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- #8: Summer Event Wrap-up, A Car Show for Good, And A Long Stroll Through a Semi-Local Gem!
#8: Summer Event Wrap-up, A Car Show for Good, And A Long Stroll Through a Semi-Local Gem!
A cheeky, charming local newsletter serving up Hillsboro, Oregon’s best events, eats, and everyday magic — one joyful issue at a time.
Amanda Marcott
August 20, 2025
Hey there Reader!
Our sponsors are more than ads — they’re part of the community story we’re telling. Let’s give a little love to this week’s featured biz.
This edition is sponsored by The Viable Source
☕ The First Sip
“Before you scroll… let the vibe steep.”
Hellooooooooooo Hillsboro!
This week my husband and I took yet another trip across the country to pick our kiddo up from grandma’s house, but this time we flew. So I could bore you with the airline plights of the inevitable chaos that is an airport at the very tail end of summer…But I like you too much to do that.
 | I will however, let you know that in addition to the fun events like Brewster’s Bingo, a new Shenanigan’s section, and the (cross my fingers!) library collab for a suggested reads section that are all on their way (I told you a bit more details about them last week)… The Viable Source (our amazing main sponsor this summer) has found us a way to give you fun prizes for referring The Orenco Press to your friends and neighbors! Digital wallpaper, printable monthly event calendars, merch and more! So keep an eye out for that as we hope to have that up an running for you in September. |
But for now, summer is winding down and some of our beloved Hillsboro events are in their last week. Be sure to take advantage of these fun events so you don’t miss out!
So let’s get into it, shall we?!
📻 What’s Brewing (also known as: Events)
Your go-to list of local happenings, side quests, and a few excuses to put on pants.
Find the full forecast at Weather.com
🍻 Happy Hour Recap: The week in review, the weekend in sight.
Did you know there were a bunch of FREE live music performances throughout the week?? Yeah. Me either!!! These are definitely worth checking out!
Wednesday, August 20 @ 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Vibes, Wine & Sunshine - Live Music at Helvetia Winery
Wednesday, August 20 @ 6 - 8:30 pm. Vibes, Wine, & Sunshine - Live Music with Sean Otis at Danu Wines
Wednesday, August 20 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Live Music: Bluegrass Circle Jam at Pizzario
Thursday, August 21 @ 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Live music at 808 Grinds
Thursday, August 21 @ 7:00 pm - close. Live Music at Pizzario
Friday, August 22 @ 6 - 8:30 pm. Friday Night Bites - Live Music with Simmer Down at Danu Wines
Friday, August 22 @ 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm. Live Music at Pizzario
Friday, August 22 @ 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Live Music with Mike Abang at Hillsboro Downtown Station
Saturday, August 23 @ 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Live Music with Brenda Andrus at Hillsboro Downtown Station
Saturday, August 23 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Live Music at Pizzario
Sunday, August 24 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Acoustic Open Mic at Pizzario
Tuesday, August 26 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Live Jazz Jam at Pizzario
Real quick! A big shoutout to our main sponsor this month!
One of the best decisions I’ve made for The Orenco Press is working with The Viable Source! From day one, they made the process of building our website simple and stress-free. Not only are they designing a clean and functional site for us, but they’re also setting it up with all the right SEO, so people can actually find us online without me having to lift a finger. |  |
What I love most is how they’re thinking ahead, and guiding us. Not just “doing” things. Our chats are very collaborative and educational so we can be empowered to update minor things in the future without having to call in the whole team. Our site will be ready for event submissions, blogs, and even guest contributors down the road as we grow. The Viable Source isn’t just a web developer; they’re truly a partner in helping us expand. And the best part? Every business that supports The Orenco Press benefits too, since their links will get that extra SEO boost from the expertise this team brings.
It’s been such a joy working with them—they’re patient, professional, and always kind. If you want a website that works for you and marketing support that gets results, call Jeremy at The Viable Source!
Sponsored by The Viable Source
🎡 Out & About: Local fun for all ages.
Guess what?! Hillsboro Parks & Rec opens their 2025 FALL ACTIVITIES today at 8am! Register for activities by signing in to your account. (You can make a free account if you’re not signed up yet.)
 | Hillsboro’s 2025 Tuesday Night Market is coming to an end! Enjoy one last hoorah at the amazing Tuesday Night Market on Tuesday, August 26. The event transforms Main Street and the Avenues into a pedestrian-only plaza filled with live music, local vendors, farm-fresh produce, artisan goods, and delicious food & drink from some of the region’s favorite food carts and Downtown restaurants. Check out the vendors, food carts, and live bands that will help celebrate the end of summer! |
This is the last week of the Park Pop-Up Hosted by Hillsboro Parks & Recreation! This adorable family event is free for everyone! Dogs are welcome at the Park Pop-Up, but please make sure they are leashed! (And remember to pick up after them!)
Wednesday, August 20 at UJ Hamby Park from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Features include: Rollin’ Rec, Wetland on Wheels, Mobile Makers, and Library on the Loose
Thursday, August 21 at Hidden Creek Park East from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Features Include: Mobile Makers, and Library on the Loose
🎉 Even more events!
Preschool Story Time - Thursday, August 21 from 10:15 am - 11:00 am at Brookwood Library
Finger plays, singing, and movement activities accompany the reading of various picture books for 30 minutes. For ages 3-6 years. Weekly on Thursdays.
