| Date | Event |
| 4/24/2026 -4/26/2026 | 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. For full event details and updates, visit: www.NorthwestCherryFestival.com
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