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Albany Visitors Association
122 Ferry St SW
Albany, OR 97321
PO Box 965
Phone:
541-928-0911
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2024 Photo Contest
The Albany Visitors Association (AVA) is proud to sponsor Albany’s 17th Annual Albany
Photography Contest. It is open to photographers of all skill levels. First-, second- and third-place awards will be presented to winners in each category: Downtown, Culinary, Events, Historic Albany, Landmarks, People and Scenic. A first-place prize will also be awarded in the Youth category.
The purpose of this contest is to find images suitable for use in our marketing of Albany, Linn County and the Willamette Valley.
Photo Contest Information & Rules for Entering
FEE There is an entry fee of $2 for each photo submitted.
Photograph Subject We ask that your work be original, not previously submitted to this or any other contest, be taken in 2022, 2023 or 2024 and specifically feature Albany and surrounding Linn County.
To see examples of the kinds of images we use most, scroll through our Instagram, Facebook, website, and calendar of events.
Photograph Subject Categories
Downtown: Shine a spotlight on your favorite downtown sights. The category is NEW this year!
Culinary: Visit a local restaurant or a unique foodie or drink venue and let people know what delicious rewards await them. Attend the Albany Farmers’ Market and capture the bounty.
Events: Antiques in the Streets, Twice Around Christmas Parade, Mid-Winter Dance and so much more!
Historic Albany: With four nationally recognized historic districts and architectural styles from the mid- 1800s to the 1950s, Albany has a plethora of historic buildings!
Landmarks: A landmark is unique to Albany and lends itself to the quintessential identity of our city. A Victorian painted advertisement on a brick wall or a statue could be a landmark.
People: Visitors love to see people enjoying themselves, but we know it can be hard to get the shot right and get strangers to sign release forms. Consider enlisting your family and friends!
Scenic: Our area is lovely in all seasons! Find something you think will make someone want to come visit us and represents the unique charm of our region. Rustic barns, farm stands, bountiful gardens, wildflowers and wildlife, the Willamette Valley with distant snowcapped mountains.
Youth: For young photographers ages 18 and under.
Judging A committee of judges will (anonymously) assess photos for subject and composition. Judges will consider some of the following criteria: is the subject appropriate for the category, is it a really good/unusual example of that subject, is the composition in focus, does it draw you in, is it original? Judges will determine Champion and Reserve Champion winners. The People’s Choice award will be judged by the public who can view all of the photos on the AVA Flickr site and then submit their choice to the AVA.
Winners will be announced in April 2024. Winning photographs will be showcased in a professional video shown at the Pix Theatre before feature films, on the AVA website and YouTube, and displayed at the Albany Amtrak Station.
Prizes Champion, Reserve Champion, and People’s Choice awards will be $300, $150 and $75, respectively. All first-place through third-place winners will receive a certificate and a gift card to the Pix Theatre to see their photos on the big screen.
Who can enter? The contest is open to all ages, all levels: from amateur to professional or hobbyist.
How to Enter
- There is an entry fee of $2 for each photo submitted except for students/youth whose fees are waived.
- Entrants must complete a release allowing AVA to use their photos for promotional purposes although photographers retain all rights to their photos. PDF of the Use and Reproduction Release Form.
- Photos must be a minimum of 300 dpi and 1MB in size. Photos should be standard rectangular portrait or landscape; square, panoramic or custom ratios are more difficult to place within our ads. Photos must be in JPEG format.
- Photos may be color or black & white.
- Photos may be digitally enhanced for contrast, color, hue, etc., but not digitally manipulated. Images that have digitally applied effects (such as montages, double exposures or vignettes) cannot be used in AVA publications or national advertising.
- There is a limit of 15 photos per photographer, 10 for Students/Youth.
- All photos depicting water recreation must be compliant with Oregon regulations regarding life jackets.
- For any photo that features a recognizable individual’s face (or group of individuals) photographers MUST complete a signed photo release. We will not accept such photos without a model release! Here is PDF of the Model Release Form.
Please use the following format for the file name of each of your photos. Please do NOT use all caps or punctuation!
title (no duplicates please)
location, if not mentioned in title eg. Albany or Linn Co
your name
- Email info@albanyvisitors.com and give us your email address. We will email you the link to a ‘survey’ in which you can upload your photos (with file names as above) and complete all your contact information.
