Scott Watkins, right, consumed 27 hot dogs, to win the inaugural hot dog eating contest on July 8, 2023, in Pendleton. The second annual event kicks off Get Wild in Pendleton on Aug. 24, 2024, in the 300 block of Main Street.

Watch the shortest films around

BAKER CITY — Four days of film are in store for Baker City during the 15th annual We Like ‘Em Short film festival held Aug. 22-25 at Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St.

Films were submitted from 31 countries around the globe, and more than 70 were accepted into the festival, said Brian Vegter, festival director.

There will be five screenings: 8 p.m. Aug. 22 (drive-in style in the parking lot; family-friendly); 7 p.m. Aug. 23; 2 p.m. (family-friendly) and 7 p.m. Aug. 24; and 6 p.m. Aug. 25. Each screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session with guest filmmakers.

Tickets are $20 for access to all of the screenings, or each screening is $5 at the door. Buy tickets at churchillbaker.com.

Boardman hosts End of Summer Celebration

BOARDMAN — Music with DJ Kora, outdoor activities, including a dunk tank and bouncy house, and an opportunity to visit with first responders are featured during the End of Summer Celebration at Boardman Marina Park, 1 NE Marine Drive.

The celebration is Friday, Aug. 23, 6-9 p.m., with the festivities concluding with a fireworks show. Food will be served free of charge from 6-7:30 p.m. The meal includes pulled pork sandwiches from GG’s Smokehouse Catering by Amber Inc. and Lamb Weston French fries. And be sure to save room for dessert featuring Tillamook ice cream.

The event is funded by the Morrow County Unified Recreation District. For more information, search www.facebook.com/ChamberBoardman.

Catch a live concert at Side A

LA GRANDE — Side A Brewing is bringing the music to Grande Ronde Valley at two locations this summer — some shows are happening at the pub, 1219 Washington St. in downtown La Grande, and others are at the new brewery and tasting room, 10705 Walton Road in Island City. All shows start at 7:30 p.m.

• Aug 24, Side A pub: The Jack Maybe Project. This project was formed in 2017 in Portland, and performs around the Pacific Northwest. “We play a mixture of folk and blues with mostly original music,” the band leader said. “Though we do have a few covers, a couple traditionals, and a couple standards to liven things up.”
• Aug. 30, Side A brewery: Chris Baron & the Two Secrets. Chris Baron logged nearly 300 shows in 2023, and this year he’s back on the road. His shows are mostly west of the Rocky Mountains, and he tends to schedule gigs in places he’d like to see, or visit again. Sometimes he plays solo, and sometimes as a band with the Two Secrets. He describes his sound as “funky folk.” When solo, he plays acoustic guitar and kick drum. A full band adds an upright bass, cello and drums.
• Aug 31, Side A pub: Brian Mandella. A folk and blues songwriter, Mandella uses his Rocky Mountain influence to fingerpick his original stories from the ethers into the hearts and minds of his listeners. “If I play a song that somebody needed to hear that day, then I have found success,” he said.

Plan ahead: Oktoberfest in Baker City

BAKER CITY — Oktoberfest, an annual fundraiser for Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, looks a bit different this year with proceeds supporting both the art center and Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort.

First, a harvest dinner that supports the center’s youth art programs is set for Sept. 27, 5:30 p.m. at the Pythan Castle ballroom, corner of Washington and First streets. Seating is limited, so advance reservations are required. Tickets are $65 at crossroads-arts.org or by calling 541-523-5369.

The evening includes dinner by Creston’s (Bavarian pork tenderloin, German hot potato salad, roasted fall vegetables, garlic butter parmesan rolls, salad), dessert by Sweet Wife Baking and a no-host bar by The Rustic Nail. There will also be silent and live auctions.

The second day of Oktoberfest moves to Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort for live music by Brushfire, Bavarian-style food and drinks, arts and crafts, youth bike course and a 5K fun run (starts at 10 a.m.; $20 or $15 for 12 and younger; supports the project to rebuild the rental shop).

Classic cars take over Joseph Aug. 24

JOSEPH — Get ready to rev your engines and cruise into an unforgettable weekend at the Wallowa Mountain Cruise Car Show on Saturday, Aug. 24, on Main Street in Joseph from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At 3 p.m., the Ragman Memorial Cruise will take attendees to Enterprise and back.

Up to 200 antique cars and hot rods are expected for the event, which was formerly known as the Oregon Mountain Cruise and founded by Chuck Garrett of Moonlight Graphics and Jim “Ragman” Tuschhoff in 1988. It is now organized by the Joseph Chamber, with support from the City of Joseph.

For information, visit josephoregon.com.

Plan a movie night in Canyon City

CANYON CITY — Celebrate the last days of summer with a movie night on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Grantville Theater in Canyon City from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Entry is free. Concessions — Wild Bill’s soda, soda, snacks, popcorn and candy — will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting programs for the John Day Canyon City Parks and Recreation Department, which hosts the movie night.

