside the motorsports and circle track swap meet will be the annual Bike Swap meet. Race car parts and apparel will be on sale and much more at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center in Albany. Telephone 503-394-3070 for more information.
Learn more about this event
January 6th through January 14th
Albany Civic Theater “Last of the Boys”
Ben and Jeeter fought in Vietnam, and for thirty years they have remained united by a war that divided the nation. Joined by Jeeter’s new girlfriend and her whiskey drinking mother, these friends gather at Ben’s remote trailer for one final hurrah. This is a fierce, funny, haunted play about a friendship that ends, and a war that does not.
Learn more about this event
Holiday Night time Magic: It’s the last two days for Albany’s holiday light displays. Come on down to the AVA office (open Friday, 12/30 unit 5:00 p.m.) for a map of participating homes and winners, or connect to the blog post and download your own map.
Hoof n’ Holler New Years Eve Bulls, Broncos, and Dance: On New Year’s Eve, come on out to the Linn County Fair & Expo Center in Albany for a wild and wooly evening celebration. The fun starts at 6:00 p.m. A dance follows the show and a balloon drop occurs at midnight. Have fun and take a “designated driver” ride home. For ticket information visit http://hoofnholler.com
High Steppin’ Country New Year’s Eve Party: For a $10 cover charge, The Still, at 220 SW Second Avenue in Albany, is hosting a dance party featuring country and rock music by DJ Rockin’ Robin. The events starts at 8:00 p.m. and reservations are recommended. Telephone 971-404-9200 for more information.
Boulder Falls Inn New Years Eve Bash: Join the fun from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at the Boulder Falls Inn in Lebanon (505 Mullins Drive). The event includes a casino, raffle prizes, heavy appetizers and desserts, a performance by Fate 55, fun photo booth, and champagne toast at midnight. Ticket prices start at $75. For more information http://www.boulderfallsinn.com
Winners will receive a Winner Award Certificate and a $50 gift card to Albany’s downtown first-run movie house: The Pix Theatre. Photos of the winning homes will be on display at the Pix Theatre and on the Albany Visitors Association website along with a list of locations to see. Winners will also be entitled to bragging rights for the entire year! Thank you to all the homeowners who participate in this program. Without your efforts, this wonderful community tradition would not be possible.
The winners of the Night Time Magic Program are determined by a panel of judges who conduct individual random drive-by sightings between December 8 and 15. Homes must be nominated to win.
This is the 29th year that the Albany Visitors Association has been helping to make the holidays bright with the Annual Night Time Magic Holiday Light Program. All nominations receive recognition for participation in Albany’s Night Time Magic program.
The reward for participation: Your holiday spirits will be lifted, your home brightened, your neighborhood enlightened and your community enlivened. If you are interested in being a part of Historic Albany’s “Magic” for 2017’s contest, contact the Albany Visitors Association, 110 3rd Ave SE, or telephone 541-928-0911 to receive future announcements.
Map of the displays
Feel free to download a PDF of the 2016 light display map. If you would rather have one mailed to you, contact us at 541-928-0911 or stop by the AVA office at 3rd and Lyons.
Past winners
2015:
2014:
2013:
2012:
2011
Although we have several ways for you to view our upcoming events, including Featured Events and the full calendar, you might like to print this handy PDF of our 2016 Holiday Events for November and December. If you don’t have a printer, no fear! Stop on in to the AVA office and we will be happy to give you one… or, give us a call at 541-928-0911 and we’l mail you one.
Notice: Due to conflicting events and levels of interest in the Halloween Nosh Tour, we have canceled this month’s event. If you have tickets that you paid for online, please telephone our office for a refund, or we may be able to apply the funds towards the December 17th Holiday Nosh Tour. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please stay tuned for more about the December tour.
Albany is becoming well-known for its farm-to-table eateries, delicious delis, distinctive breweries, wineries and distilleries. With Halloween fast approaching, fun-loving foodies will not want to miss Albany Visitors Association’s October “Nosh Tour.”
Slated for Saturday, October 29, 2016, the tour begins at 4:00 p.m. and guests will be treated to a surprise smorgasbord of culinary samples by local restauranteurs and vintners. It’s bound to be a deliciously good time.
The AVA Nosh Tour is a special event—participants will check in at the Albany Visitors Association and climb aboard the city’s historic trolley. They’ll meet local chefs, get the behind-the-scenes low-down on how meals are prepared, and taste incredible sample plates along the way.
