Winter Festivals in Oregon

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written by Bronte Dod | photo courtesy of Oregon Winterfest 


December 12 | Central Oregon Winter Beer Fest

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Goodlife Brewing Co.

This will be the third year of the Central Oregon Winter Beer Fest in Bend. This one-day event is held on the second Saturday of December at the GoodLife Biergarten and will feature winter brews—mostly porters, stouts and ales—as well as local food carts. Admission is $10, and you receive a tasting glass you can keep as well as four drink tickets. Extra tickets are $1. Last year’s festival featured twenty-two breweries from across the state.

oregoncraftbeer.org

 

Through January 1 | Festival of Lights

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Did you know Oregon is home to the world’s largest Nutcracker? You can see it in Roseburg through January 1 at the annual Festival of Lights & Holiday Village. The holiday event showcases animated light displays. There will also be wagon rides and a holiday village to stroll through with arts and crafts, warm drinks and treats.

umpquavalleyfestivaloflights.com

 

January 16-17 Winter Music Festival

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The Shook Twins

For two days, the Winter Music Festival in Florence will bring twelve contemporary folk, bluegrass and Americana bands to the coast. Headlining the event this year are the folk band The Shook Twins from Portland and solo folk artist Jonathan Edwards. An artisan fair featuring local, handcrafted work is free to attend. Day-passes start at $12.50, or you can buy a $45 pass for the entire weekend.

wintermusicfestival.org

 

January 16-17 The Joriad | January 22-24 Newberg & Yamhill | January 29-31 Eugene | Oregon Truffle Festival

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Photo by John Valls

 

Now in its eleventh year, the annual Oregon Truffle Festival is a fantastic culinary event in the Pacific Northwest. Attendees not only have the opportunity to taste culinary dishes made with truffles by renowned chefs, but also to practice the best techniques forage for wild truffles in the Willamette Valley, which is known as one of the best places in the world for finding truffles. Tickets can be purchased for individual events or dinners.

oregontrufflefestival.com

 

February 5-6 | Portland Seafood and Wine Festival

If you can’t make it to the coast this winter, Portland is hosting its annual Seafood and Wine Festival at the height of Dungeness crab season. The three-day family event held at the Portland Convention Center features the best seafood from Oregon’s coast. Adults can pair their food with selections of Oregon’s best wineries and breweries.

pdxseafoodandwinefestival.com

 

February 11-14 | Winter Wings Festival

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The Winter Wings Festival held in the Klamath River Basin is the event for aspiring ornithologists. At the festival, learn about the variety of birds that migrate through the region each year, as well as the efforts being done to save this habitat. For forty years, bird watchers have been drawn to the festival for the opportunity to witness the diversity of birds that come to region. For photographers, the location provides a rare opportunity to capture photographs of these birds in the wildlife refuge or in flight. There will be lectures from keynote speakers as well as guided tours to view the birds. Activities begin at $15. For more information about this event, read our feature from the November/December issue of 1859.

winterwingsfest.org

 

February 11-27 | Portland International Film Festival

More than 140 short and feature-length films will be premiering at the Portland Film Festival this year. The event draws tens of thousands of film buffs and novices to the city. For two weeks, the festival screens international films at locations across Portland. The festival is produced by the nwFilmCenter. Tickets for individual films begin at $10 for adults and $7 for children.

nwfilm.org

 

February 12-14 | Oregon Winterfest

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Oregon Winterfest brings the community outside for a winter festival in Bend. Now in its fourth year, the festival features live music, performances and an arts and crafts marketplace from local vendors. Food carts and craft beer will also be available to purchase. Held along the banks of the Deschutes River, there will also be a competition to create the best firepit. Throughout the weekend, ice carving shows and competitions will take place. Families have the opportunity to take a picture with the Fire King and Ice Queen, and OMSI is hosting an activities center for kids. Tickets start at $10 for general admission, and individual tickets for special events can be purchased.

oregonwinterfest.com

 

February 19-28 | Portland Jazz Festival

Between February 19 and 28, the Portland Jazz Festival will host more than 100 events at a dozen venues across the city. The festival celebrates the history of jazz in Portland the Pacific Northwest. There will be performances from national jazz musicians as well as local artists. Each performance is individually priced. More information and a full list of performances can be found on their website.

pdxjazz.com

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