Don’t blink! August in Oregon is packed!
If you thought the summer was winding down, Oregon’s arts and culture community has other ideas. August brings everything from world-class chamber music on the coast to a poetry slam in Portland, a celebration of a beloved Twin Peaks icon at the World Forestry Center, and historic aircraft in Salem. There’s even a little Jaws chaos at a Eugene theater, just in time for the season to close out in style. This is your last full month of summer. Make it count.
Are you a CACO supporter with events to share? We’d love to include you in a future issue. Reach out to Marie Gettel-Gilmartin to be considered for a possible September or holiday events issue.
8/6-29: Summer Free for All concerts and movies in the park across Portland, including the Washington Park Summer Festival from 8/8-9, Portland Parks & Recreation
8/7: First Friday Arts Walk, Lane Arts Council, Eugene
8/7-23: “I Hate Hamlet,” Cottage Theatre, a hilarious send-up of actors, ambition, and the Bard, Cottage Grove
8/9: Clash of the Bands, Portland vs. Vancouver, Friends of Noise, Portland
8/11 and 8/25: Music at the Mill, Water Street Project and PDX Preachers, Willamette Heritage Center, Salem
8/12-22, “Beyond the Sea: Crosscurrents and Convergences,” The Shedd, Eugene, their 35th annual Oregon Festival of American Music exploring American musical crosscurrents and convergences, with 8 concerts, the Jazz Party, talks, films, and 2 community singalongs!
8/13-23: Siletz Bay Music Festival, Lincoln City Cultural Center, uplifting, world-class concert music on Oregon’s beautiful central coast
8/17: Art Exploration Camp for Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Eugene
8/17-21: Arts Ahoy! Summer camp and other summer activities, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria
8/18-24: Flying Legends Tour, B-17 Alliance Foundation, Salem, hosting historic aircraft, classic car cruise-ins, and live entertainment that celebrates the American spirit
8/20: Slamlandia, Literary Arts, Portland, a poetry open mic and slam providing a creative, fun, and welcoming space for all
8/22: Musical Playground, Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton, a FREE, fun, interactive event for families with children ages 10 and under where participants can explore music and instruments from around the world
8/22: High Desert Rendezvous, High Desert Museum, Bend, the museum’s signature fundraiser
8/23: Log Lady Day, World Forestry Center, Portland, a celebration honoring the iconic Log Lady and the life and legacy of Catherine E. Coulson from Twin Peaks
8/27: Talking About Values Across Political Divides, Oregon Humanities, online and free
8/28-9/13, “The Shark Is Broken,” Very Little Theatre, Eugene, reveals the chaos behind the scenes, friction, and mechanical failures during the filming of Jaws
All summer:
“Beyond 250: Conversations about Democracy and Community,” presented by Oregon Humanities across the state, inspired by the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Join your neighbors to dig into questions such as, “what does it mean to be American?” “who are ‘we the people’?” and “are we created equal? Find a conversation near you
Kickstand Comedy in the Park, free comedy in Laurelhurst Park every Friday from June 5 to September 4
Britt Music Festival in Jacksonville, featuring diverse events such as Star Wars: the Empire Strikes Back concert, Holst, Dvorak, Mozart, Beethoven, Elle King, David Lee Roth, Young the Giant, Ani DiFranco, Modest Mouse, Portugal.The Man, Alison Krauss, Los Lobos, Pink Martini, Jim Gaffigan, Chicago, and kids’ concerts
Art in the Parks sponsored by the City of Eugene Cultural Services, featuring Ambient Music in the Park, Gilbert Park Community Days, a Juneteenth Celebration, free summer concert and outdoor fun, Oregon Asian Celebration, The Winter’s Tale, Axé Samba Festival, and Oregon Aloha Festival
Events at the Elsinore Theatre in Salem: Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin and Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery
A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Come from Away, A Raisin in the Sun, Yellow Face, and Henry IV, Part 1 at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland
Movies at Portland Art Museum’s PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (The Seeds of Peace, The Remains of the Day, Cat Video Fest 2026, Wild, Mary Oliver, Heathers, Desert Hearts, Drugstore Cowboy, etc.)