The Great Gorge Melt is a community restaurant fundraiser benefiting Columbia Gorge Food
Bank. During March, participating restaurants feature one cheesy menu item (grilled cheese,
quesadilla, mac & cheese, cheesy flatbread—your choice). more info...
Looking for a reason to escape the weekday grind and get a little creative? We’ve got just the thing.
We are thrilled to announce a special Sip n’ Pour event at the stunning, historic Balch Hotel in Dufur! Imagine an evening of immersive story-telling through fragrance with a glass of your favorite beverage and a handcrafted charcuterie snack.
The Experience
You’ll get to dive into our immersive candle-making workshop, where you’ll blend your own custom fragrance and pour a signature candle to take home. To keep the creative juices flowing, your ticket includes:
A glass of fine wine (the perfect pairing for pouring).
A curated charcuterie snack to graze on while your wax sets.
Join us at The Balch Hotel for a cozy, creative evening with Adventurous Aromas.
In this guided workshop, guests will blend their own custom fragrance and hand-pour a candle to take home. Inspired by the power of scent to evoke memory, mood, and place, the experience invites you to explore fragrance in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
Each guest will enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and a personal charcuterie board while crafting their candle, making it the perfect way to unwind, create, and savor the evening.
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Columbia Gorge; Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon
Senator will hold open-to-all town halls in Sherman, Wheeler, Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Wasco, Hood River, Crook, Lake and Klamath counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold 10 open-to-all town halls starting March 28 in eastern, central and southern Oregon as well as in the Columbia Gorge.
Heading into these 10 town halls from March 28-April 2, Wyden has held 1,152 open-to-all town halls statewide in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties.
“I made my town hall pledge because all Oregonians’ voices matter,” Wyden said. “I very much look forward to these upcoming town halls to hear questions, concerns and ideas from rural Oregonians to make their hometowns and neighborhoods even better places to live, work and raise a family.”
The schedule for the upcoming town halls is as follows:
Saturday, March 28
Sherman County, 1:30 pm, Wasco School Events Center, 903 Barnett St., Wasco
Wheeler County, 5 pm, Fossil High School, 600 E B St, Fossil
Sunday, March 29,
Gilliam County, Noon, Veterans Memorial Hall, 120 Main St., Condon
Morrow County, 4 pm, SAGE Events Center, 101 Olson Road NE, Boardman
Monday, March 30
Umatilla County, 5 pm, Pendleton High School Auditorium, 1800 NW Carden Ave., Pendleton
Tuesday, March 31
Wasco County, Noon, Fort Dalles Readiness Center, 402 E Scenic Dr, The Dalles
Hood River County, 4 pm, Hood River Valley High School, 1220 Indian Creek Rd, Hood River
Wednesday, April 1
Crook County, 10 am, Crook County Fairgrounds, Grizzly Mountain Pavilion, 1280 S Main St., Prineville
Thursday, April 2
Lake County, 12:30 pm, Lakeview Elks Lodge, 323 N F St., Lakeview
Klamath County, 5 pm, Oregon Institute of Technology, College Union Building, Auditorium, 3201 Campus Dr., Klamath Falls
For everyone’s security, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed in the town halls. Similar to major sporting events, there is a clear bag policy for town halls, allowing only clear bags (max 12″x 6″x12″), one-gallon clear plastic bags, or small clutches (max 4.5″x 6.5″), plus essential items like medical bags or infant necessities, with no storage for disallowed bags. Backpacks and non-clear bags are prohibited, though medical/infant needs have exceptions. Doors will open one hour before the town hall start time for attendees, except in Hood River where doors will open at 3:30 pm.
ðâï¸ Columbia Community Connection's Ribbon Cutting âï¸ð
ð Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026
â° Time: 5:15 PM
ð Location: 409 Lincoln Street, The Dalles OR 97058
Please Join us as we celebrate Columbia Community Connection's Cutting hosted by The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Come meet the team, tour the space,and share in the excitement for what's ahead. We'd love to see you there! more info...
Event by The Dalles Civic Auditorium and Icon's Of Rock Tribute Show
323 E 4th St, The Dalles, OR, United States, Oregon 97058
Get ready for an unforgettable night with Icons of Rock live at The Dalles Civic! Experience legendary classic rock up close and in person, where the energy is real and the vibes are electric. From the dark intensity of Ozzy Osbourne and the powerhouse anthems of Pat Benatar, to the rebellious edge of Joan Jett, the swagger of Billy Idol, and the arena-shaking sound of Van Halen—this show delivers it all. Sing along to the country-rock crossover hits of Shania Twain, feel the thunder of AC/DC, and crank it up with the glam rock punch of Poison.
