Summer Event Roundup

When there are crazy awful winters like we just had with the wettest months on record, you have to remind yourself of how amazing Portland summers are. And lucky for us, we’re on the upswing now with blue skies and warm temps. You can tell us Portlanders love our summers as everyone rushes outside and multiple events happen daily.

I regularly have to remind myself not to get serious FOMO as it’s impossible to attend each food festival, accomplish every hike and enjoy every outdoor concert. So you’ve got to pick your priorities and plan out the summer, with a nice balance of out-of-town hikes, relaxing picnics and getting social at the bigger events around town.

Here are my top picks to add to the calendar! What are you hitting up this summer?

Summer Event Roundup

19th Hole Popup – all summer long; Hotel Deluxe @ SW 15th Ave & Yamhill

Putt putt golf in downtown with 75 craft beers, wine and snacks. Count me in. Read more from prior years here!

Cider Summit – June 16-17; Fields Park @ NW 10th & Overton

While everyone else in Portland is all about the beer fests, I’m much more of a cider drinker so I LOVE this event with over 150 ciders from Portland and around the world.

La Ruta – July 13-16; all over town

This year Portland’s food scene is really making a splash by hosting the inaugural food festival celebrating Spain and bringing together both local and Spanish chefs. Learn about sherries and Spanish ciders, or attend an ambassador dinners held at top joints like Toro Bravo and Urdaneta.

Fueled by Fine Wine Half Marathon – July 9; Dundee Hills

To work off all the eating this summer, I plan on getting my running shoes out quite often. This half marathon has definitely caught my attention as it combines beautiful views of the Dundee Hills and wine at the finish. Now that is incentive.

Drink Pink – July 15; Patton Valley Vineyards

I just heard about this event and am so bummed I’ll be out of town because how fun does this sound – an event all about rosé with varieties from 28 nearby wineries, snacks from Crown Paella and the talented Carlo Lamanga of Clyde Common and two live bands keeping the tunes going in the background. Someone please go and drink on my behalf!

Counter Culture – July 27; Anne Amie Vineyards

Hands down, this is one of my favorite events of the entire year. Hosted by Anne Amie Vineyards in Oregon wine country, they welcome in several other wineries and local restaurants to create a magical evening with gorgeous views of the Willamette Valley, incredible food and of course tons of wine. Want to know more? Check out this post from the 2014 Counter Culture.

Burger Week – August 7-12; all over town

Portland’s got the thing for blank weeks, like Dumpling Week or Negroni Week. For this week in August, chow down on a specialty burger at 35 restaurants throughout town for just $5. Expect lines and the potential for burgers to sell out at most places.

Adult Soapbox Derby – August 19; Mt Tabor Park

Ok this isn’t so much a food event but it is so much fun I have to share. Watch grown adults in handcrafted soapbox cars scream down the Mt Tabor Park at crazy speeds and entertaining outfits. To make it food related for you, swing by Coquine on the way for some of their incredible cookies and other picnic snacks to get you satiated while you watch the races.

Bounty of Yamhill County – August 25-27; Yamhill County

This three-day food and wine event in Oregon’s wine country is sure to be a good time. From tastings and dinners at various wineries and farms to a river paddle and vineyard hike, there are events to please everyone. The final event at Sokol Blosser Winery that pairs Yamhill County chefs and farmers sounds like a great way to end the weekend.

Feast Portland – September 14-17; all over town

4 days of food, drinks and celebration. Learn more on many of my previous Feast write ups. 🙂