- Mail your check for the entry fee, your completed photographers release form, and any model release forms necessary to the AVA (address below) before March 8. Paperwork may also be placed through mail drop slot after hours.
DEADLINE All entries, fees and releases must be submitted by 5pm Friday, March 8, 2024.
Albany Visitors Association
541-928-0911
122 Ferry St SW, Albany, OR 97321
Geocaching with Albany Visitors Association
Albany Challenge 2021
Because of precautions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 10th edition of the Albany Challenge geocaching event is being planned for later in 2021. Once the health and safety of the geocaching and business participants can be assured, the event will be scheduled and details will be published on this page. Early plans call for a two-day challenge, a Saturday and Sunday, with coins to be given out, one coin for the Saturday event and a different coin for Sunday.
April 2020 – the good news newsletter
View the good news
Read our latest newsletter and discover fun virtual activities and look ahead to sunnier days. Get ready to cheer someone up with a free e-postcard on our Albany Explorer App or ask our virtual assistant Ava a question about historic Albany. And don’t forget to vote now through April 30th for the AVA Photo Contest “People’s Choice” winner. You’ve got this, and we have you on our minds — so stay safe, stay healthy and we will see you soon. View the good news.
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Celebrate fresh and locally grown – Albany Farmers’ Market
If battling crowded indoor grocery stores has you feeling down, here’s some good news: The Albany Farmers’ Market has been deemed as an essential service provider and will open on Saturday, April 18, However, be prepared for a few important operational changes, focused on keeping everyone healthy.
Location and facilities
In Albany, the Farmers’ Market is in the City Hall parking lot at 4th and Ellsworth and an adjacent slice of 4th Avenue. Portable restrooms will replace access to City Hall restrooms, since public buildings are closed.
Market shoppers can use features on www.locallygrown.org to search for particular vendors and view interactive maps showing the approximate location of vendors on each market day.
Hours for the Albany Farmers’ Market are 9 am to 1 pm.
How temporary safeguards will affect your market experience
Any activities that might tempt people to linger or stand closer than six feet apart have been suspended temporarily. This includes the normal musical or children’s entertainment. These measures will stay in place until the Governor’s Office institutes new action.
Open air and wide aisles are two factors that local farmers’ markets have going in their favor. But the market and our farmers and producers need full cooperation from customers to stay open and keep our community safe.
Market temporary dos and don’ts
Please follow the advice of the market’s organizers:
- Stay home if you feel the least bit unwell or have been near anyone who might have been exposed or who exhibits symptoms
- Wash your hands frequently – before coming to the market
- One shopper per household. Shop for others who should not go out
- Shop with your eyes and buy what you touch
- Shop for what you need, but don’t linger. This is difficult because farmers’ markets are such social places and we are drawn to chatting with our producers. But now is the time to keep your neighbor safe.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from other shoppers
- No eating at market. Order your food to go, do not eat your veggies or fruit while walking around.
- Thoroughly wash all produce and fruit when you get home. Clean any packages or transfer to your own containers for storage.
Other ways to get local food and support local businesses
Locally Grown’s web page has a new tab with a list of farms and other vendors who are doing online sales, delivery or pickup options. The purpose is to help local small farms and anyone who is not able to attend farmers’ markets. At the same time, the Albany and Corvallis Farmers’ Markets are collaborating on a statewide effort to adopt an online pre-order system with delivery at farmers’ market sites. The aim is to speed transaction times. In person sales will still take place.
SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks
Corvallis-Albany Farmers’ Markets (CAFM) and the smaller area farmers’ markets in Linn and Benton counties always redeem SNAP benefits (commonly called food stamps) on customers’ Oregon Trail cards. Matching programs, which potentially double the amount that SNAP customers spend on fresh and local foods, go a step further by helping families stretch their food dollars. CAFM will return to using Double Up Food Bucks vouchers. Even dollar amounts are matched. Normally the match is capped at $10 per market day. Through April, all Double Up markets are matching SNAP purchases up to $20.
Other nutrition programs
Another program that increases access to high-quality foods among low-income households is the Farm Direct Nutrition program, which includes both young families (WIC or Women, Infants and Children) and seniors. Gleaning groups also collect perishable produce from vendors and distribute to others in need.
