Zac Grooms and Brewers Grade Band are the featured performers on Aug. 31, 2024, during the Gilliam County Fair in Condon.

Monthly dance is Aug. 31 in La Grande

LA GRANDE — The BlueMountaineers will have their monthly dance on Saturday, Aug. 31, 6-9 p.m. at the Union County Senior Center, 1504 N. Albany St.

Admission is $5 or free for ages 12 and younger. The evening includes a finger food potluck.

Flea market, train rides planned for the weekend

SUMPTER — The streets of Sumpter will be filled with vendors this weekend for the final flea market of the season, always held over Labor Day weekend.

Also, the Sumpter Valley Railroad will run short train rides from the Sumpter Station on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Fares are $18 adults, $15 seniors/military and $12 ages 3-17. For reservations, visit sumptervalleyrailroad.org.

Fiddler group plans show on Aug. 30

UNION — The Blue Mountain Old Time Fiddlers will have a show on Friday, Aug. 30, at the VFW, 518 N. Main St.

The contra dance starts at 4 p.m. with caller Anna Cavinato. Also, the Small Town Girls and the fiddlers will play the waltzes. Admission is $5.

Head to Mitchell for Painted Hills Festival

MITCHELL — Culture, music and festivity are featured during the Painted Hills Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Most of the activities are at the city park in Mitchell.

Live entertainment includes music by Dan Robinson, Betty and the Barristers, and James Lawrence Andrews, as well as the Vargas Dancers and a Tahitian fire dancer. Other festival highlights include food/craft vendors, a parade, a street dance, kids games, a quilt show and water trough races. For more information, search Facebook via bit.ly/4dtI2Qc or email toneyryno@hotmail.com.

In addition, bring your running shoes for the Painted Hills Half, a half-marathon. Also, there are 10K and 5K events. The races start every 15 minutes beginning at 8 a.m. Registration is $30 ($15 for Wheeler County residents).

For a link to register for the races, search the “Community Calendar” at bit.ly/4dMl32v. For vendor information, contact kjodennis@hotmail.com or 541-462-3523.

Art Center East plans closing reception

LA GRANDE — A closing reception for the current shows at Art Center East is happening Friday, Aug. 30, 6-8 p.m. at the art center, 1006 Penn Ave.

This is the last chance to view the current shows — “My Heart” by Brenna Kimbro and “Arboreality: Poetry Broadsides” by Nick Neeley.

Also, the reception is the final chance to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win an original painting by Kimbro.

For more information, visit artcentereast.org.

Conversation about climate and soil set for Aug. 31

LA GRANDE — Peter Donovan will lead a presentation titled “Sunlight, water, carbon, soil and climate: A conversation about relationships” on Saturday, Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pioneer Park in La Grande. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair, water and lunch.

The session includes hands-on demonstrations of soil health principles and a discussion “on the leverage of human decisions and actions.”

Donovan is a board member for the Soil Carbon Coalition. Learn more at soilcarboncoalition.org.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by calling or texting Donovan at 541-263-1888.

Annual steak feed is Aug. 31 in Richland

RICHLAND — The annual Labor Day Weekend steak feed, served by Eagle Valley Grange, is Saturday, Aug. 31, 3-8 p.m. at the grange park. Tickets are $25 in advance at The Hitching Post, Halfway Sober Liquor Store or by texting/calling Abby at 541-519-8868. Dinner tickets are $30 at the gate.

Those who buy tickets early will be entered for a chance to win a raffle basket.

The General Store offers toe-tappin’ tunes

SPRAY — After a brush with wildfire, the community of Spray is ready to gather for an evening of music.

Skillethead will perform Friday, Aug. 30, 6-8 p.m. at The General Store, 208 Main St. The band plays bluegrass with driving fiddles and layered harmonies. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the show; admission is by donation.

A community gathering place, The General Store hosts a variety of activities throughout the year. It was a finalist for the 2024 Oregon Stewardship Award, which is given yearly to an environmental or cultural project that involves the community in meaningful ways.

