Tag Archives: events

Hundreds of runners to course through Hood River on Oct. 28

24 Oct

A thousand runners — and their fans and families — will converge on Hood River the weekend of Oct. 27-28 for the annual Columbia Gorge Marathon.

The race starts at 9 a.m. from the Hatfield West Trailhead (shuttle buses will take runners there, from the Marina Green finish area). Runners will finish anywhere from around 11:30 a.m. on into the afternoon. Half-marathon runners start at the Marina Green at 9:30 a.m., and finish there as well.

If you’re coming to run — or just want to watch — please take care when driving through downtown and along the route of the course. See more details at the event web site.

Tags: , , ,

Explore a world of West Coast craft brewing at annual Hood River Hops Fest

12 Sep

Looking at the lineup of brewers planning to pour during the 2012 Hood River Hops Fest on Saturday, Sept. 29, veteran quaffers couldn’t be blamed for a fresh flush of excitement.

Imagine the beer. Imagine your hand holding the beer. Imagine both at the 2012 Hood River Hops Fest. Photo: Michael and Shelley Peterson.

Yes, fresh beer will be here, but the names on the labels are even fresher. With new breweries popping up right and left, the festival will give beer-lovers a chance to sample production from craft brewers based in Hood River, sure, but also from as far away as Astoria, Bend, Eugene, Pacific City, Chico, Calif., Seattle, Wash., and Ontario, Ore.Hood River’s finest will be represented by Full Sail, Double Mountain, Pfriem Family, Big Horse, Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, and Solera Brewing (Parkdale).

Yep, six craft brewers for a county of 22,000 people — one for every 3,666 people. Factor in pours from Everybody’s Brewing in White Salmon and Walking Man Brewing in Stevenson, and one could rightly say that Gorge dominates the lineup.

Portland, however, which loves to celebrate itself as home to more craft breweries than any city in the country, will send a host of entrants. Among them will be relatively new names Breakside (just over two years old, and expanding like a … beer belly), Burnside and Gigantic (an ironically named 2012 arrival).

Craft beers in Ontario, Oregon? Yep. Beer Valley Brewing has been kicking out strong ales for the last five years. Thanks to a  host of awards for its beers, the Pelican Brewery from Pacific City has earned a little more reknown. Look for contributions from Ninkasi, Sierra Nevada, Fort George, Widmer, Lucky Lab, New Old Lompoc, Terminal Gravity and other familiar names.

The Hops Fest moves up a week this year, from its longtime station on the first Saturday of October. With the blessing of the weather gods, the event will have a better chance of dodging showers and delivering warm weather perfect for sipping suds.

Gates open at noon, and close at 9 p.m. The event venue hasn’t changed, either, based on the public parking lot between 5th and 7th streets, Cascade and Columbia streets (just south of Full Sail’s brewhouse). Live music, beer-friendly food and a Kids Zone will expand the attractions to something for the entire family.

Admission is $6 for adults, which includes a beer mug. Taste tokens are $1 apiece.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Aug. 3 First Friday features street closure to foster safe good times

1 Aug

Visitors to downtown Hood River’s First Friday celebration  on Aug. 3 can play in the street with complete safety.

How’s that, you ask?

Simple (well, sort of). The sponsoring Chamber of Commerce and merchants have collectively paid the city to block traffic from Oak Avenue and connecting side streets during the event, from 5 to 8 p.m.

That way, you’re not confined to the sidewalks, although you may want to focus your strolling there, because (ahem) that’s the best way to see which stores are open, and what goodies they’ve got for your consideration and, yes, purchase. Or consumption, if we’re talking purveyors of food and drink.

Get all the relevant details here.

Tags: , , , , ,

Hood River Hotel welcomes First Friday, then County Fair

5 Jul

We’ve just started July, and the adrenalin is already pumpin’. Why? Well, First Friday is from 5 to 8 p.m. downtown in Hood River on July 6.

Then, less than three weeks later, the 2012 Hood River County Fair settles in Wednesday through Saturday, July 25-28, at 3020 Wy’east Road, south of Hood River near the community of Odell.

If you’ve never done a small county fair in Oregon, you really should get this on your calendar. It’s a slice of Americana, with carnival rides, farm exhibits, and food galore — from elephant ears to tacos and burgers.