Whether you’re a lifelong rock fan or just love great music, this is a night packed with powerful vocals, epic guitar riffs, and nonstop rock ’n’ roll. Don’t miss it! more info...
A pop-up Celebration of Words and Vision will be shown along the Columbia River Gorge. Poetry and art will be along two Car Free trails of Historic Columbia River Highway ~paved and accessible.
The word and visual poetics center around the Columbia River Gorge and are placed within the panoramas of the Gorge.
Come celebrate the work of Claudia Luna Castro, Kara Briggs, Kelly Lenox, and Speakthunder Berry. Read their words and see their artwork as landscapes of the heart & mind of the Columbia River Gorge.
Let your own heart, mind, and eyes take in this place unique to the world.
Come Walk, Roll, or Cycle these Car Free paved trails along two sections, 1) Wyeth to Starvation Creek and 2) Hatfield Twin Tunnels trails. Accessible Restrooms are at both ends of each trail.
Each pop-up section has embedded poetry and art along each 4-mile trail section. Two artists will have their artwork near one of the initial trail entrances within a half mile from the parking lot. Two poets will have their poems near the middle of the 4-mile total length (e.g. at 1.5 to 2 miles from either end). Those not used to walking/rolling/cycling a lot can enjoy a short distance from the parking lot for two spots for poems and artwork.
For those wanting more, consider doing both two loops of about 8 miles each! Remember this is not an athletic event; it is time to take a break from the madness of the world and imbibe the grandeur of this very world we call the Gorge. Sadly, there is no car free connection between the two trails nor are direct transit connections available between these two event destinations.
Trail comment: Both trails have an ADA appropriate 5% grades and are relatively easy for parents with strollers & people using assistive devices. This event is a Welcome for All Bodies, All Ages, All Bikes, All Abilities for reinvigorating hearts & minds. Maps & I-84 exit directions available at the below web site.
A pop-up Celebration of Words and Vision will be shown along the Columbia River Gorge. Poetry and art will be along two Car Free trails of Historic Columbia River Highway ~paved and accessible.
The word and visual poetics center around the Columbia River Gorge and are placed within the panoramas of the Gorge.
Come celebrate the work of Claudia Luna Castro, Kara Briggs, Kelly Lenox, and Speakthunder Berry. Read their words and see their artwork as landscapes of the heart & mind of the Columbia River Gorge.
Let your own heart, mind, and eyes take in this place unique to the world.
Come Walk, Roll, or Cycle these Car Free paved trails along two sections, 1) Wyeth to Starvation Creek and 2) Hatfield Twin Tunnels trails. Accessible Restrooms are at both ends of each trail.
Each pop-up section has embedded poetry and art along each 4-mile trail section. Two artists will have their artwork near one of the initial trail entrances within a half mile from the parking lot. Two poets will have their poems near the middle of the 4-mile total length (e.g. at 1.5 to 2 miles from either end). Those not used to walking/rolling/cycling a lot can enjoy a short distance from the parking lot for two spots for poems and artwork.
For those wanting more, consider doing both two loops of about 8 miles each! Remember this is not an athletic event; it is time to take a break from the madness of the world and imbibe the grandeur of this very world we call the Gorge. Sadly, there is no car free connection between the two trails nor are direct transit connections available between these two event destinations.
Trail comment: Both trails have an ADA appropriate 5% grades and are relatively easy for parents with strollers & people using assistive devices. This event is a Welcome for All Bodies, All Ages, All Bikes, All Abilities for reinvigorating hearts & minds. Maps & I-84 exit directions available at the below web site.
Louis Pearl – The Amazing Bubble Man (the original show)ð«§
Louis Pearl, known worldwide for his captivating bubble artistry, combines science, creativity, and audience interaction in a performance that delights all ages. From delicate square bubbles to massive bubbles stretching across the stage, this family-friendly show blends wonder, laughter, and hands-on fun in a way that keeps audiences amazed from start to finish.
April 12th at the The Dalles Civic Auditorium
Highly praised show with a 5-star review and a Fringe sell-out show (2018–2019).