For more information, visit www.spraygeneralstore.com or search Facebook via bit.ly/4dqOJSU. For questions, call 503-381-6398.

Head to Enterprise for ‘sweetest’ music festival

ENTERPRISE — The Wallowa Valley Music Alliance announces the 14th annual Juniper Jam, billed as “The sweetest little music festival in Eastern Oregon,” on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Wallowa County Fairgrounds.

The music starts at 11 a.m. and continues non-stop on two stages until 10 p.m. The festival features many styles of music with one common thread — it’s all original music.

“Juniper Jam is Oregon’s only all-original music festival, and we’re looking forward to another eclectic lineup of bands,” said Janis Carper, festival director.

Tickets are $35 at the gate or $30 in advance at Joseph Hardware, The Bookloft, and M. Crow, or online at www.juniperjam.com. Admission is free for ages 12 and younger who attend with a ticketed adult.

Camping is available for $25 per night at the fairgrounds with a festival ticket — register on the website.

Featured bands include Far Out West, Margo Cilker, The Muddy Souls, James Dean Kindle & His Country Combo, Meredith Lane, Chris Baron & Two Secrets, and Mr. Vale’s Math Class.

‘Drop Dead Perfect’ continues for second weekend

BAKER CITY — Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre continues shows of “Drop Dead Perfect” at 6 p.m. Aug. 30 and 31, and 3 p.m. Sept. 1, at the theater, 2101 Main St.

This comedy, with action resembling the antics of a daytime soap opera, has four cast members — Jennifer Button, Samantha O’Conner, Peri Wood and Elisabeth Munsell.

Tickets are $13 adults, $11 EORT members and $5 students. Purchase tickets in advance at easternoregonregionaltheatre.com, by calling 541-523-9652 or at the door.

Channel your inner artist to paint Mt. Emily

LA GRANDE — Market Place Fresh Foods and McLaughlin’s Events and Marketing have teamed up to offer a step-by-step Mt. Emily watercolor paint workshop taught by Becky Curry.

This experience will be held on the rooftop bistro at Market Place Fresh Foods, 1912 Fourth St., on Thursday, Aug. 29, starting at 6 p.m.

Curry will walk participants through the how-to of capturing Mt. Emily’s beauty. No experience is necessary.

The cost is $30 per person, which includes everything needed to paint — canvas, paints, brushes and an apron, along with step-by-step instructions and encouragement along the way. A beverage of choice is included in the price, as well as 10% off food from the bistro. Reserve a spot at https://paintmountemily.rsvpify.com.

Curry is an artist living in La Grande. Her main focuses are portraiture, the female figure, and moon calendars. She works primarily in watercolor and aims to combine flow and accuracy in an expressionist style. She has a minor in visual arts from Boston University and studies on an ongoing basis at Watts Atelier of the Arts.

To check out Curry’s art, go to www.beckycurryart.com.

Keg and Kork rolls out new music series

HERMISTON — Jamie Nasario and Luke Basile will help uncork the new First Thursday Music Series in Hermiston.

The event is Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m. at Mainstreet Keg and Kork, 395 E. Main St. The Eastern Oregon natives often perform together, blending Nasario’s soulful voice and bluesy repertoire wtih Basile’s guitar prowess.

For more information, search www.facebook.com/keg.kork. For questions, call 541-303-1034.

Vintage dirt bike show coming to Barley Brown’s

BAKER CITY — Roll your dirt bikes to Main Street on Friday, Sept. 6, for the Metric Moto 2024, a vintage dirt bike show at Barley Brown’s. The show will be between the pub, 2190 Main St., and the taphouse, 2200 Main St. The event starts at 5 p.m. with food and beer. Then, the Mike Mallory Trio will play from 6-9 p.m. in the taproom.

Pickleball tourney planned in Baker City

BAKER CITY — The Baker County YMCA is hosting Battle of the Paddle 3: Twilight Edition on Sept. 20-21. The two days include pickleball, food, massages, music, bouncy houses and activities for the family at the Baker High School tennis courts, 3300 Fifth St.

