Head to the Fremont Fest This Saturday

strolling-fremont-fest-2021-portland-oregon

Walking the Fremont Fest 2021.

There are a lot of street festivals in Portland, but Fremont Fest is one of my favorites (here’s my 2021 writeup). I love spending time on NE Fremont, whether it’s driving on the way to the Rocky Butte Farmer’s Market (with a stop at Rocky Butte Espresso Bar)l; walking up from the Rose City Golf Course to catch a smoothie at Fresh Love; stopping in at Peter’s Bar & Grill for their incredible food (and ice cream a couple doors down at Nico’s); or grabbing a latte at Prince Coffee after perusing the games at Puddletown. Then there’s the whole Guilder/Lucca beauty further west. What I mean to say is Fremont Street is awesome and what a better way to celebrate a chunk of it then at this Saturday’s Fremont Fest.

As in year’s past, there will be “art and music and drinks and all the good stuff,” according to the organizers. The beer garden will return at the Hi-Top Tavern, there will be plenty of interesting food vendors along the route, which is on NE Fremont Street between 42nd Avenue and 51st Avenue (where the Hi-Top is located)—the commercial strip for the neighborhood. Notable for families: the Kid Zone will be at NE 43rd Avenue.

And while you can visit all the vendors out on the street—some of which, like The Wiggle Room, are from neighborhoods outside of Beaumont-Wilshire—you’ll be able to check out the various brick & mortar businesses that call Fremont Street home, from clothing to gifts and cards, from visual art to food. For instance, the aforementioned Puddletown will have their sale tent “filled with gently used games and puzzles (no missing pieces, we promise)” plus sale items inside. I also plan to see if Amalfi’s little market is available, check out any ice cream action at Red Sauce and/or Nico’s (if he’s there), maybe pick up some knobs at Beaumont Hardware, look in on the Pig Newton scene at Jim & Patty’s, and also see what special donuts Pip’s might have planned. Plus other random stuff.

So head on over to NE Fremont this Saturday. And, as I said for the Montavilla Street Fair, it’s going to be hot—so here’s a repeat of my recommendations: “Choose wisely your strategy: go early; drink lots of water; wear a floppy hat; enjoy some [cool treats you may find, like shave ice, popsicles, ice cream, and iced drinks]; find some shade; take breaks when you need them; step inside air conditioned shops. I hope they have a misting station planned, too.”

Many thanks to the event’s sponsors, who include Amalfi’s, Pip’s, McPeet’s, Hi-Top Tavern, and Momiji Sushi, among others, as well as the Beaumont Business Association, who help make this event great each year.

See you at the Fremont Fest!