ðâï¸ Columbia Gorge Emtech's Ribbon Cutting âï¸ð
ð Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
â° Time: 5:15 PM
ð Location: 3620 Crates Way, The Dalles OR 97058
Please Join us as we celebrate Columbia Gorge Emtech's Cutting hosted by The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Come meet the team, tour the space,and share in the excitement for what's ahead. We'd love to see you there! more info...
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ð Journey to the Stars Conference – April 18, 2026
Join an engaging early learning conference focused on building brains and supporting big feelings for early childhood education professionals.
ð Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
â° Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
ð Location: Fort Dalles Readiness Center, 402 E Scenic Drive, The Dalles
ð² Cost: $35
ð³ Includes: Breakfast, lunch, and drinks
ð Extras: Prizes throughout the day + limited scholarships available
â ï¸ Note: No childcare provided.
ð Register: www.cgcc.edu/ccp/journey
ð Questions: Child Care Partners – 541-506-6131 or ccp@cgcc.edu more info...
The banjo comes out, a fiddle joins in, and before long the whole room is humming.
Beard & Banjo (Tony Fuentes) returns to The Balch Hotel to lead an old-fashioned bluegrass pickin’ circle in the lobby. Part concert, part jam session, and full of toe-tappin’ fun.
No reservations needed. Just bring yourself, your instrument, or your dancing feet and settle in.
Lobby specials and our full dinner menu will be available for purchase throughout the evening.
The Mid-Columbia Car Club invites you to their monthly meeting, the third Tuesday of every month, at Spooky's Pizza Restaurant. The meeting begins at 5:00 pm with a social hour, and dinner begins at 6:00 pm.
If you love cars, come and join a like-minded group to people for a fun, relaxing time!
The Poetry Wheel is a six-week journey into the ever-turning world of poetry; where inspiration spins in and out like a revolving door. Each week, participants will explore a different poetic form, study compelling examples, and engage in generative writing exercises designed to help uncover their unique voices.
Built on curiosity and craft, the class invites students to read, write, listen, and reflect - again and again - recognizing that poems are elusive creatures, much like thoughts, memories, and dreams. The Poetry Wheel offers a space to learn how to coax these moments into the light.
By the end of the course, participants will have a collection of poem drafts in six distinct forms; each one a new spoke on their creative wheel.
This 6 week program will run on Wednesdays, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
About the Instructor:
Julianna Waters holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the Rainier Writing Workshop. Her work has appeared in numerous literary journals, including CRAFT and The Bellingham Review. Two of her short stories were featured in the speculative fiction anthology A Dark and Stormy Night, and her writing can also be found in Falling Star Review, Four and Twenty Magazine, and American Songwriter Magazine.
Waters has served as a Writer in Residence at the Anderson Arts Center in Red Wing, Minnesota, and at Hypatia-in-the-Woods in Shelton, Washington. Julianna formerly taught writing at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology and is the founder and facilitator of The Poetry Wheel, a process-focused poetry workshop.
She lives with her husband and their Pomeranian in Hood River, Oregon, where she writes, weaves, walks, and makes music along the life-giving shores of the Columbia River.
Northwest Cherry Festival Unveils Reimagined 2026 Format Amid Downtown Construction
The GREAT Cherry Adventure | April 24–26, 2026
The Dalles, Oregon
www.NorthwestCherryFestival.com
The Northwest Cherry Festival will return April 24–26, 2026, with a refreshed and reimagined format designed to balance celebration, economic impact, and the realities of ongoing downtown construction.
Due to the City of The Dalles First Street Project, the traditional footprint of the festival required modification this year. After months of site visits, coordination, and discussion beginning in October, the Chamber and City worked together to evaluate space availability, access, power, water, vendor logistics, and public safety before finalizing a revised plan.
“We heard the concerns from businesses along 4th Street and took them seriously,” said Lisa Farquharson, President & CEO of The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce. “The 2026 festival has been modified, downsized in certain areas, and relocated where necessary to reduce impact while still preserving the economic and community benefits this event brings. Our goal was to find a responsible balance.”
What’s Changing in 2026
• The carnival footprint has been revised and relocated to Lewis & Clark Festival Park (Union & W 1st Street).
• The carnival has been curtailed in size to fit the available footprint and will operate:
• Friday: 4:00–10:00 PM
• Saturday: 11:00 AM–10:00 PM
• Sunday: 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
• Vendor Market activities will take place Saturday only (11:00 AM–8:00 PM), reducing multi-day street closures.