Welcome back to all
We really hope that as we move forward with ways to shop fresh and local that you will consider shopping at our wonderful outdoor market in Downtown Albany. We will be back stronger than ever and look forward to celebrating with the vendors.
*Image of carrots and Camron Ridge Farmstand from our 2020 AVA Photo contest.
Keeping travel safe
Albany is open for business. but customers are encouraged to conduct business online or over the phone whenever possible.
To keep our customers informed, we will continue to update our online calendar of events as reports come in and actively reach out to confirm with event planners for events that have been canceled or rescheduled.
If you have questions regarding an event status, feel free to call us at 541-928-0911. We will get an answer for you as soon as we can.
Albany Visitors Office Hours and Staffing
The Albany Visitors Association Lobby will be closed to the public. The 24-hour kiosk will be stocked with visitor information. AVA staff will be available to answer phone calls and respond to e-mails as usual, Monday through Friday 9am – 5pm.
We will also post to our Albany Visitors Association Facebook page when we are notified of an event cancellation, so follow us and be informed: https://www.facebook.com/albanyvisitorsassociation/
Closures of note
Here is an update on closures in Albany: The Albany Regional Museum will be closed until April 9, the Historic Carousel & Museum until March 31, and the Monteith House until Mid-April or further notice.
Resources
For more information on the Coronavirus and efforts to keep it from spreading, please refer to the following reliable sources:
City of Albany https://www.cityofalbany.net/coronavirus
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) where you can also subscribe to OHA Coronavirus Updates (the latest news about COVID-19 in Oregon.) https://www.oregon.gov/oha/Pages/index.aspx
Travel Oregon Travel Alerts Refer to Travel Oregon’s “Travel Alerts” web page to keep current with the latest recommendations and announcements about COVID-19 within our state. https://traveloregon.com/travel-alerts/
Keep calm and hand wash on!
Annual Christmas Parlour Tour
Come to Albany, Oregon, and enjoy the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned holiday celebration in Historic Downtown Albany. The Christmas Parlour Tour is an “insider’s” peek into the past. Step inside some of our most intriguing historic homes and travel back through several eras including Art Deco and Victorian. The 2020 tour is scheduled for Sunday December 13th.
Participating historic homes and buildings throughout the Hackleman, Monteith, and Downtown Commercial Districts open their doors to tour participants. Meet the owners and learn about the architecture, the original occupants, and the ins and outs of restoring historic structures.
You can opt to ride a vintage trolley or horse-drawn wagon to the various stops, or drive, walk, bike or hike the tour on your own. Tickets are available for purchase online ahead of time (around a month prior to the tour). Tour proceeds benefit the non-profit Monteith House Museum. Tickets will also be available on the day of the tour at Albany Visitors Association.
Highlights
- The Monteith House Museum will be lit by oil lamp and fire light.
- Take a moment to warm up at the Carnegie Library. This is the only time all year its fireplace is used—and the soft warm glow transcends time.
- Christmas music will be played at various locations.
- The Whitespires Church encourages visitors to ring the bell in its tower.
- Light refreshments are included in the ticket price.
Purchase Tickets Day of Event In Person
You can purchase your tickets at the Albany Visitors Association 110 3rd Ave SE. Ticket sales begin at 1:00 p.m. and continue until 6:00 p.m. on December 13, 2020. The tour hours are 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Music, refreshments, horse-drawn wagon rides or vintage trolley rides are included in the ticket price. Well-behaved children under 12 are admitted free with a paid adult. Proceeds benefit Monteith House Museum.
Additional information
The Christmas Parlour Tour is “self-guided.” You can tour the homes in any order you like. Spend as much or as little time at each location as it suits you. Several of the buildings are within walking distance of each other, while a few may be outside your comfortable walking distance, requiring your own vehicle or the provided trolley or horse-drawn wagon. Visitors usually take three to four hours to fully enjoy the tour.
And as long as you’re in Albany, do a bit of holiday shopping. Find unique gifts in antique and specialty stores. Indulge in a pastry or a decadent cup of hot cocoa, a frothy cappuccino, or a farm-fresh dinner in one of the many eateries and bistros downtown. Take a ride on the Albany Historic Carousel, which is beautifully decorated this time of year.
