It’s peak festival time with so many family-centered events to choose from you may have some difficulty deciding. From celebrations of the summer solstice and art, to classic cars and cultural fairs, we’ve got a lot of choices this weekend.
Looking for Juneteenth events? See our guide to events across Oregon.
Maryhill Museum’s tribute to Stonehenge will host a Summer Solstice party this weekend.Image courtesy of Maryhill Museum
Summer Solstice events
This year’s summer solstice occurs on the evening of Friday, June 20. During summer solstice, the earth’s axis is tilted at its closest point from the sun, meaning that (in the Northern Hemisphere,) the sun is at its highest point in the sky. It’s also the day of the year with the earliest sunrise and the latest sunset.
Maryhill Museum of Art announced it will host its first overnight Summer Solstice Celebration at the Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial Monument in Goldendale, Washington, beginning Friday afternoon and running through 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20-21. That’s right, you can stay overnight! Enjoy family-centered activities besides the campout. Campers can do crafts, listen to music and live storytelling, meditate, and just enjoy the visual splendor of the Columbia River Gorge. The event ends with a sunrise ceremony at the Stonehenge Memorial. Check the website for camping reservations and info on the schedule. Tickets must be purchased on the website before midnight Thursday, June 19.
4 p.m. Friday through 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20-21, Maryhill Museum, 35 Maryhill Museum Drive, Goldendale, Washington; fees are $120 for a campsite for four people; altru118166.sky.blackbaud.com.
If you’d like to celebrate the solstice a bit closer to the metro area, Fort Vancouver offers solstice-themed poetry, gentle yoga, craft activities and more Friday evening. Bring a mat if you’re doing yoga. 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, O.O. Howard House, on the fort grounds, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver; free; thehistorictrust.org
Vancouver also hosts a Summer Solstice Native Arts Market featuring rich Indigenous art forms including music, storytelling and visual arts. Shop from more than 15 Native artist and makers. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 21, Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver; free admission; cchmuseum.org
A hot air balloon floats over Cook Park at the Festival of Balloons in Tigard in 2022. Oregonian file photo. MJ Johnson/The Oregonian
Tigard Festival of Balloons
If you can’t get up early enough for the highlight morning hot air balloon launches (weather permitting, and totally worth the early wakeup), there will still be live music, vendors, a car show (Sunday only), pancake breakfast, carnival rides and games, a beer garden, and the popular night glows (also weather permitting). Remember that parking and admission must be paid by debit or credit card only in advance. No cash accepted.
Balloon launches start about 5:30 a.m. each day. Carnival opens 10 a.m. and most events continue through about 11 p.m. Friday-Sunday, June 20-22; Cook Park, 8680 S.W. Durham Road, Tigard; admission $15 is good for all three days; tigardballoon.org.
Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts
The festival’s 2025 featured exhibit is all about stop-motion animation and will show works by local favorites including Laika Studios, Shadowmachine, and Tippit Studio. The festival takes place in two Lake Oswego venues; Lakewood Center for the Arts, and in George Rogers Park. Expect art displays, vendors, live music, food court, beer and wine tent, and a youth art exhibit.
Hours are generally 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday, June 20-22, with some events lasting into the evening, Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State St., and in George Rogers Park, 611 S. State St.; free admission; lakewood-center.org/festival-of-the-arts.
Tualatin River Discovery Day
All levels of paddlers are welcome to join in this 3.8-mile trek on the Tualatin River. The group event starts at King City Community Park and ends at Tualatin Community Park. Up to 150 paddlers are expected to join in and explore a section of river, renewing support of the Tualatin Riverkeepers work to protect and restore the watershed. Bring your own kayak or canoe. Some rentals are also available. Park at Tualatin Community Park and take the shuttle to King City. This event normally sells out.
8:30 a.m. launch Saturday, June 21, meet at 8515 S.W. Tualatin Road prior to launch to take the shuttle; tualatinriverkeepers.org/events/tualatin-river-discovery-day.
2025 Cruisin’ Sherwood
Stroll the streets of historic Old Town Sherwood while checking out more than 100 show cars. There will also be vendors, a kids zone, live music, and beer garden. Non-show cars must park outside of the blocked street zones. Be ready for some walking.
