Portland and Vancouver Parks Offer Free Summer Playgrounds, Concerts and Movies

PHOTO: Still from White Wedding, one of the Movies in the Park

PORTLAND

This summer Portland Parks and Recreation is offering even more fun activities for children adults and, families at parks and community centers across the city.

The Summer Playground program offers all kinds of play activities and free lunches to children in 23 parks in North and Northeast Portland, 21 parks in Southeast Portland and 6 parks in West Portland.  The lunch program runs until August 22. Children can swim for free at eight outdoor pools during the Open Play Swims. And Portland Parks also has a scholarship program that offers free lessons to families on low incomes.

The Movies in the Park program offers a selection of films and musical entertainment that this year includes newer movies, such as Frozen,  The Croods, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Lego Movie along with longstanding family favorites like Shrek, The Goonies, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. But that's not all. This year Movies in the Park will also include Russian, Czech and German movies with subtitles, and the South African film White Wedding. And three evenings will be devoted to yet-to-be-decided movies from the Portland Film Festival.  Along with the movies, local bands will perform including: 1,000 Fuegos, LaRhonda Steele band, Manimalhouse, The River City Band, The School of Rock, and many more. Check out the Movies in the Park program.

Don't Miss: White Wedding: Friday July 25 at Peninsula Park, music by Loveness Wesa and her band.

Speaking of music, the Concerts in the Park program lists 57 events at 17 different parks across the city. Enjoy free music almost every night of the week through August. Performers include: Linda Hornbuckle, Brothers of the Baladi, Brownish Black, Palante, Love Gigantic, Jujuba, Woodbrain, Devin Phillips, The Dusu Mali Band, David Gerald Band, The Machete Men, the Portland Festival Symphony and many more. Check out the Concerts in the Park pogram.

Don't Miss: reggae, rocksteady, ska and soul from The Sentiments, 6:30 pm, July 24 at Glenhaven Park, NE 82nd and Siskyou

Washington Park Summer Festival runs from August 8-15 at the Rose Garden amphitheater. Portland Taiko, Lyndee Mah, Ural Thomas and the Pain are among the performers. The Wizard of Oz will show Wed. Aug 13, with music from the Libertine Belles.

Director Park in downtown Portland also offers concerts, poetry and events through the summer. A Native Art show will run July 19-20, and you'll find musical offerings 6-7pm most Mondays. Also at Director Park, you can find Drop-in Big Chess: Mon -Sat 10:30am-9:30pm and Sun 11:30am-8:30pm during July.

Don't Miss: Bollywood Family Dance lesson and party with DJ Prashant 2-5 pm, Sunday Aug. 17.

Download the pdf of Summer Free For All here

Visit the website to see Summer Free for All pages here  

VANCOUVER

Vancouver Parks and Recreation offers Playtime in the Parks. Fun activities in the neighborhood for children ages 6-11 including games, sports, playground time and crafts. The program is free and runs through August 15 . Lunches are provided the first 15 minutes of program.

Hearthwood Park, 801 NE Hearthwood Blvd. Tuesday and Thursday 12:30 -3:30 pm

No registration required. Just stop by and play.

John Ball Park, W 23rd St at Kauffman. Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12:30 -3:30 pm

No registration required. Just stop by and play.

Evergreen Park,  3500 E. Fourth Plain Blvd: Monday through Friday 10:30am-2:30pm

Pre-registration is required at Evergreen Park. You can register by calling 360-487-7100 or stop by the Marshall Community Center (use course code 98162). Family must live within the Roosevelt Elementary School and King Elementary School boundaries or if they attended the program last year.

Marrion Elementary School, 10119 NE 14th St., : Monday through Friday 10:30am-2:30pm

Pre-registration is required at at Marrion Elementary School. Register by calling 360-487-7100 or stopping by the Marshall Community Center (use course code 98163). Family must live within the Marrion Elementary School and Ellsworth Elementary School boundaries.

Free lunches will be provided to children under 19 years of age on scheduled program days. For lunch times or questions, please call Share at 360-553-8064.

Vancouver Parks also offers free teen activities and open gym times at Firstenburg and Marshall Community centers. All you need is your ID.

Find more summer activities for youth at Vancouver Parks and Recreation website.