Albany’s Annual Interior Tours were created by a group of friends and neighbors to share the past through the architecture of historic dwellings. They are coordinated by Albany’s Historic Interior Home Tour Committee and sponsored by the Monteith Historical Society.
For more information about Albany’s Historic Interior Tours and other Albany events and attractions contact the Albany Visitors Association: 541-928-0911.
Online Tickets
Watch this space for 2020 online ticket and announcements.
A berry delicious July, jam-packed with events
One of the fabulous things Oregon is known for, is our agricultural bounty. And in July, fresh berries are one of the commodities that bring visitors near and far to Albany and Linn County u-pick farms, roadside stands, and farmers’ markets. Several area farms grow blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and (known for its humble Willamette Valley origins), the Marionberry.
The following farms could be the start of a great weekend itinerary to satisfy the berry lover in your family:
Midway Farms One of Albany’s agricultural gems, Midway is a bucolic organic farm store (and working farm) on Hwy 20. As you drive towards Corvallis, its red barn peeks out from between shade trees and a riot of multi-colored flowers. The store is usually bursting with an eclectic mix of seasonal harvests—from green onions and sweet greens to fall potatoes, tomatoes and garlic.
Midway’s crowning glory of summer are their sweet succulent organic strawberries, blueberries and other seasonal fruit. The farm posts frequently on Facebook, so if you’re planning on making fresh jam, follow their page to find out when there are special sales on bulk berries. Depending on the bounty, Kapple may run a spontaneous jam-making sale.
Midway Farms is located at 6980 NW US Highway 20, and the farm store is open daily, including weekends, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can also snag their produce, flowers, fruits, eggs and meats at the Albany or Corvallis Farmers’ Market.
Bryant Family Farm A short five minute drive into the Albany countryside and you can load up on the biggest juiciest blueberries in Linn County. This family owned venture features 19 different varieties of “no spray” blueberries. You can opt to pick your own or purchase fresh or frozen berries for all your culinary creations.
The farm features a family picnic area and restrooms, so you can bring your favorite hamper packed with goodies and rest between picking. The Bryant family purchased the farm about five years ago, carrying on the u-pick tradition of the former owners, Peter and Millie Romans. The Romans planted their first bushes in 1967.
If you are in hurry and don’t have time to pick yourself, you can order free delivery service of frozen berries (within Albany), any size order over five pounds, at $2.25 per pound. Frozen blueberry still pack a nutritional punch and are delicious in muffins, pancakes, ice cream, smoothies, and jams.
The season at the farm runs from mid-June to the second week in August, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., dependent on fruit ripening, weather patterns, and crop availability. It’s usually best to check with the farm at 541-704-0677. Bryant Family Farm is located at 35923 Bryant Drive SW, Albany, Oregon.
July’s jam-packed featured events
We’ve lined up a little over 20 of our favorite summer events for you to peruse below. Pick out several, and come play and stay in Albany.
July (and through August) PoP It’s the “Power of Produce” Club (PoP) at the Albany Farmers’ Market. PoP is a free summer program for kids at the farmers’ market. All kids ages 5 – 12 can register and receive $4 in tokens each week they come to the market. Tokens can be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, dried beans, nuts, seeds and plants that grow food. See you at the market, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
July 4th River Rhythms is almost here! The first concert of the summer is scheduled for Thursday, July 4th. Bring your blankets and picnic baskets and spread out under the summer stars. The Baha Men—a Bahamian band playing a modernized style of Bahamian music called junkanoo, are the season openers. They are best known for their Grammy Award winning hit song “Who Let the Dogs Out?” There are children’s activities prior to the concert (come early at 5:30) an adult beer garden, food, a bike valet, and trolley rides around downtown. The concert is from 7 to 9 pm.
July 4th Hooray! Fireworks return to Albany on the Fourth of July at Monteith River Park. The big bang display coincides with the opening of River Rhythms, and follows the free concert by The Baha Men. Fireworks are scheduled to begin around 9:00 p.m., but with the concert falling on the Fourth, you’ll want to get to the park early and claim your spot. (Photo copyright by Anthony Shelar, ASHDR Photography)
July 4th – 7th More July holiday fun! Start the Fourth off with a bang and an “all you can eat sausage, eggs, pancakes, milk, and coffee” Lumberjack Breakfast at Timber Linn Memorial Park. Starting at 6 a.m. and running until 11 a.m., July 4th through through the 7th, this fundraiser for the East Albany Lions Club enables their support to community sight and hearing projects. Tickets are $8 adults and $4 children 11 and under.