9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, June 21, Old Town Sherwood; Sherwoodchamber.com
Make Music Day
This global phenomenon, celebrated by millions of people in more than 2,000 cities worldwide, is a day where anyone can participate in free, live music-making events, whether it’s playing instruments, singing, or simply enjoying the music. It’s a day open to all ages and skill levels.
Oregon locations hosting an event this year include Salem, McMinnville, Eugene and Clatsop County. Visit the website for details and locations. Various times Saturday, June 21; makemusicday.org .
Summer Story Fest
Outlet PDX and the Honeyed Words Bookstore offer a free summer celebration of storytelling that brings together 45 zinesters, authors, and other artists. Wander through several drop-in workshops, a queer and trans bookstore, tattoo flash event, and zine and button making activities. There will also be live music from the Portland Songwriters Guild.
Noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 21-22, at 2500 N.E. Sandy Blvd.; free; sonnyshouse.com/pages/summer-story-fest.
Portland Thai Festival
Celebrate Thai culture, community, and cuisine outside at The Yard Apartments. Festival highlights include traditional Thai dance performances, Muay Thai boxing demos, live music, yummy foods from local vendors, and a vendor marketplace.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 21-22, Yard Apartments, 33 N.E. Third Ave.; free admission; Portland Thai Festival 2025.
Sample McMenamins brews and listen to live music during the Edgefield Brewfest.Photo by Patrick Chapman
Annual Edgefield Brewfest
All ages are welcome to this annual McMenamins event (21 and older to sample brews). Celebrate all things hoppy, malty, fruity and delicious while you listen to live music from tribute bands from noon to 7 p.m. Bring a blanket, the family, even well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Noon-7 p.m. Saturday, June 21, Edgefield, 2126 S.W. Halsey St., Troutdale; $33 advance admission includes 10 drink tokens, non-drinking minors are $5 and get a token for one non-alcoholic beverage; mcmenamins.com/events.
Oregon Mandolin Orchestra’s “Summer in Paris” concerts
Listen as the nearly 25-member mandolin orchestra celebrates French composers from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Choose from two live performances or get the link to watch virtually.
3 p.m. Saturday, June 21, First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St., Vancouver, and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 22, St. Barnabas Church, 2201 S.W. Vermont St.; tickets $10-$15; oregonmandolinorchestra.org
The Rose Festival’s Milk Carton Boat Race celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. Oregonian file photo.
Milk Carton Boat Race
The final event of this year’s Rose Festival is the quirky family fun of the milk carton boat races. Some families have made this event a tradition passed down for generations. Beside cheering on your favorite racer, families are invited to play tag, Simon Says and other fun games on the ground of Westmorland Park.
Racing starts at noon Sunday, June 22, Westmorland Casting Pond, 7530 S.E. 22nd Ave.; free admission; royalrosarians.com/2025-milk-carton-boat-race.
The annual Latino Cultural Festival happens this weekend in Hillsboro. Oregonian file photo. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Latino Cultural Festival
The Hillsboro Hops baseball team hosts this annual festival that features culturally rich connections with the community. Enjoy a colorful parade with dancers and musicians, area youth performers, food vendors, an art village, and futsal tournament boasting more than 200 players. Last year’s event attracted about 10,000 attendees.
Noon-7 p.m. Sunday, June 22, Ron Tonkin Field, 4460 N.E. Century Blvd, Hillsboro; free parking and admission; washingtoncountychamberor.com.
Solar Punk Film Festival
Bridge City Media offers an afternoon of films that showcase stories of paths to a “better tomorrow.” Explore themes of environmental technology, creative community-building, sustainable futures that come from artists hoping to inspire collective action. There are two showtimes. After the second, there will be an announcement of the winning film and open space for attendees to mingle with Portland creatives.
3 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22, The Redd on Salmon, 831 S.E. Salmon St.; admission $13; bridgecitymedia.com/solarpunk.
— 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 events@oregonian.com at least three weeks prior to the start of your event. Digital images or links to videos are helpful.