• Several festival elements have been redistributed throughout downtown to minimize concentrated impacts.
Lewis & Clark Festival Park will be closed for carnival setup beginning Sunday, April 19, with full removal and reopening expected by Tuesday, April 28. Saturday, April 25: A City-Wide Celebration
Saturday remains the heart of the festival, featuring:
• CGCC Cherry Fun Run
• Royalty Coronation & Community Breakfast
• Cherry Festival Parade (10:00 AM)
• Open-Air Vendor Market on Federal Street & Tony’s Lot
• KODL Classic Car Show (Federal Street, 2nd–4th)
• Community Fair (4th & Washington–Federal)
• Children’s Fair (Medical Arts Building Parking Lot)
• Cherry Festival Quilt Show
• Randy Haines Cherry Stomp Dance & Evening Concert at Civic Auditorium
Street closures for the Car Show, Community Fair, Children’s Fair, and Vendor Market will occur Saturday only, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, significantly reducing previous multi-day impacts.
All Month Long: The GREAT Cherry Adventure
In addition to weekend festivities, April will feature a month-long Cherry Hunt (April 1–30), a community-wide interactive experience modeled after the popular Frosty Trail. Participants can visit businesses, earn points, win weekly prizes, and search for hidden original artwork placed throughout the community. If found, the art belongs to the finder.
This expanded format spreads foot traffic throughout the month, supporting small businesses beyond a single weekend.
Entertainment Across Downtown
Rather than centralizing all music, the Chamber is partnering with local pubs, restaurants, and venues to activate downtown all weekend. Businesses are invited to share their live music schedules so they can be promoted through the official festival webpage, NorthwestCherryFestival.com and the community calendar at TDCommunityCalendar.com.
A Collaborative Effort
City Manager Matthew Klebes stated:
“The First Street Project is a major investment in the future of downtown The Dalles. While construction creates temporary challenges, we appreciate the Chamber’s willingness to adapt the Cherry Festival footprint to maintain the event while reducing impacts on nearby businesses. The revised plan reflects collaboration and balance — preserving economic opportunity while responding to community concerns.”
Further logistical details, maps, and participation opportunities will be released in the coming weeks.
Despite construction challenges, the Northwest Cherry Festival continues its long-standing tradition of honoring community, supporting small business, and celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage.
After years of silence, the dance floor is coming back to life in The Dalles on Cherry Festival Weekend.
The Cherry Stomp Dance storms back into the The Dalles Civic Auditorium on April 25 at 7:00 PM — bringing the music, the memories, and the magic back to The Civic for one unforgettable night.
For longtime locals, Cherry Stomp isn’t just a dance. It’s a feeling. It’s packed floors, big guitars, friends singing at the top of their lungs, and the kind of electric energy that only happens when a community comes together.
This year’s return carries special meaning. The event comes back with the blessing of Randy Haines, whose name became synonymous with unforgettable live entertainment in The Dalles and legendary nights at The Civic.
Event organizer Tiffany Hardin, Operations Manager of The Dalles Civic and a lifelong local, shared:
“I grew up in The Dalles knowing that if Randy Haines was attached to a show, it was going to be good. Even as a kid, you just knew. I may have been too young to attend his events, but everyone talked about them. Later, I had the opportunity to visit with Randy while promoting events on his Friday morning radio show, and it was such a gift to connect with him and hear the stories of the great Randy Haines. He has an incredible history with The Dalles and with The Civic itself. It truly is an honor to bring the Cherry Stomp Dance back with his blessing and carry on this tradition. Randy told me he may not be able to be there physically, but he’ll absolutely be there in spirit, rockin’ the night away with all of us.”
Providing the soundtrack for the night is the high-energy, live band “Icons of Rock - Tribute Show,” delivering powerhouse tributes to legends like Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, and Shania Twain, along with more iconic hits guaranteed to keep the dance floor moving all night long. Expect big vocals, blazing guitar riffs, fist-in-the-air anthems, and nonstop dancing.
A full bar and food will be available for purchase, setting the stage for the ultimate night out with friends. Whether you’re reliving the glory days of Cherry Stomp or experiencing it for the very first time, this is your chance to be part of a revived local tradition.