July 5th – 7th Baa Baa black sheep, it’s aaaalmost here! The Black Sheep Gathering at the Linn County Expo Center starts July 5th. Enjoy three days of competition, displays, workshops and shopping at one of the country’s largest shows of natural colored fiber animals and hand-crafted products made from their wool. Learn how to felt, create mosaic knitting, spin, dye, ply, weave, and shear the fiber from many breeds of animals. Admission and parking are free. For hours, workshop registration, and show schedule visit http://www.blacksheepgathering.org
July 5th So many great First Friday events in downtown Albany, and it all starts with a reception at Gallery Calapooia, on July 5th, from 6 to 8 pm. This month, Rob R Robinson and Cheryl French are the featured artists. Come meet them and see their latest works. *Painting below: Rob R Robinson’s multi-media work entitled “Focus.”
July 5th First Friday at the Albany Regional Museum is just around the corner! The exhibits will stay open until 8 p.m. on Friday, July 5th. Stop by and enjoy art, refreshments, and learning more about Albany and Linn County history. Admission to ARM is free, but your donations help run the museum for everyone.
July 8th Time for Summer Sounds at Monteith Park! On Monday, July 8th, the series starts with “The Spirit of Earth, Wind & Fire.” Sip your own wine or beer, purchase soft drinks and food from the vendor court, and take a stroll along the riverfront with your sweetheart. The free concert is from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. This year’s lineup runs the gamut from electric string pop to funk and swing. For the full schedule, visit the City of Albany website at https://www.cityofalbany.net/…/parks-a…/events/summer-sounds
July 10th Feeling itchy to get summer started? Before heading to the woods for a campout, you might want to attend the next “History Bites” at the Albany Regional Museum. On Wednesday, July 10th at noon, the free presentation focuses on the history of Albany’s very own Tec Labs, a pharmaceutical company that produces potions to ease rashes caused by poison oak and ivy.
July 11th Work got your goat? Time for some big fun at Albany’s historic Crazy Daze. This annual event begins Thursday July 11th and runs through the 13th. Originally called Bargain Days in 1898, the name was changed to Crazy Daze after WWII. Merchants will participate in sidewalk sales throughout downtown, offering great items at crazy reduced prices. Merchandise changes daily so you might want to come down all three days. Grab your sunscreen or a hat and stroll our sidewalks for crazy deals and crazy delicious food at our fabulous downtown eateries!
July 11th River Rhythms presents the father of The Twist, Chubby Checker! Seating is available on a first-come, first served basis, beginning at 5:30. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Learn more about this series. There are children’s activities prior to the concerts, an adult beer garden, food, a bike valet, and trolley rides around downtown.
July 19th Movies at Monteith Outdoor movies in the park have become today’s version of the drive-in movie experience of the past – only better. Enjoy Movies at Monteith on Friday evenings in late July and early August at Monteith Park in Downtown Albany. Movies start at dusk (around 9:00 pm).
2019 Schedule
- July 19 – “Up” starring the voice of Ed Asner 10th Year Anniversary
- July 26 – “Ghostbusters” starring Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd 30th Year Anniversary
- August 2 – “Mary Poppins” starring Julie Andrews and Dick Vandyke 55th Year Anniversary
- August 9 – “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland 80th Year Anniversary
Food Vendors include: First Burger, Little Wuesten German Foods, Cassetta di Pasta, The Albany Pix Theatre, Scouts. General seating area opens at 8 am, blanket area opens at 5:30 pm. Please do not put your blankets down earlier, space is needed to put up the gigantic movie screen! Smoking – No smoking at Movies at Monteith. Smoking is allowed only outside of the event area, this also includes vapor devices. Marijuana is NOT ALLOWED in the park for any reason. You will be escorted out of the park if you bring it in. No Pets – Service Dogs are the only dogs allowed in the park. Companion animals and family pets must stay at home. Alcohol – Beer, wine, and cider are the only alcoholic beverages allowed in the park. You will be asked to take hard alcohol out of the park.
