(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading ...Come celebrate Summer Solstice on June 22 with a Renaissance-themed night of music and merry-making to launch this year’s new Wednesday night West Linn Farmer’s Market.
Summer Solstice, called Midsummer’s Night during Elizabethan times, is the start of a magical summer in Willamette with rituals that hark back to ancient practices designed to conjure up bountiful summertime harvests. The Willamette Main Street celebration will feature roving minstrels, jesters, jugglers, pirates with parrots and West Linn’s own royalty, the West Linn Princess Court. The Ladies of Canterbury Faire will stroll on the arms of their lords, as the squires of the Bridgetown Morris Men share their unique blend of music and dance that follows ages-old traditions of enticing fertile fields with fine fellowship.
Shakespeare considered Midsummer a time of magic so Willamette is especially pleased to have its own historic conjurer and magician Danny Schreiber who will serve as master of ceremonies.
In addition to street entertainment, Summer Solstice will have a sidewalk sale featuring the many gifts and services available from main street merchants, boutiques and restaurants in the Historic Willamette District. Carnival games tailored to kids and families will be also available.
It seems fitting that Willamette, so loaded with its own multifaceted history, turns the clock back to Elizabethan times when celebrants wore garlands of herbs and flowers to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. At the Summer Solstice, garland making will be demonstrated onsite and available for sale with part of the proceeds going to the West Linn Food Pantry.
West Linn’s theme-based, revitalized Farmers Market will run from 5 – 8 pm every Wednesday from June 22 through August 24. Weekly features will include heritage and sustainability stages and a Wellness Wednesday Showcase. Future themes include a spring greens festival, a berry explosion the week of July 4th with a showcase about antioxidants and super foods and Flower Fest with aromatherapy in August.
Summer Solstice and other Main Street events are supported by Historic Willamette Main Street businesses Pacific West Bank, BJ Willy’s Public House & Eatery, Les Schwab, Healthy Spaces and others. Thanks also to the Canterbury Faire for their Lords ‘n Ladies and the Portland Pirate Festival for sending so many performers our way as a prelude to their own Festival in Historic St. Helens on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3 & 4. www.portlandpiratefestival.com
Willamette is West Linn’s historic core. The Main Street program was launched as a joint initiative between residents and merchants to preserve Willamette’s charm, ambience, history and to ensure that visitors and residents have a positive experience. Historic Willamette: A Main Street Community is part of the Clackamas County Main Street four-pronged approach toward economic development, promotion, design and organization to keep commercial cores robust.
Giggles the Clown will be there with her air brush system so the kids and adults can have air bursh tattoos and face painting. Any questions email Giggles the Clown at gigglesclown@hotmail.com
Giggles the Clown will be there with her air brush system so the kids and adults can have air bursh tattoos and face painting.
The Summer Solstice event to kick off the new and improved Willamette Farmers Market was fantastic. Great entertainment, informative and great produce. Am expecting the vendor selection to grow as the season progresses and I’m looking forward to Wednesday’s in WIllamette this summer.
It was much fun to see all the hard work come to fruition with the opening of the West Linn Farmer’s Market this year. The summer solstice celebration was a huge success and was a fantastic way to kick off the season. I’m looking forward to each weeks entertainment, produce and artisan booths. Summer is finally here!
We had a great time at the kick-off summer farmers market. We are so pleased with the selection of vendors and things for kids to do. The kids stayed the whole time. It was great! I hope each week will be just as exciting.
Willamette Main Street’s Summer Solstice celebration was a night of magic and merrymaking that exceeded all expectations. GameShire, the Bridgetown Morris Merry Men, the parrots, pirates, puppets and roving minstrels plus a flash mob made for a lively Main Street indeed.
I look forward to the Farmer’s Market every summer but was very dissappointed with this year’s opening day. There were only 4-5 “farmer” vendors and almost all were selling just strawberries. The music is too loud and placed right in the flow of foot traffic. Also, the tables near the food vendors crowd out the walkways. Lose the kiddie event at the end of the street and move the music and tables there, The food vendors were good and I too, am hoping for more vendors as the season continues. I’d love to see this become the event that I know it can be. Go West Linn!!