When to Go

February

The Portland International Film Festival, Portland. Although not one of the country's top film festivals, plenty of interesting foreign films and documentaries are shown. Screenings are held at various theaters around the city. tel. 503/221-1156; www.nwfilm.org. Last 2 weeks of February.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland. The repertory company features about a dozen plays -- some by Shakespeare and others by classical and contemporary playwrights -- in four theaters. tel. 541/482-4331; www.osfashland.org. February through October.

Newport Seafood and Wine Festival, Newport. Taste local seafood dishes and wines while shopping for art. tel. 800/262-7844 or 541/265-8801; www.newportchamber.org/swf. Last full weekend in February.

March

Oregon Dune Mushers' Mail Run, Florence. Think dogs pulling wheeled sleds over the sand of the Florence coastline. This endurance run commemorates routes used before roads were constructed. www.oregondunemushers.com. First weekend in March.

Tulip Festival, Woodburn. Bold swaths of color paint the landscape at the Wooden Shoe Bulb Company's annual celebration of tulips. tel. 800/711-2006 or 503/634-2243; www.woodenshoe.com. Late March to late April.

April

Hood River Valley Blossom Festival, Hood River. Celebrates the blossoming of the orchards outside the town of Hood River. tel. 800/366-3530 or 541/386-2000; www.hoodriver.org. Third weekend in April.

May

Mother's Day Rhododendron Show, Portland. At Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, blooming rhododendrons and azaleas transform the tranquil garden into a mass of blazing color. tel. 503/771-8386. Mother's Day.

Memorial Day Wine Tastings, throughout the wine country surrounding Portland. This is one of two weekends celebrated by Willamette Valley wineries with special tastings and events. Many wineries not usually open to the public open on this weekend. tel. 503/646-2985; www.willamettewines.com. Memorial Day weekend.

Boatnik, Grants Pass. Jet boats and hydroplanes race on the Rogue River. There's also a parade and carnival. tel. 800/547-5927; www.boatnik.com. Memorial Day weekend.

June

Cannon Beach Sand Castle Festival, Cannon Beach. Artistic sand-sculpted creations are created along the beach. tel. 503/436-2623; www.cannonbeach.org. Early June.

Sisters Rodeo and Parade, Sisters. A celebration of the West in this duded-up Western-theme town near Bend. tel. 800/827-7522 or 541/549-0121; www.sistersrodeo.com. Second weekend of June.

Portland Rose Festival. From its beginnings back in 1888, the Rose Festival has blossomed into Portland's biggest celebration. The festivities now span nearly a month and include the nation's second-largest all-floral parade, rose queen contest, music festival, art festival, and dragon-boat races. Contact the Portland Rose Festival Association (tel. 503/227-2681; www.rosefestival.org) for tickets and information. Most of the events (some of which are free) take place during the middle 2 weeks of June, and hotel rooms can be hard to come by, so plan ahead.

Britt Festivals, Jacksonville. Performing arts festival with world-class jazz, pop, classical, folk, and country music, plus dance and musical theater performances in a beautiful natural setting. tel. 800/882-7488 or 541/773-6077; www.brittfest.org. June through September.

Oregon Bach Festival, Eugene. One of the biggest Bach festivals in the country. Tickets go on sale in mid-March. tel. 800/457-1486 or 541/682-5000; www.bachfest.uoregon.edu. Late June to early July.

July

Fourth of July Fireworks, Vancouver, Washington. Vancouver, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area, hosts the biggest fireworks display west of the Mississippi. tel. 877/600-0800 or 360/750-1553. July 4.

Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland. This is Portland's biggest summer party and takes place in Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Expect lots of big names in blues. tel. 503/973-FEST; www.waterfrontbluesfest.com. Fourth of July weekend.

Oregon Country Fair, Eugene. Counterculture craft fair and festival for Deadheads young and old. tel. 800/992-8499 or 541/343-4298; www.oregoncountryfair.org. Second weekend in July.

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, Sisters. During the largest outdoor quilt show in the country, the entire town gets decked out in colorful handmade quilts. tel. 541/549-6061; www.stitchinpost.com. Second Saturday of July.

Da Vinci Days, Corvallis. Three-day celebration of science and technology with performances, art, interactive exhibits, children's activities, food, and wine. tel. 541/757-6363; www.davinci-days.org. Mid-July.

Salem Arts Festival, Salem. The largest juried art fair in Oregon, under the trees in Bush Park, with musical entertainment and food booths. tel. 503/581-2228; www.salemart.org. Third weekend in July.

Oregon Brewers Festival, Tom McCall Waterfront Park. One of the country's largest festivals of independent craft brewers features lots of local and international microbrews and music. tel. 503/778-5917; www.oregonbrewfest.com. Last weekend in July.

August

Mount Hood Jazz Festival, Gresham (less than 30 min. from Portland). For the jazz fan, this is the most important festival of the summer. tel. 503/491-5950; www.mthoodjazz.com. Early August.

Oregon State Fair, Salem. A typical agricultural state fair. tel. 503/947-3247; www.oregonstatefair.org. The 12 days before and including Labor Day.

Cascade Festival of Music, Bend. Classical and world music in a park setting. tel. 541/382-8381; www.cascademusic.org. Last week in August.

September

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest, Mount Angel. Biergarten, Bavarian-style oompah bands, food booths. tel. 503/845-9440; www.oktoberfest.org. Second weekend after Labor Day.

Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire, Kings Valley (near Corvallis). Go back 500 years to celebrate the age of Elizabeth I and Shakespeare with jousting and period costumes in an Elizabethan village. tel. 541/929-4897; www.shrewfaire.com. Second weekend of September.

Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Pageant, Pendleton. Rodeo, Native American pageant, country-music concert. tel. 800/457-6336 or 541/276-2553; www.pendletonroundup.com. Mid-September.

Bandon Cranberry Festival, Bandon. Cranberry bog tours, arts and crafts. tel. 541/347-9616. Mid-September.

Eugene Celebration, Eugene. Street party celebrating the diversity of the community. Festivities include the crowning of the Slug Queen. tel. 541/681-4108; www.eugenecelebration.com. Late September to early October.

October

Hood River Valley Harvest Fest, Hood River. At the Hood River Expo Center, enjoy fruit products of the region, crafts, and entertainment; drive the Fruit Loop to visit farm stands and wineries. tel. 800/366-3530 or 541/386-2000; www.hoodriver.org. Third weekend in October.

Fall Kite Festival, Lincoln City. Kite carnival including a wide and wild variety of kites, from indoor kites to giant kites. tel. 800/452-2151; www.oregoncoast.org. Early October.

November

Stormy Weather Arts Festival, Cannon Beach. Celebration of the rainy season features lots of live music, a gallery walk, and a quick-draw art event in which artists have 1 hour to paint a picture. tel. 503/436-2623. www.cannonbeach.org. First weekend in November.

Wine Country Thanksgiving, Willamette Valley. About 30 miles outside of Portland, more than two dozen wineries open their doors for tastings of new releases, usually with food and live music. tel. 503/646-2985; www.willamettewines.com. Thanksgiving weekend.

Holiday Lights and Open House at Shore Acres State Park, Charleston. Extravagantly decorated gardens near dramatic cliffs at the Oregon coast. tel. 541/888-4902. Thanksgiving to early January.

December

Holiday Festival of Lights, Ashland. Thousands of lights decorate the town. tel. 541/482-3486; www.ashlandchamber.com. Month of December.

Holiday Parade of Ships, Willamette and Columbia rivers. Boats decked out in fanciful holiday lights parade and circle on the rivers after nightfall. www.christmasships.org. Mid-December.