July 19th (and other dates through July – Aug) The Albany Civic Theater presents “The Unexpected Guest.” Lost in the fog, a stranger seeks refuge in a nearby house only to find a man shot dead and his wife standing over him with a smoking gun. But the woman’s dazed confession is anything but convincing and the unexpected guest decides to help. Remarkably, the police clues point to a man who died two years previously but as the ghosts of a past wrong begin to emerge, a tangled web of lies reveals family secrets and chilling motives, where the real murderer turns out to be the greatest mystery of all. Check ACT’s website for ticket and performance time info: http://www.albanycivic.org/shows/the-unexpected-guest/
July 20th Rally on the River – Vintage Trailer Show See inside over 100 vintage trailers from 1938 to 1984 including tear drops, popups, tents and motor homes. This is a free family event in Historic Brownsville’s Pioneer Park on the Calapooia River. For more information visit the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/136046563763686/
July 22nd Time for Summer Sounds at Monteith Park! On Monday, July 22nd, catch the music of artist Tia Brazada. Brazada weaves her lush retro sound with classic jazz, pop, and bossa nova. Sip your own wine or beer, purchase soft drinks and food from the vendor court, and take a stroll along the riverfront. The free concert is from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. This year’s series lineup runs the gamut from electric string pop to funk and swing. Come early and claim your spot. For the full schedule, visit the City of Albany website at https://www.cityofalbany.net/…/parks-a…/events/summer-sounds
July 23rd Stand By Me Day Head out to Historic Brownsville for this annual cult classic movie event. Stephen King’s novel made into an all-time coming of age move was filmed in Brownsville. Get in on the activities: blueberry pie-eating contest, walking tours, hula hoop lessons, sack races, hop-scotch, classic car show, costume contest, musical performances, and of course, a showing of everyone’s favorite film, Stand By Me. This event is organized by the Linn County Historical Museum. For more information, visit: https://linnparks.com/museums/linn-county-historical-museum/
July 24th History Through Headstones Tour Join the Albany Regional Museum for an evening of “History Through Headstones” honoring nine prominent Albany individuals. Hear their stories and learn more about the pioneer Albany Masonic Cemetery. The tour is free to participate in. For more information, visit the museum website at: armuseum.com
July 25th Does Albany love me—yeah, yeah, yeah! River Rhythms presents the greatest Beatles tribute band ever—Fab Four. Seating is available on a first-come, first served basis, beginning at 5:30. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Learn more about this series. There are children’s activities prior to the concerts, an adult beer garden, food, a bike valet, and trolley rides around downtown.
July 26th – 27th Guitars Under the Stars. Rock on at this guitar and craft beer festival that includes two stages and camping with plenty of shade! All ages are welcome, so bring the family and spend the weekend listening to great music, and enjoying great food and drinks. For information and tickets please visit: http://guitarsunderthestars.net
July 27th The Annual Summer Historic Interior Home Tour offers an opportunity to peek inside some of the city’s finest historic buildings and houses on the National Historic Register. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., homeowners and hosts will be available to answer questions about the history of the dwelling, restoration efforts, historic house maintenance, and other details about Albany’s four historic districts. The tour is self-guided; you can visit the homes in any order by walking, personal vehicle, or horse-drawn wagon and vintage trolley, both of which are included in the $15 price of admission (well-behaved children aged 12 and under are free). For more information telephone Albany Visitors Association at 541-928-0911. Online tickets are available on our website at: https://albanyvisitors.com/2019/06/25/annual-summer-historic-interior-home-tour-online-tickets/
July 29th Summer Sounds presents local Blues legend, Curtis Salgado. Come catch Salgado and friends, as they perform at Monteith Park. Sip your own wine or beer, purchase soft drinks and food from the vendor court, and take a stroll along the riverfront with your sweetheart. The free concert is from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. This year’s concert series lineup runs the gamut from electric string pop to funk and swing. For the full schedule, visit the City of Albany website at https://www.cityofalbany.net/…/parks-a…/events/summer-sounds
2019 Albany Visitor Guides are here
The Albany Visitors Association (AVA) is pleased to announce the 2019/2020 “Albany Visitors Guide” is now available. Published each summer, AVA’s colorful magazine is jam-packed with ideas for visitors or even residents who want to discover what’s new in our city. The guide is free to both industry and the general public.
