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Portland is a fantastic place for great outdoor festivals, farmers markets, and more.
I've had a lot of fun painting at these area festivals and events over the years -- check them out!
These are some of the events I've done in the past. If you're looking to book me for a festival, corporate event, or any other kind of party, check out the parties page. Festivals: Portland Rose Festival - The granddaddy of them all! Three don't-miss weeks in late May/early June with carnival rides, two parades, and more vendors than you can shake a stick at. Dixie Mt Grange Strawberry Festival - This tiny tiny festival has been going for almost 60 years and features the most AMAZING strawberry shortcakes with fresh local strawberries. Father's Day weekend, in the hills west of Cornelius Pass. Clackamas County Lavender Festival - Set on a lovely farm with a three-mountain view. Pick lavender, eat lavender cookies, and listen to music. There's wine tasting for the adults and a multi-level wading pool for the kids. Late June. Waterfront Blues Festival - A fundraiser for the Oregon Food Bank and the best blues this side of New Orleans. Independence Day weekend in Portland, with spectacular fireworks on July 4th. Faerieworlds - Celebrate the magic of the puppet artists Brian and Wendy Froud...and come dressed in your best fairy wings! Everyone else does! Early August in Eugene. North Plains Elephant Garlic Festival - If you love garlic, this is the place. Garlic pizza, garlic beer, and even garlic ice cream. Besides the food, this festival is strong in arts and crafts from local artisans -- nothing mass-made here. Early August. Seattle Swashbucklers Pirate Festival - This festival ran in 2006 and 2007, and centered around the actual pirate ship from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It featured fancy (and technically correct!) fighting from the Seattle Swashbucklers. Local Attractions and Events: Oregon Zoo - The zoo! I painted here for a couple summers, by the elephants. They have lots of special kid-oriented days (like Elephantastic and Rabbit Romp), classes, and learning activities. The MAX goes right to the zoo (and the Children's Museum, and the Arboretum), and you should take it. Beaverton Farmers Market - It's big and full of tasty local berries, vegetables, bread, plants, and more. And it's right next to the shiny Beaverton library, as well as a park with water feature for the kids. Forest Grove Farmers Market - Lovely local market in downtown Forest Grove, and it supports small businesses and sustainable farming. New Seasons - Fantastic local grocery stores full of local and organic produce. I've painted for the Concordia store, but I'm dying to collect the whole set. Bullwinkle's Family Fun Center - Enormous entertainment place in Wilsonville -- besides the arcades and pizza, there's also bumper boats, go-karts, a rock climbing wall, and more! Oregon SMART program - Interested in volunteering at a nearby grade school with kids who need a little help loving books? Check out this great program. I volunteered for four years here as a reader, as well as painting for them. Sherwood Cat Adoption Team - A hard-working, dedicated, no-kill cat shelter with great facilities. New kittens are kept with foster parents until they're adopted, and adult cats that can get along with other adult cats get to live in rooms full of toys and things to climb. Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District - Classes, tennis courts, swimming pools...and every summer they put on a series of free park concerts with face painting for the kids. This is my local Parks & Rec, and I help out by training their face painting volunteers. Schools: Hiteon Elementary Sunnyside Elementary William Walker Elementary Yankton Arthur Academy Face Painting Friends: New Orleans, LA - Irina's Mardi Gras Face Painting Boulder, CO - Boulder Face Painter  I painted this at the Sherwood CAT facility. They do great work taking care of, fostering, and adopting out cats to good homes! 
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