E is for endless free or cheap entertainment (Portlandia from A to Z)

Some of my fondest memories from childhood are going to see free concerts, operas, and plays at the beloved Washington Park Ampitheater, which looks out over downtown Portland. We would pack up a picnic and go early to get a great spot that offered a fine view of the performances. When I was young, we relied on my dad's income as a teacher and later as a school social worker, so free was always attractive! It seemed that Washington Park hosted these free events all summer long. Now they host free events for 10 days in the summer. Our drama kids enjoy the plays the most.

Seeing Charlie & the Chocolate Factory at Washington Park in 2008

Our kids and their friends at the play

With Charlie himself after the play
 (sadly, this local actor passed away)

Here are some of the plentiful free or inexpensive events in Portland, especially in the spring and summer:

• Local art walks (discussed in A is for art and crafts)
• Neighborhood festivals and street fairs (Mississippi, Good in the Neighborhood, Division & Clinton, Fremont, Alberta, Hawthorne, Belmont, or our local--Multnomah Days!)
• Concerts in multiple parks across the city
• Movies in the parks
• Shakespeare in the Park (between the Portland Actors Ensemble and the Ops Fest, you could watch Shakespeare every weekend!)
• Trek in the Park (which, sadly for Trekkies, ended last year after a five-year run)
• Inexpensive festivals at Waterfront Park (Cinco de Mayo, the Bite, etc.)
• Festivals and events in Pioneer Square (such as Festa Italia, the Indian festival, Sand in the City, the flower festival, Flicks on the Bricks, etc.)
• Oktoberfest (celebrated in many places around the city)
• Multnomah County Fair at Oaks Park
• Summer concerts at other venues such as Tryon Creek State Park

Multnomah Days, 2010

My favorite memory of a free event in recent years was last year, when Portland-based band Pink Martini offered a free singalong and concert in Pioneer Square on a sunny April day (rare in Portland!). The square was packed to overflowing, and it was exhilarating to be singing with such a fantastic band and thousands of my fellow Portlanders. It was a quintessential Portland experience. I absolutely loved it! 

The phenomenal China Forbes, Storm Large, and former governor Barbara Roberts

Such a great time!

Singalong in Portland's living room

Read my other A to Z posts here, and stay tuned for Monday (Sunday's a day off): forests and foodies!