Entry is $45 for the first event, and $10 for the second event, and registration ends Sept. 12. Register online at bakerymca.org/specialevents. Medals will be awarded for all skill levels for first, second and third place. Cash prizes will be awarded for first place.

Friday begins at 4 p.m. with a barbecue for participants, then games from 6-10 p.m. for men/women singles and mixed doubles tournament play.

Saturday starts at 9 a.m. with breakfast for participants, followed by a youth pickleball tournament for ages 8-15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the main courts, and open play/beginner clinic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the practice courts.

Check-in for the men’s/women’s doubles tournament is at 3 p.m. Saturday, and play runs from 4-10 p.m. Food trucks will be on site. For information, email Austin at sports.activities@bakerymca.org.

Quilt challenge issued in John Day

JOHN DAY — Calling all quilters! The Strawberry Mountain Quilt Guild is hosting a quilt challenge leading up to the quilt show Oct. 18-19 at the fairgrounds in John Day.

The challenge is open to all quilters. The theme is “All creatures great and small.” Any technique may be used, and the finished size can range from a 36×36-inch wall hanging to a king-sized quilt.

Entries can be submitted at the October quilt show. Cash prizes will be awarded for first and second place.

For more information, call Susan Pielstick, 541-589-5810.

Fat Fox Slim returns to Maxwell Market

HERMISTON — An indie group from the Tri-Cities will perform rock and pop covers and original music at the Maxwell Market.

Fat Fox Slim is the featured performer during the farmers market on Thursday, Aug. 29, 4-7 p.m. at the Maxwell Siding Event Center & Pavilion, 145 N. First Place. In addition to locally grown produce, market-goers can 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.

Celebrate La Grande with a party Sept. 5

LA GRANDE — La Grande is throwing itself a party!

On Thursday, Sept. 5, 5-7 p.m., the community has a chance to celebrate the town at the 29th annual Celebrate La Grande event.

Held at Riverside Park, Celebrate La Grande offers free hot dogs, chips, bottled water and ice cream. There will be scads of activities for kids and nonprofit organization display tables.

Live music by Standard Deviation will be making toes tap throughout the event. The band performs classic rock and blues in and around La Grande. They play danceable covers of rock and blues songs mainly from the ‘60s and ‘70s, with a few more recent songs thrown in for good measure. Band influences include Steppenwolf, the Yardbirds, James Gang and The Rolling Stones.

Celebrate La Grande began in 1995 when then-mayor Di Lyn Larsen-Hill and former police Sgt. Scott Franks got together in an effort to encourage neighbors to celebrate the community and everything that makes La Grande so incredibly special.

Since then, the Celebrate La Grande “end-of-summer block party” has been a beloved staple for the community.

For more information, check out facebook.com/share/pY4KanHyqfcoGRQo/.

Gilliam County Fair harvests memories

CONDON — The Gilliam County Fair invites people to “Harvest the Memories” Aug. 29-31 in Condon. Entry buttons are $3, which are good for daily entry.

Organizers are excited to welcome Zac Grooms and Brewers Grade Band to the stage on Saturday, Aug. 31, 7-10 p.m. Grooms, who lives in Hermiston, is a Gilliam County native. A barbecue dinner can be purchased at 5:30 p.m. Also, a beer garden will be available.

The Horse Show, which is open to all, begins Thursday at 9 a.m.; the Children’s Fair runs from 1-4 p.m. and the 4-H Dog Show starts at 5 p.m. Friday highlights include the 4-H Public Fashion Revue at 6 p.m. and music from 7-9 p.m. with Deep Roots Revival.

For more information and a full schedule, search www.co.gilliam.or.us/government. For questions, contact 541-351-9506 or fair@co.gilliam.or.us.

Hospice Hustle is Oct. 5 in John Day

JOHN DAY — Blue Mountain Hospice is organizing the Hospice Hustle, a 5K or one-mile run/walk, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m. at the Seventh Street Complex in John Day.

Disco attire is optional. Those who register by Aug. 28 will receive a T-shirt. Entry is $30 at the hospice office, 422 W. Main St., or online at bluemountainhospice.org.