The Cherry Stomp Dance is proudly sponsored by Explore The Dalles and Copper West Real Estate. Event Details Cherry Stomp Dance
April 25, 2026
7:00 PM
The Dalles Civic Auditorium
Tickets are $25 and available online or at the door if still available. Early purchase is strongly encouraged — this nostalgic, high-energy comeback is expected to draw a strong crowd.
Dust off your dancing shoes. Call your friends. Make your plans.
The Cherry Stomp is back — and it’s ready to rock. more info...
Cherry Festival Quilt Show Returns to St. Peter’s Landmark
Local quilters will once again fill historic St. Peter’s Landmark with color and craftsmanship during the Cherry Festival Quilt Show. The one-day exhibit showcases dozens of handmade quilts from regional quilting groups and community members.
This year’s display includes traditional patterns, modern designs, and historic pieces—including a locally connected “crazy quilt” dating back to 1895 from the Sandoz family. A raffle quilt created by the Cherry City Cut-Ups quilt group will also be featured, with proceeds supporting Old St. Peter’s Landmark.
Visitors can explore quilts inside the historic church and browse additional quilts for sale in the Herbring House courtyard.
The Cherry Festival Quilt Show runs 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday at St. Peter’s Landmark, 405 Lincoln Street.
This sampler quilt was made by members of the Cherry City Cut-ups quilt group. It will be raffled at the show at 4 p.m. Tickets are $5.
Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour Marks 20 Years
A Celebration of Art, Place, and Community
Free, Self-Guided Art Event Returns May 1st- 3rd, 2026
In 2026, the Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of inviting the public into the working studios of artists throughout the Mid-Columbia Gorge. This free, self-guided spring event takes place May 1–3, daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and offers visitors an opportunity to experience art at its source-where ideas, materials, and stories converge.
Set within one of the Pacific Northwest’s most dramatic landscapes, the tour reflects the deep relationship between creative expression and place. Artists are often driven by powerful and deeply personal forces: a love of materials, a need to make sense of the world, the desire to create beauty or social commentary, or memories-both cherished and challenging-that insist on being told. At its core, art is a form of storytelling, a practice as old as humanity itself, reaching back to the earliest known cave paintings created more than 17,000 years ago.
This year’s anniversary tour features 50 artists across 41 studio locations in Hood River and Wasco Counties in Oregon, and Skamania and Klickitat Counties in Washington. While early artists worked with limited tools, today’s artists draw from an expansive range of techniques and materials. Visitors will encounter work in painting, pastel, watercolor, ink, printmaking, photography, ceramics, basketry, woodworking, fiber and textiles, jewelry, enamel, and more.
Stepping inside an artist’s studio offers something rare: insight into process, intention, and the lived experience behind the work. It is a place where curiosity is welcomed, conversations unfold, and stories are shared- directly with the person who made the art. more info...
The 38th Annual Spring Community Clean up will take place on the first Saturday of May. The Dalles residents are encouraged to join in our annual spring cleaning event on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 8AM - 1PM
Yard debris and large items, such as furniture, may be disposed of at the Wasco County yard at the corner of West 10th Street and Walnut Street only on this date and time.
This year, the city is again asking to make a special effort to prevent unsightly damage to street trees that have low-hanging branches.
Trimming branches before collision breaks branches is healthier for trees.
Tree trimming also prevents damage to tall vehicles like garbage trucks and school buses.
On community clean up day, up to two standard -sized pickup loads per household of tree trimmings can be disposed of for free.
Citizens are encouraged to separate usable goods from trash. Gently used items may be donated to the on site reuse fair.
Event participants may pick up ''new'' treasures from the reuse fair area at no cost.
Friends and neighbors are encouraged to help the ederly or handicapped dispose of unwanted items. Civic groups are encouraged to adopt an area of town for cleanup.
Volunteers are welcome! Please call Cindy Keever at (541) 506-2004 to learn about many task assignments available. more info...
Free Hazardous Waste Collection Event for households and small businesses in Wasco, Sherman, and Hood River Counties. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL and is due until sold out or on 5/7/2026 by 4 pm for small businesses, and midnight before the event for households.
The Mid-Columbia Car Club invites you to their monthly meeting, the third Tuesday of every month, at Spooky's Pizza Restaurant. The meeting begins at 5:00 pm with a social hour, and dinner begins at 6:00 pm.
If you love cars, come and join a like-minded group to people for a fun, relaxing time!
Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour Marks 20 Years