The movie starts at 5 p.m. or 5:15 p.m. For updates, visit jdccparksandrec.org.

Twen tours into Baker City Aug. 21

BAKER CITY — Ian Jones and Jane Fitzsimmons founded Twen in Boston in 2017, and lived in Nashville for a few years before hitting the road in a van they converted into living space during the pandemic.

This year they have 83 shows booked from July through December, including a tour in Europe. And now they’re coming to Baker City — their first time playing a concert in Eastern Oregon.

The concert is Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance at churchillbaker.com or $20 at the door. Enumclaw, a band from Tacoma, Washington, will open the show.

Catch a concert at the courthouse

ENTERPRISE — The Courthouse Concert Series is held on Thursdays from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Wallowa County Courthouse, 101 S. River St. Attendance is free, and this series is sponsored by the Wallowa Valley Music Alliance.

This month includes The Bad Penny Pleasuremakers on Aug. 22 and Desert Moondogs Band on Aug. 29.

Final movie in the park is Aug. 23

PENDLETON — Pendleton Parks and Recreation’s final Movies in the Park is “Migration” on Friday, Aug. 23.

The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. at Community Park with pre-movie activities such as kickball, cornhole, flag football and concessions with popcorn, soda, candy and more.

Barn dance fundraiser planned in Joseph

JOSEPH — Wallowa Resources is holding a barn dance fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Blue Barn in Joseph on Tenderfoot Valley Road. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. with a social hour followed by a barbecue featuring local beef and side, plus a live auction and dancing to live music.

All of the proceeds from this event will support Wallowa Resources “to advance its vision of a stewardship economy that invests in the land and the community,” according to the website.

Tickets are $45 for adults and $20 for kids 12 and under, and available at wallowaresources.org.

Hamley’s serves up outdoor music

PENDLETON — Hamley & Co. is taking advantage of the warmer summer nights with Sunset Music on the Lawn.

Enjoy outdoor dining with a special menu. Also, free live music is featured on select Friday nights from 5-8 p.m. in downtown Pendleton at the corner of Main Street and Court Avenue. James Dean Kindle will perform Aug. 23 and 30. For more information, call 541-278-1100.

Get Wild in Pendleton Aug. 24

PENDLETON — A hot dog eating contest hosted by Pendleton Underground Tours and A Piece of Pendleton will set the table for the upcoming Get Wild in Pendleton.

Although contest entries closed on Tuesday, Aug. 20, people can still get their fill of the fun by watching amateurs and semi-professionals/professionals devour the competition. The event is Saturday, Aug. 24, 5 p.m. in the 300 block of Main Street.

Then stick around, as the evening also features live music with Shanks Pony, mechanical pig rides, axe throwing and more. Presented by Travel Pendleton, Get Wild in Pendleton takes place most Saturday nights when there isn’t a big event in town.

For more information, search bit.ly/2024_Get_Wild. For questions, call 541-276-7411.

Mystical Market features unique offerings

PENDLETON — A craft market described as featuring “odd, unusual, strange, fascinating, musical and handmade,” items are held monthly in Pendleton.

The upcoming Mystical Market is Saturday, Aug. 24, noon to 5 p.m. at Unity Collectibles, 237 S. Main St.

A vendor highlight includes The Boland Sisters with nail kits, stickers, jewelry and hand-painted shoes. Natalie Boland is raising money to go to Greece and Italy with her school’s Euro Club.

For more information, search Facebook via bit.ly/3X0E1wF. For questions, email unitycollectibles@gmail.com.

SkyDogs returns to Maxwell Market

HERMISTON — SkyDogs, a Kennewick group that performs rock from the 1950s-1990s with an Americana twist, is returning to the Maxwell Market.

The band tunes up during the farmers market on Thursday, Aug. 22, 4-7 p.m. at the Maxwell Siding Event Center & Pavilion, 145 N. First Place. Market-goers can also purchase value-added foods, handcrafted items, beer and prepared foods.

For more information, search Facebook via bit.ly/3zHgYhb. For questions, contact 541-561-1047 or maxwelleventcenter@gmail.com.

Cornhole tourney supports scholarships

MORO — The bags will fly during the Not Your Average Cornhole Tournament on Aug. 23, 5-7 p.m. at the Sherman County Fairgrounds, 66147 Lone Rock Road.

Entry is $50 per team. The winners will receive free entry for next year’s tournament and some exclusive Sherman County Fair swag. Proceeds will support the Sherman County Scholarship Association. For more information, call Susie (Fritts) Johnson at 541-571-5677.

Color Run supports senior project

JOHN DAY — A color run is planned on Sept. 21 at the Seventh Street Complex in John Day. This event is the senior project for Morgan Walker, and proceeds will benefit Hope 4 Paws, the local pet rescue organization.

The last day to register is Sept. 13. Entry is $15, and participants can register at tinyurl.com/uhh8c54j.