Oregon loves to do this thing where we think fall will be wet and rainy. But when you bust out your rain jacket and cable-knit sweater, the weather shifts again and hits us with several 80-degree days. It’s a classic Oregon occurrence, and if you’re new to the state, it might take a little while to get used to the cadence. Rest assured, the famous mix of Oregon fog and rain will be the dominant feature in short order. I personally rather like it. I always have. I don’t particularly care for the anxiety of making sure the A/C will kick on soon enough, or needing a fan constantly blowing on me, or resisting turning on the oven.
It’s much more enjoyable to get in my car and have it not feel like an Eastern European sauna. I also love smelling the fresh-baked bread my wife makes without worrying that the oven is also turning up the temperature inside our home.
But it’s not just the changing weather that I love about fall. It’s also because of everything that happens during this time of year. From holidays such as Halloween and Christmas to family outings like pumpkin patches and haunted houses. So many cozy activities are coming up, and I look forward to them every year.
One event that is particularly enjoyable is the Hood River Harvest Festival. Happening this week, from October 9th through the 11th, you will for sure want to bring the entire family out for this one. This isn’t a farmers’ market. This is an all-out event celebrating the fall harvest as we prepare for the colder months. Art vendors, live music, kids’ activities, and so much more will be there.
One cool thing you can find here is their giant pumpkin carving station. I don’t know why I am so fascinated by seeing giant pumpkins, but watching them get sculpted into fun designs adds a whole new level of astonishment.
There will also be plenty of food vendors for when the family gets hungry. Options include MidCity SmashedBurger, Empanadas Maria Elba, and Columbia Gorge Crepes. With so many choices, it will be a challenge to pick just one.
The farmers market portion includes dozens of vendors, from fresh-picked fruits and vegetables to winery and bakery stands.
On Friday, the festival will be open from 1:00pm to 6:00pm. On Saturday, 10:00am to 6:00pm. Sunday, 10:00am to 5:00pm. Tickets are $10 per person, and on Friday they are only $5 for military members and senior citizens. Tickets purchased at the gate are good for that day only. However, if you buy online, one ticket is good for all three days. That’s perfect for anyone who wants to attend the Harvest Festival several times, and it also gives families flexibility in when to go.
The Hood River Harvest Festival is located at Portway Ave, Hood River, OR 97031. This event also offers free parking on a gravel lot right across the street from Portway. For families who want to turn the Harvest Festival into a mini-vacation, you can stay a night or two at one of the nearby hotels. The closest hotel is the Hampton Inn & Suites Hood River, just a short walk from the event.
This Harvest Festival has been held each year for more than 40 years. So not only is this a time-honored, popular community event, but when something has been happening for this long, it usually means they are doing something right. And it’s all happening right along the Hood River waterfront. This perfect location is a great backdrop for a seasonal event many people have attended for years.
I’d also be remiss not to point out that the leaves are finally starting to change color, making this event visually beautiful as well.
Fall is pure family magic. The cooler air invites apple-picking trips, hayrides through local farms, and pumpkin-patch outings where the kids and parents get more pumpkins than they can load in their car. Evenings are filled with cozy hot cocoa and crunchy leaf piles for jumping into. Halloween brings costume creativity and neighborhood strolls, while cooler weekends mean backyard games or movie nights under blankets. The season’s slower pace lets everyone reconnect after busy summers.
I love these simple, joyful moments with my family, and fortunately, many activities match this season. The Hood River Festival is certainly one of them.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His books, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ and ‘Holy Ghost: Decoding Leonardo da Vinci’s Final Painting’ are available wherever books are sold.