Forest Grove Festival of the Arts opens Wednesday
Dancing, live music, print, painting, theatre, literary art, weaving and more: the Forest Grove Festival of the Arts returns on Wednesday, May 7 for a second year.
The 2025 Forest Grove Festival of the Arts returns on Wednesday, May 7 for a second year, with 18 performances planned for the first round of the monthly festival.
Scheduled for every first Wednesday of the month from May through August, the event will coincide with the Forest Grove Farmers Market, held from 4 to 8 p.m.
Chas Hundley
According to a press release from the Forest Grove Public Arts Commission, the biggest new addition this year is the Festival Zone, an expanded area for performances and audience seating on 21st Avenue, west of Main Street.
The event is a collaboration between the commission and Adelante Mujeres, the nonprofit that runs the Forest Grove Farmers Market.
“We can offer this amazing event for free thanks to all the wonderful arts stakeholders in this area willing to donate their time and talent to build community and share their passion for the arts," said Linda Stiles Taylor, a member of the Forest Grove Public Arts Commission.
Music, dance, theatre, literary arts, fine arts, and crafts were all promised as part of the event.
May 7 will see a total of 18 performances spread across three locations in Forest Grove.
A May Pole Dance by the Forest Grove Dancing Witches will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Festival Zone.
Forest Grove High School groups—Mariachi Tradición, Da Capo (Disclosure: this journalist was a member of Da Capo around 2010-2011), Chamber Ensembles, Jazz Combos, and String Quartet—will perform on 21st Avenue.
"Two adjacent booths will have make n’ take Mexican paper flowers, artist trading cards & tins, and Artingales’ colorful house prints," a press release noted.
Elsewhere in the city, the festival will be held in three more locations.
Valley Art (2022 Main Street) will host an ages 18 and up ‘Spring Fling Card Making’ in the back classroom from 5:30 to 7 p.m. by the Kitschy Collagist (free; requires RSVP at kitschycollagist@gmail.com).
Valley Art's opening reception for the May and June featured artists Uli Kirchler, a wood artist, and Ingrid Zahl-Thomas, who works in acrylic painting.
Gann Bros. Printing (2032 Pacific Ave) will offer Mother's Day card printing, and will feature live music by singer-songwriter (and farmer) Josh Smith of Trask River Redemption (Smith will play again in Forest Grove this Friday at Waltz Brewing beginning at 7 p.m.).
In the basement, Outback Downunder, Forest Grove's newest art studio featuring artists Jeffrey Hall and Shari Erickson, will hold its grand opening from 4 to 8 p.m. during the festival. The studio will feature a water media demonstration.
While not officially part of the festival, Theatre in the Grove's Main street location, will be open during festival hours, where visitors can learn about the historic theatre's history, find out what productions are coming this season, and inquire about volunteer information.
At the Forest Grove City Library (2114 Pacific Ave), Portland-based artist Jenna Lechner will demonstrate weaving with native plants. There will be a free "make and take" craft (a cedar bookmark) available while supplies last.