This year’s feature story focuses on one special Albany Historic Carousel & Museum animal, Fredrick the Hare, and the “tail” behind his creation. The giant bunny with “serious ears” is one of more than 30 animals hand-carved and hand-painted adorning the carousel—all which possess deeply personal tokens from their sponsoring humans.
Other sections include Albany’s vibrant growing restaurant scene, Linn and Benton County “food trail” connections, recreation (swimming, hiking, biking, fishing), entertainment, shopping, and the history and heritage of our city and surrounding region.
Stop by the Albany Visitors Center at 110 3rd Ave SE for your free copy or telephone AVA at 541-928-0911 to order multiple copies for businesses or tourism organizations. AVA is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
View a digital copy of the guide
Feel free to download the guide if you would like to save a tree. (PDF)
June is busting’ out all over – with events
Come gather in Albany and find your perfect comfort zone—whether its sipping wine at nearby Springhill Cellars Winery or a leisurely stroll along the river— June is a transitional month where local events move into high gear as we prep for sunny summer months. Come join us in Albany and Linn And Benton Counties for the following sensational events. (We always add other featured events as we discover them, so check back soon.)
May 30 – June 2nd Wrap up National Historic Preservation Month at the 110th Lebanon Strawberry Festival. This historical Linn County event has something for everyone, from a Saturday night fireworks display and the World’s Largest Strawberry Shortcake to a parade and entertainment. Located at Cheadle Lake Park, 37919 Weirich Dr, Lebanon, OR. lebanonstrawberryfestival.com
June 1st What could be better than a new animal on the Albany Carousel? What about TWO new animals?! Come attend the big unveiling party on June 1st, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Albany Historic Carousel & Museum. Welcome “Thunder the Bison” and “Sampson the Rooster” as they join the other animals on the carousel. It’s a wild west themed party, so wear your favorite cowboy boots, hats, and chaps… but please, leave the spurs at home.
June 7th Plan on celebrating First Friday in Downtown Albany with all the usual suspects, including the Albany Regional Museum, Urban Ag Supply, The Natty Dresser, Sweet Red Bistro, Gallery Calapooia and others. Check in on June’s featured artists at the free reception at Gallery Calapooia: Marilyn Lindsley’s polymer clay jewelry and Marjorie Kinch’s watercolors will be on display. Stop in to meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments and live music. The Albany Historic Carousel & Museum will be open for special family activities, from 5:30 to 8:00; a $5 admission gets you unlimited rides. Wander through downtown historic Albany and pop in to shops and restaurants featuring First Friday extended hours and specials.
June 8th The “Albany Passport Program for Kids” is coming! This summer, your children can explore over 30 locations around town to learn more about the history of Albany. Grab your passport starting on June 8th at Albany Fire Station No. 11 (611 Lyon St SE) and start visiting, collecting stamps, and possibly win prizes. The Albany Summer Passport is a free children’s program offered through a partnership of the City of Albany, Albany Visitors Association, Albany Downtown Association, Albany Regional Museum, and the Monteith Historical Society. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Oregon Cultural Trust. For more info, contact AVA at 541.928.0911.
June 12th Nothing better than the free lunchtime series at the Albany Regional Museum “History Bites.” Bring your lunch or nosh on light refreshments at the latest in the series, a history of Talking Water Gardens. The demonstration habitat shows how recycled wastewater can be used to create wildlife and botanical preserves—where insects, birds, wetland flora and fauna, are on view seasonally to hikers, photographers, and all who love and appreciate the outdoors. The presentation starts at noon in the community room.
June 13th Another one of our Linn County “food trail” destinations is the Thursday afternoon Brownsville Farmers’ Market. Hunt for sweet strawberries, crisp mesclun salad greens, root veggies, and other late spring selections to create your own perfect “farm to fork” experience. The outdoor market on Main St opens at 3:00 p.m. and runs until 6:00 p.m. Come earlier in the day and forage in unique small shops and have lunch at one of several restaurants and bakeries, or try a little Oregon wine tasting at Harpers Wine House.
