Summer, Parks, Sun, Fun - 2008
It is so hard to think that school is out and summer fun is set to begin. Nothing but grey, but - come July - all that grey will be worth it, right? Portland summers are gorgeous.
Beyond clear blue skies, sunshine, and temps in the sweet spot of the 70s, Portland has free entertainment and activities throughout the summer months - fun for all ages and in all parts of the city.
- Pools throughout the city will host Fun Days, Itty Bitty Beach Parties, Teen Swim Parties, Parent Appreciation Day (July 19th at All Pools), and Dive-In Movies (featuring the "Bee Movie"). The full schedule here.
- Summer Movies at the Park start mid-July and run into September. Movies start at dusk and happen in parks all throughout the city.
- Traveling Rock Walls - we haven't found too much info about the traveling rock wall, but if it's anything like it sounds, it's bound to be fun for the climb-lovers among us. Looks like the rock wall will make appearances at community centers and parks throughout the city.
- Summer Playgrounds start on June 19th, offering daily drop-in recreation for kids aged 5-12 including games, sports, and arts & crafts at 23 parks throughout the city. Free lunches for kids will be available daily midday at 17 parks.
- Mobile Playgrounds come to a neighborhood near you! Four fun vehicles will circulate throughout town every day of the week. Print out the schedule and keep it handy.
- And, of course, the summer concert schedule 2008 is out. The line up is full with talented performers representing a breath of styles, including the Portland Festival Symphony. We love seeing friends and neighbors at the park, some of whom it seems we only see at the summer concerts.
- Oregon Symphony hosts concerts in the neighborhood, this year in late August at Mt. Scott Park and Tom McCall Waterfront park
- Regal Films offers free movies (rated G and PG) on Tuesday and Wednesdays from July through mid-August. Showtimes are 10am. A movie theater is a great respite from the heat on hot summer days. A complete schedule here: http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx?state=OR
We have other summer favorites, which are not FREE, but still worth the honorable mention:
- Oregon Zoo Concerts - featuring Wednesday night Zoo Tunes (free for Zoo members level "plus" and higher or $10 admission) and "Premium" concerts (running $17-24 admission)
- Kruger's Farm Concerts - happen on Thursdays in July and August from 6:30-9:30pm. Admission is $10 per car and new this year is a $50 season pass.
With all this activity, you wonder: how will I ever keep track? Not to fret our beleoved mamas. The *entire* Summer Concert Series is already on the urbanMamas calendar, and we'll be sure to get up all the aforementioned fun stuffs onto the calendar lickity split. Have some summer fun to add? Email us at urbanMamas@gmail.com and tell us: "Put this on the urbanMamas calendar!"
Thank you! This is our first summer in Portland and we're looking forward to all the fun!
Posted by: Stretch Mark Mama | June 11, 2008 at 04:51 PM
So I am a working mamma trying to find the best park in Portland to play at on the weekend with my 7 month old and posibly have some of our weekend playgroups at. Does anyone have any sugestions? I am looking for a Portland park with Baby swings and a water feature. I recently found out that the city of Portland does not fill the splash pools on the weekend. Is it just me, or does that seem crazy?? It's sad to me that as a working mom I will not be able to take my child to experence the splash pool fun at the Portland parks. :(
Posted by: Mamma Ceri | June 12, 2008 at 12:38 PM
While it is not the best play structure for older kids, you might check out Irving Park in NE Portland. They have baby swings and a water on demand water feature. Most of the parks are going away from wading pools which require a staff person or volunteer to run it and to the water on demand features. The issue is funding the switch.
It would also be great to get a better play structure there - the current ones are very dated and dangerous.
Posted by: Sarah C | June 12, 2008 at 01:19 PM
We forgot to highlight one other fun FREE event going on all summer. Regal Free Family Film Festival presents free movies (rated G and PG) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting July through mid-August. Showtime is 10am. Flicks this summer include Charlotte's Web, Nancy Drew, Bee Movie, Alvin & the Chipmunks.
We've added the movie schedule for the Lloyd theater and the Pioneer Place theater to the urbanMamas calendar. Other participating area theaters are in Gresham, Hillsboro, Oregon City, Tigard, Wilsonville, Sherwood, and Salem.
Check out all the schedules here: http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx?state=OR
Posted by: urbanMamas | June 28, 2008 at 09:43 AM