This week includes a basketful of key events including Portland’s Pride Festival, Cathedral Park Jazz Fest, and the kickoff of the Washington County Fair – by far the biggest county fair in the metro area. We’ve also got a few stage plays and dance performance. And many of this week’s highlight events are free or low-cost! Score.
“Bonnie and Clyde: The Musical”
A musical stage play about crime and ill-fated love during the depression? Sure! Bridgetown Conservatory of Musical Theatre offers this rousing story of the folk heroes of the Great Depression. The non-traditional score combines rockabilly, blues and gospel music. It debuted on Broadway in 2011 and has been nominated for Tony Awards. Seating is limited.
Opens 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17, and continues 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through July 27, Black Box Theatre, 711 S.W. 14th Ave.; tickets $38; simpletix.com/e/bonnie-clyde.
Cathedral Park Jazz Festival
The Jazz Society of Oregon hosts the great names in local jazz for 45 years and won’t be stopping any time soon. Enjoy all the music you love under an open sky in Portland’s lovely Cathedral Park. This year’s schedule includes NW Women Rhythm & Blues, The Yachtsmen with SoulVax Horns, and a Sunday night tribute to Carlton Jackson featuring the Carlton Jackson/Dave Mills Big-Band and special guest Curtis Salgado. Bring a low chair or a blanket, and plenty of sunscreen. Vendors will offer food and drinks. Alcohol can only be consumed in the beer and wine garden.
Music kicks off 4:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday and continues into the evening, July 18-20, Cathedral Park, 8706 N. Bradford St.; free; jazzoregon.org.
Pride Play Festival
Third Eye Theatre is producing a weekend festival featuring eight staged readings written by local playwrights from comedies to dramas. Area actors perform the depth and breadth of the queer experience in honor of Pride.
7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, July 18-20, Coho Theater, 2257 N.W. Raleigh St.; tickets are pay-what-you-will with $20 suggested at the door; m.facebook.com/ThirdEyeTheatre.
Washington County Fair
It’s been 20 years that this county fair offered free admission to all. This year’s entertainment schedule includes live music and family entertainment daily, as well as carnival rides, 4H displays, livestock barns open to the public, and more. Get your corndog-loving heart to a county fair this year.
Gates open 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. weekends Friday July 18 through Sunday, July 27 Westside Commons 801 N.E. 34th Ave., Hillsboro; free admission; bigfairfun.com.
Sherwood Robin Hood Festival
Looking for some summer fun with a Medieval flare? This is your weekend. The annual Robin Hood Festival offers a professional archery tournament, live music, stage shows, the traditional summer Community Parade (10 a.m. Saturday, July 19) and the Sylvan Archers’ International Archery Tournament. As always, expect plenty of food booths (including whole barbecued turkey legs), a Maid Marian contest, and more.
Various times Friday-Sunday July 18-20 throughout Sherwood; free admission; robinhoodfestival.org
BodyVox Pride Open Floor Night
This month’s open floor night is dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community and will focus on Pride. Bring a date or come alone to see works in progress by artists of all disciplines.
7 p.m. performance (signups required in advance) 8 p.m. Dance Party, Friday, July 18, BodyVox Dance Center, 1201 N.W. 17th Ave.; free admission; bodyvox.org/open-floor-nights.
Scooped! Ice Cream Festival
Could you sample 50 types of ice cream in one day? If so, this is the festival for you. Vancouver’s Esther Short Park hosts a day celebrating ice cream from local and national brands. From vanilla to vegan alternatives, you can try them all. The festival also offers live music, interactive displays, live mural painting, games and family fun.
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, July 19-20,Esther Short Park, 605 Esther St., Vancouver; admission is required in advance $25-$35 depending on purchase date, ages 5 and younger are free with paying adult; ScoopedIceCream.com
Ten Tiny Dances
This annual Beaverton performance festival offers 10 works confined to a 4X4-foot stage. Expect the unexpected as artists take their big works and shrink them down to something unusual. Held outdoors, be sure to bring a low-backed chair or blanket to sit on. Scheduled performer list is available at the website.
7 p.m. Saturday, July 19, The Round, 12600 S.W. Crescent St., Beaverton; free admission; beavertonoregon.gov.
Portland Pride Festival and Parade
Organizers say Portland’s festival is one of the largest donation-based Pride Festivals in the United States. And while a donation of $10 is requested at the gate, no one is turned away due to lack of funds. The Waterfront Festival will offer vendors and live entertainment as well as a welcoming atmosphere for all community members. The parade is Sunday morning beginning in the north Park Blocks and ending on Southwest Naito Parkway.
Various times Saturday-Sunday, July 19-20, with parade kicking off at 11 a.m. Sunday, Tom McCall Waterfront Park. $10 donation suggested; portlandpride.org.
La Strada Chalk Art Festival
The annual chalk art festival takes over the streets of Downtown Hillsboro in July offering stunning works by professional artist who are only using a bucket of colorful chalk and a chunk of sidewalk. There will even be space for visitors to try their hand at it. Also enjoy live performances, dance groups, demonstrations, kids’ activities and food sales.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, July 19-20, Downtown Hillsboro in the Cultural Arts District; free admission; tvcreates.org.
BOYurism – Pride Spectacular
This explosion of queer creativity takes place during Portland’s biggest Pride weekend. Come experience duo IZOHNNY, featuring Isaiah Esquire and Johnny Nuriel. Their high-impact performances combine elements of drag, burlesque, circus and dance. Other performers include Trinity K. Bonet and Lawanda Jackson.
8 p.m. Saturday, July 19, Alberta Rose Theater, 3000 N.E. Alberta St.; tickets start at $42; etix.com/ticket.
– If you have events you’d like to see highlighted at OregonLive.com or in the weekly printed A&E section of The Oregonian, please email submissions to [email protected] at least three weeks prior to the start of your event. Digital images or links to videos are helpful.
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