June 14th – 21st What exactly is a “flat-coated retriever?” Why not come and find out as you watch this beautiful sporting breed perform in the show ring at Linn County Expo Center. The dog’s field trials will be held in nearby Scio. The 2019 Northwest Flat-Coated Retriever National Specialty will bring canines from across the US to Albany. Get the full schedule of events at https://fcrsa.org/2019specialty/
June 14th ( and various dates throughout June ) The Albany Civic Theater presents the “Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon,” starting the second week in June. Classic fairy tales are turned on their heads as two narrators and several actors attempt to combine all 209 Grimm stories ranging from classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel to more bizarre, obscure stories like The Devil’s Grandmother and The Girl Without Hands. A wild, free-form comedy with lots of audience participation and madcap fun. Written by Don Zolidis and directed by Conner Riley. For information telephone 541-928-4603 or visit http://www.albanycivic.org
June 15th An annual event, the much beloved garden tour “Through the Garden Gate” takes place the Saturday before Father’s Day Sunday. Take your garden-loving dad on this tour featuring OSU Master Gardeners. Tour the private gardens in any order, on your own schedule. Tickets are $15.00 and all funds raised support gardening education for adults and youth in Linn County. Maps and tickets are available at Albany Visitors Association office and other garden centers in the area. Telephone 541-928-0911 for ticketing information.
June 22nd The Third Annual Albany Pride Parade. Albany joins with other communities in strengthening diversity and inclusiveness with this public event. Assemble at the 11:00 a.m. at the Linn County Courthouse, 300 Fourth St. The parade route and more details will be published as we receive more information from the event organizers and sponsors.
For a complete list of Albany area events, visit our monthly events calendar.
Winners of the 2019 AVA Photo Contest
AVA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 AVA Photo Contest. We received over 250 stunning images, and although our judges struggled mightily to hone the honors down to just a few in each category, the end results are beautiful.
View the winners video
Winners circle
The Albany Visitors Association (AVA) is excited to announce the winners of our 12th Annual Photography Contest. The purpose of this contest is to find images suitable for use in marketing materials for Albany and the surrounding area. The contest is open to photographers of all skill levels, and this year 15 talented photographers entered 251 beautiful and creative photos.
Prizes this year included ribbons and gift cards for the winners of Champion, Reserve Champion, Staff Choice, and People’s Choice. All Photographers who earned a ribbon were entered into a drawing for $200, and Camron Settlemier was the talented and lucky winner this year.
Winning photos are on display through May at the Albany Visitors Association at 110 3rd Ave SE. All entries can be viewed on the Albany Visitors Association Flickr page.
Names of award winners
Grand Champions
Champion, Dave Maestas, “Reflections at Waverly Lake”
Reserve Champion, Cathy Webb, “Taking Off”
People’s Choice, Katelynn LaGrone, “Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival”
Staff Choice, Keith Kendrick, “Bridges of Albany in Winter”
Category winners
Culinary
1st Place, Oliver J. Anderson, “Home Tour Snacks”
2nd Place, Cathy Webb, “Tomato Assortment”
3rd Place, Katrina Wilson “Takena Tomatoes”
Events
1st Place, Oliver J. Anderson, “Tweed Bike Start”
2nd Place, Katelynn LaGrone, “NW Art & Air Festival”
3rd Place, Jonna Lynn, “Up & Away, Art & Air Festival”
Historic Albany
1st Place, Camron Settlemier “White Snow on Blue House”
2nd Place, Stephanie Low, “Ralston House”
3rd Place, Oliver J. Anderson, “Monteith Unadorned”
Life in the Community
1st Place, Dan Bateman, “Study in Red”
2nd Place, Oliver J. Anderson, “Monteith Volunteer”
3rd Place, Stephanie Low, “Cyclist in Fall”
Landmarks
1st Place, Stephanie Low, “Welcome to Albany”
2nd Place, Oliver J. Anderson, “Monteith Adorned”
3rd Place, Camron Settlemier, “Thompson’s Mill in Motion”
Open
1st Place, Pavla Zakova-Laney, “Handsome Buck”
2nd Place, Cathy Webb, “The Guardian”
3rd Place, Camron Settlemier, “2 Flakes Short of a Blizzard”
Scenic
1st Place, Dave Maestas, “Sunrise on Old Salem Rd.”
2nd Place, Keith Kendrick, “Foot Bridge over Bowman Park”
3rd Place, Barry Hoffman, “Snow Day”
Congratulations to all the winners!