Gates open at noon each day, carnival rides begin at 1 p.m. General admission is $6 per adult on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and $10 per adult on Saturday. Every day children aged 6-12 are admitted for $2, and children younger than 6 get in free. Season tickets are also available.

Fiddlegrass Bluegrass Band performs Wednesday evening on the Park Stage. Incredible Justin Shandor, Ultimate Elvis winner of the 2011 Elvis Impersonator contest in Las Vegas, brings “The King” to life at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday evening. Friday evening, Banda Rebelde de Pacifica takes to the main stage, and Saturday evening it is the 2012 headliner, country music star Aaron Tippin. Musical performances are free with fair admission.

Also free with admission are many other great attractions.

The “Walk on the Wild Side” exotic animal show displays a wide range of exotic animals and reptiles in a jungle atmosphere. Also on hand? The OMSI Planetarium, for every visitor to learn more aabout the night sky and celestial bodies.

Professor Bamboozle’s Road Show brings laughs and fun — and balloons — to the Park and fairgrounds each day.

Who doesn’t enjoy magic? Godfrey the Magician brings his award-winning style of comedy magic, including brand-new levitation tricks.

The “Kiddie Tractor Pull,” a real crowd pleaser, will be held near the barns Thursday, July 26, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The competition, using toy John Deere tractors, is divided into age groups 4 years of age and younger, 5-6 years old, and 7-8 years old.

There’s too much more to share here. So, you want to go, right?

To reach the 2012 Hood River County Fair, travel I-84 to Hood River exit 64, then south on State Highway 35 to the Odell junction. Follow the signs to the fairgrounds at 3020 Wy’east Road, at the corner of Wy’east and Summit roads.

Or drive Highway 26 to its intersection with Highway 35, then north on Highway 35 to the Odell junction.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Hood River First Friday puts emphasis on fun, friends — and downtown

2 May

First Friday returns to downtown Hood River this week — May 4, to be precise.

Yes, we know, every month has a first Friday. But for those of you new to the concept, Hood River’s First Friday is a special event, engaging the entire downtown business community during the months from May through October.

The Hood River Hotel, always at the center of downtown buzz, will dish up several reasons to visit. We’re hosting a bake sale to benefit the girls golf team at Hood River Valley High School. We’ll also host a local jewelry artist, and open our dining room for cocktails and a limited menu of sandwiches and other light fare.

Many downtown businesses — typically closing doors between 5 and 6 — opt to stay open a couple of hours longer on First Friday. Some host special events — artists, music, refreshments. The streets come alive with activities for kids. Musicians and crafts people just show up and plop their stuff everywhere (it’s not really how it’s supposed to work, but it happens anyway).

And, during peak months of summer, the sponsoring Hood River County Chamber of Commerce tries to arrange for closure of Oak Avenue and connecting side streets in the heart of downtown. That’s so crowds can spill into the street, and the asphalt can become home to myriad activities — dancers, music, friendly competition.

In short, it’s a three-ring circus.

First Friday in Hood River is subject to constant change. It all grew out of the Columbia Center for the Arts holding a reception for its newest gallery show on the first Friday of the month (this month, from 6 to 8 p.m., the gallery debuts its “Interpretations” show).

Then the former Downtown Business Association encouraged other businesses to host artists at the same time, which they did for a few years. Then the crowds grew so large that the streets were closed. Then the artists stopped showing work inside businesses, but businesses stayed open anyway, for people who couldn’t get there during regular hours.

The fun starts at 5 p.m. Be here.

Tags: , , , , , ,

OMG, this place is going OFF!

11 Apr

It turned kinda warm in the Hood this week. Just in time for … holy moly activapalooza.

This coming weekend (April 13-15) is going to be HUGE. You might want to grab a parking place and just plan on sleeping right there. Here’s what’s coming up:

  • Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour, April 13-15, involving 23 Gorge artists, in their studios.
  • Passport Weekend, sponsored by the Columbia Gorge Wine Growers Association.
  • The first of THREE Blossom Festival weekends this month, an annual celebration organized by the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce.
  • Lions Follies: “Pirates of Neverland,” 7:30 p.m. April 13-14, 19-22, at Hood River Middle School. Tickets at the door or from any Lions member.

Have fun, somehow, some way.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 791 other followers

%d bloggers like this: