Lost Ox to play at Barley Brown’s Jan. 10

BAKER CITY — Barley Brown’s welcomes Lost Ox on Friday, Jan. 10, starting at 6 p.m. in the taproom, 2200 Main St.

Formed in 2017, Lost Ox is known for “combining elements of funk, psychedelia, jazz, Americana and progressive rock.”

The band started as a musical friendship between bassist Reed Bunnell and guitarist Dylan DiSalvio that began in the Lewis & Clark College jazz studies program in 2011.

The band’s most recent album, “Tale of the Fool,” was released in 2024 and is described as “an exploration of folk, bluegrass and roots rock styles.”

Learn how to skate ski at Anthony Lakes

NORTH POWDER — Anthony Lakes is hosting three skate clinics this season with instructor Sam Wiswell on Jan. 12, Feb. 9 and March 9.

Beginner and intermediate clinics are available, and both include two hours of instruction for $50. (A trail pass and rentals are an extra $15 each).

Participants should dress warm and bring water and snacks because the clinic includes time to discuss techniques and watch demonstrations.

For information or to register, visit anthonylakes.com/sunday-skate-clinics.

Learn about maple syrup at the library

LA GRANDE — Homeschool teacher Dorene Kimball, of Elgin, will give an instructional presentation about tapping trees for sap and making maple syrup on Saturday, Jan. 11, 3 p.m., in the Community Room at Cook Memorial Library, 2006 Fourth St.

The community is invited to sit in on the slide show presentation and learn how to harvest sap from their own trees.

Admittance is free for all, so bring along a friend or anyone who is interested in agriculture, trees, and maple syrup production and learn how to do this yourself.

Daddy Daughter Dance tickets are on sale now

PENDLETON — Girls and their fathers are invited to enjoy “A Starry Night” with DJ music, dancing, a chocolate fountain, random drawings, gifts at the door and a picture to commemorate the evening.

The annual Daddy Daughter Dance is Feb. 8, 6-9 p.m. at the Pendleton Convention Center, 1601 Westgate. The event photo studio opens from 3-5 p.m. and during the dance.

Tickets went on sale Jan. 6. The cost is $25 per person and includes hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. For questions, call the Pendleton Recreation Center office at 541-966-0228.

Dinosaur Adventure heads to Kennewick, Washington

KENNEWICK — Step back 65 million years as Dinosaur Adventure stomps into the Benton County Fairgrounds, 1500 S. Oak St., Kennewick, Washington. It’s open Feb. 1, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Feb. 2, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dig for ancient fossils, race on Jurassic scooters, mine for gemstones, bounce in the inflatable Jurassic Playground, meet baby dinosaurs and much more. Advance tickets are recommended.

Adventure passes for ages 13-plus are $25 and children 2-12 are $30. In addition, adventure souvenir packs to take home are $29. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.dinosauradventure.com/kennewick-wa.

Forest Ray plays two weekend shows

BAKER CITY — Seattle band Forest Ray, headlined by Peter Sumic, returns to Baker City on Jan. 10 for a show at Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 6:45 p.m.

Tickets are $12 in advance at churchillbaker.com or $18 at the door.

The next day, Jan. 11, Forest Ray will play at Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort from 3-6 p.m.

Tylor and the Train Robbers play HQ

LA GRANDE — Tylor and the Train Robbers returns to HQ, 112 Depot St., for a show on Thursday, Jan. 16, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at lagrandehq.com.

For the past decade, Tylor and the Train Robbers have been blazing trails, carving a path through the heartland with their roots country and Americana music.

Brothers Tylor Ketchum, Jason Bushman and Tommy Bushman form the core of this musical powerhouse. Tylor, the eldest, takes the reins as the band’s frontman, rhythm guitarist and songwriter.

Jason, on bass and backup harmonies, and Tommy, on drums and vocals, provide the steady heartbeat and backbone that defines the band’s signature sound. Completing the quartet is Rider Soran on lead guitar, pedal steel and lap steel.

The Big Read kicks off Jan. 9

ENTERPRISE — “The Cold Millions” by Jess Walter is the 2025 selection for The Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts that has been presented by Fishtrap in Enterprise since 2006.

The Big Read brings works of literature to local communities through public events, discussions and free books to schools and libraries, as well as the general public, in Wallowa and Union counties.

The Big Read kicks off Thursday, Jan. 9 with an interactive musical event called “Songs of the People” featuring songs from the early 20th century Vaudeville and Labor Movement hosted by the Wallowa Valley Music Alliance. This gathering starts at 7 p.m. at Fishtrap, 107 W. Main St. The suggested donation is $10.

Following the kickoff, events and book discussions will take place each week surrounding themes in the novel, including conversations on the labor movement, film screenings of the musical “Newsies” and documentary “The Wobblies,” book discussions and more.

Labor activist and historian Moe Bownstern will present “Unabashed, Unafraid, Unashamed: Women Fighters on the Front Line of Oregon’s Labor Movement” on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. Attendees can join in person at Fishtrap or online at fishtrap.org.

Look for the full schedule of events at fishtrap.org. The Big Read concludes Wednesday, Feb. 5, with a finale event with the author at Fishtrap in Enterprise.

Join Open Stage at HQ in La Grande

LA GRANDE — Open Stage is back at HQ, 112 Depot St., on most Thursdays from 7-10 p.m.

Participants can prepare a 10-minute set of music, spoken word or other talent to share with the audience.

Open Stage is free to attend, and concessions will be available.

For updates to events at HQ, visit lagrandehq.com or on Facebook.

CCT season resumes with ‘Fools’ by Neil Simon

PENDLETON — The College Community Theatre’s 2024-25 season will resume in February with “Fools,” a comic fable by award-winning playwright Neil Simon. The tale follows Leon, an enthusiastic young schoolteacher who seeks to cure a small village from the curse of chronic stupidity before he falls victim to the same demise.

All performances are held in the Bob Clapp Theatre at Blue Mountain Community College, 2411 NW Carden Ave. Tickets are now on sale.

The pay-what-you-can preview night on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. is general admission. The person can determine their own ticket price and select their seat when arriving at the theater.

Regular performances at 7 p.m. with reserved seats are Feb. 21-22 and Feb 27-March 1 and matinee shows at 2 p.m. are Feb. 23 and March 2. Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and $12 for students/children.

College Community Theatre is in its 60th anniversary season. For more information, including the program’s history, to inquire about volunteering or to purchase tickets, visit www.collegecommunitytheatre.com. The box office can also be reached by calling 541-215-9917. For additional information, search Facebook via bit.ly/41WD7V0.

Actors sought for youth productions in Baker City

BAKER CITY — Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre will hold auditions Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 to cast two children’s productions: “Charlotte’s Web” (17 roles) and “Robin Hood” (15 roles).

Auditions will start at 6 p.m. each night at the theater, 2101 Main St. Actors from ages 8 to 18 are invited to attend.

“Charlotte’s Web” will have performances March 14-16 and March 21-23. “Robin Hood” will run May 23-25 and May 30 through June 1.

Feves gallery show features Pendleton artist

PENDLETON — The winter exhibition at the Betty Feves Memorial Gallery showcases the mixed-media abstractions of Sandra Westford.

“Listening to Songs that Have No Sound” runs Jan. 16 through March 14. The gallery is located in Pioneer Hall at Blue Mountain Community College, 2411 NW Carden Ave. An artist’s reception will be Feb. 27, 4-6 p.m.

Westford was among 13 artists from the region who were featured in “Local Color,” an April 2024 exhibit at the Feves gallery. She also was included in the Small Works Invitational in May 2024 at Pendleton Center for the Arts. Also, Westford placed second in the adult division in 2019 during the 45th Open Regional Exhibit at the arts center.

Regular hours at the Betty Feves Memorial Gallery are Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, contact gallery director Nika Blasser at nblasser@bluecc.edu or 541-278-5952.