Limited to 28 participants, coveted Nosh Tour tickets are available by pre-registration only, and you must be 21 years of age or older to attend. Tickets are $45 each, or $40 for two or more. This includes transportation on the trolley and all food, drink, and of course, Halloween fun!
To pre-register and reserve your space, telephone the AVA at 541-928-0911. Tickets may also be purchased online by credit or debit card on the AVA culinary tours web page at https://albanyvisitors.com/visitors/dining/culinary-tours-and-events/#Albany%20Nosh%20Tours
Back by popular demand, the Monteith Society is once again hosting two fun and spooky historical experiences this October: a candlelit tour of the Monteith House Museum followed by a ride on the Trolley of Terror; and a VIP ghost-hunting experience at the Monteith House. Both are sponsored by the Monteith Historical Society.
The Monteith House is the oldest building in Albany, and was built in 1849. Through the years, various ghost stories have been shared about this building, but very few people have had a chance to hear the stories from the inside of its walls, and even fewer have had a chance to seek out the spirits that dwell within. Please, join us for a ride on the Trolley of Terror and our candlelit tour to hear the ghost stories of downtown Albany and those of the Monteith House that have chilled its inhabitants to the bone.
The Trolley of Terror will take place on October 20, 21, 27 and 28. Tours begin at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm. Sign up today for the Trolley of Terror candlelit tour and ghost stories of the Monteith House. The cost of the Trolley of Terror and candlelit ghost tour is $10 per adult and $5 per child. Reservations are highly recommended as space is limited.
Our VIP ghost hunt experience will take place on October 14, 21, and 27, from 10pm-1am. Each VIP experience is limited to 10 people. VIPs will be joined by experienced paranormal investigators and learn how to use various pieces of ghost hunting equipment. VIPs will then get to help conduct a paranormal investigation of the Monteith House. The VIP experience is $40 per person. Reservations are required. This event is appropriate for adults, not young children.
Call the Albany Visitors Association at 541-928-0911 to reserve your seats today!
Save the date for this year’s press: Brocard’s Antique Apple Orchard will be pressing on October 15th, 2016. They usually start around 9:00 a.m. and press until they run out of apples. You will want to get there early before they run out of cider!
Brocard’s Antique Apple Orchard is located at 28095 Santiam Hwy. (Highway 20) about 25 miles east of I-5. The Brocard’s can be reached at 541-367-4840 to inquire about tours, tastings, and pressing dates.
Shop for amazing treasures from over 50 streets vendors and at the Albany Antique Mall sidewalk sale. Then tour over 100 vintage and classic cars. When you get hungry have lunch at one of downtown Albany’s fabulous restaurants or get it fresh off the vine and visit the Farmer’s Market. All within walking distance of each other.
Proceeds from this event will go directly to, Habitat for Humanity, “Raising Roofs and Raising Hopes!”
For more information about the event, check the Albany Antique Mall website.
An afternoon and early evening craft brew tasting event for the hard cider and beer lovers. Sponsored by the Greater Albany Rotary Club, the Albany Historic Carousel, and the Albany Downtown Association, the event takes place on Friday, September 16, 2016.
Participants are invited to meet at the AVA (starting at 3:00 p.m.) to get their glass mugs, wristband, and board the trolley if so desired. The trolley will run the entire route throughout the Smackdown. The event will run until 8:00 p.m.
Breweries, distilleries, and cider houses will bring their products into downtown small businesses so that attendees can taste and visit with shop owners at the same time.
Tickets are $20 and the price includes a free tasting glass and 10 tasting tickets. Advance tickets go on sale two weeks prior to the event and can be purchased at the Albany Downtown Association, located at 126 Ferry St. SW or the Albany Visitors Association on the corner of 3rd and Lyon. Loafers Restaurant will also be selling tickets at their downtown venue, 222 Washington St SW. Proof that you are 21 will be required for all ticket purchases.
The Downtown Trolley will be traveling the Smackdown route and you can catch it for free. After the Smackdown, the trolley will run participants to two “after-parties” to be held at the Calapooia Brewing Company and Deluxe Brewing.
Approximately 24 craft breweries and distilleries will be pouring for the event. Ticket proceeds help fund the non-profit sponsor organizations running the event.