What to do in Oregon This April

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With the calendar having officially flipped over to spring, it’s time for the weather to start warming, which means that there’s no shortage of interesting events going on across the state of Oregon.

Your Oregon RV will travel, after all. So for you adventurous RV owners looking to head out on the road and experience the sights, sounds and culture that make Oregon great, here are a few of the top events going on this April.

Portland Annual Spring Beer & Wine FestApril 3-4, 2015ThinkstockPhotos-184675446

This annual event ranks as the country’s largest “Springtime” beer and wine fest, and is held annually around Easter at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Come expand your taste buds’ horizons by sampling a wide variety of beverages from handcrafted cider and beer to wine, mead and distilled spirits. The event also includes live music, gourmet food stands, and a Chef’s Seminar Stage that offers tips from professional chefs and wine experts on the best ways to train your palette.

Location:

Oregon Convention Center

777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.

Portland, OR

Ashland Independent Film FestApril 9-13, 2015ThinkstockPhotos-115815181

This five-day film festival is hosted by the Southern Oregon Film Society and features the best films from independent cinema around the world. Many of the filmmakers behind the shorts, features, and documentaries presented at the festival will be in attendance to answer questions from the audience after each showing. The festival begins with an Opening Nigh Bash and ends with an Awards Celebration party that includes gourmet food, beer and local wine.

Location:

The Varsity Theatre

166 E Main St.

Ashland, OR

Annual Hood River Valley Blossom Festival – April 11-26, 2015ThinkstockPhotos-177309574

Welcome the arrival of Spring in the Hood River Valley! While touring the orchards is the primary pastime at the Blossom Festival, there are many more activities to engage in after you’ve admired the top attraction. Other events include the Blossom Fest Craft Show, Blossom Fest Quilt Show, a farm “pansy party,” a fire department all-you-can-eat dinner, and a grange blossom dinner. Visitors to the area can also stop at a number of wine and beer tasting events that take place throughout the Gorge during the time of the festival.

Location:

Events located throughout the Hood River Valley. Consult the Blossom Event Calendar for a complete list of locations and events.

Dundee Hills Passport Tour – April 18, 2015ThinkstockPhotos-187841879

Uncover the back roads of one of Oregon’s’ most renowned wine growing regions by participating in this year’s Dundee Hills Passport Tour. Over 25 of the area’s best wineries will open their doors and cellars to visitors over the weekend. You can also attend lectures from the experts about the region’s red volcanic soil, unique climate, geology, and earth-friendly farming practices that make the Dundee appellation so great.

Location:

Participating tasting rooms, wineries, and vineyards in the Dundee region of Oregon wine country.

Astoria Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival – April 24-25, 2015ThinkstockPhotos-510905379

You’ll have a chance to enjoy some of the Pacific Northwest’s best cuisine, arts and crafts, local wineries, beer and entertainment at Astoria’s annual seafood and wine festival. The Rotary Club of Astoria will be severing its traditional crab dinner all weekend long in the exhibition hall, which will also feature live music.

Location:

Clatsop County Fairgrounds

Astoria, OR

Annual Bend Earth Day Fair & Parade – April 25, 2015ThinkstockPhotos-482365943

The Bend Earth Day Fair is a day to celebrate Mother Nature. The Environmental Center hosts this annual celebration every spring as part of the organization’s commitment to both the community and conservation. A creative and colorful parade full of kids and adults wearing costumes of their favorite animal species starts off the day’s festivities. Other events include art, live music, interactive displays, performances, and a number of hands-on activities for nature lovers of all ages.

Location:

Downtown Bend on Kansas Ave. in front of The Environmental Center