Pix in the Park: Shrek 2 - Friday, August 22 from 7:30 pm - 20:30 pm at Hidden Creek Park West
Inclusive Story Time - Friday, August 22 from 10:15 am - 11:00 am at Brookwood Library. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Limited to 15 children, ages 3-5, and their parents and caregivers. Kids with varying learning styles and abilities come together in a safe and supportive environment.
Chess at the Library - Saturday, August 23 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Shute Park LIbrary.
Practice your moves in a casual setting with other players of these ancient board games. Students of all ages & adults are welcome! All levels are welcome!
End of Summer Reading Party - Saturday, August 23 from 6:15 pm - 8:00 pm at Brookwood Library
Celebrate your reading adventures with an epic party featuring obstacle course, bouncy house, fun games to earn raffle tickets, and a game truck experience for ages 10 and up! Don’t forget to bring your Ticket or Reading Log for entry and access to all the fun.
Book Babies - Sunday, August 24 from 10:15 am - 11:00 am at Shute Park Library
Babies and their grownups are invited to share nursery rhymes, finger plays, songs and a simple book while making new friends and developing early literacy skills. Includes unstructured playtime. For ages 0 to 12 months.Weekly on Sundays.
Discovery STEM Storytime - Sunday, August 24 from 1:20 pm - 2:30 pm at Shute Park Library
Join us for stories, songs, and hands-on experiments. For ages 4-7. Acompáñenos para cuentos, canciones, y experimentos activos. Para edades 4-7 años.
Line Dancing $5 - Monday, August 25 from 7:00pm - 9:00 pm at Hillsboro Downtown Station. Hosted by Dance Your Boots Off.
Trivia Night - Tuesday, August 26 from 6:00pm - 9:00 pm at Hillsboro Downtown Station
Check out the HUGE list of free events at the Hillsboro Libraries!
Kiddo cooking classes
Pajama Storytime
Wellness, science, and language classes
even “Read to the Dogs"!”
🍓 Hillsboro Farmer’s Markets
Wednesday, August 20 @ 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm at Reed’s Crossing
Saturday, August 23 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at Downtown Hillsboro
Sunday, August 24 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Orenco Station (No dogs allowed at this one)
🎪 This Week’s Main Event: Big crowds. Big vibes. Big fun.
Bring the kids, bring a camp chair, and definitely bring the sunscreen!
As a side note from the editor: If you ever wondered if there was in fact a human behind The Orenco Press, I did not realize until I was reading the published newsletter last week that I jumped ahead to 🎪 THIS Week’s Main Event! Oh well! 😂 It’s for a good cause, and there will be VINTAGE cars! (I really hope there’s a pink ‘57 Chevy with wings!!)
🚘 Family Promise Motor Classic Car Show
When: Saturday, August 23 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Where: Wingspan Event & Conference Center
A community car show featuring classic cars, local vendors, live music, food trucks, and family-friendly activities, all to support families in Washington County on their journey to stable housing.
Join us for the first-ever Family Promise Motor Classic!
This exciting community car show brings together vintage car lovers, local businesses, and supporters across Washington County to make a difference for families working toward stable housing.
Proceeds from this event directly support Family Promise of Greater Washington County and our mission to help families experiencing housing instability find shelter, resources, and long-term stability.
While admission is free, we would appreciate it if you could bring a donation of household items or paper goods to help support local families in the shelter. Every roll of paper towels, pack of toilet paper, or set of dishes helps create a more comfortable, welcoming home for those starting fresh.
Classic and custom cars on display
Family-friendly fun, food, and games
Local vendors & community booths
Prizes for crowd favorites
Donate here: https://givebutter.com/xefgpn
Remember!
Bring refillable water bottles and snacks for the kids
Shade seating is limited—consider a blanket or folding chair
MAX Tuality station is nearby for convenient transit
🏆 Big Deal Energy
Because the little things are the vibe.
💖 Volunteer Vibes: Small actions. Big impact.
Block 67 Party & Neighborhood Cleanup - Friday, August 22 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm in Downtown Hillsboro. Make sure you get registered to help! out!
☀️ A Bright Spot: A little light, right when you need it.
Have you seen the new murals that will be installed in Hillsboro? Two new mural projects coming to Downtown Hillsboro’s Cultural Arts District this fall will add color and interest to the city’s visual landscape.
What’s more is they are putting out a call for even more beautification of Hillsboro! Artists, community members, business owners, and building owners are encouraged to apply now for the 2036 round of funding to be awarded next spring!
Did you know you can bring your gently used or unused used office supplies to the Hillsboro Farmer’s Markets to help alleviate the financial burden from our local teachers? After you clean out those craft bins, basements, closets and offices, bring your donations of usable school supplies to the Information tent at the Hillsboro Saturday Market in Downtown Hillsboro any Saturday through the end of October to support the School Supply Collection and Reuse Project.
Your donations will help educators and students in Washington County, help clean out stuff you got from Staples 6 years ago for that ONE project you never quite got to (no shade I have 20 of them! 😂), and show your appreciation to our EXTREMELY hardworking educators!
🛋️ Meanwhile, in Real Life (Lifestyle)
The good stuff we’d tell you over coffee — grounded, practical, and actually helpful.
🛠️ Ask A Local Pro: Tips and tricks to make life easier.
Now that we are in the midst of our sunniest time of year, it is a great time to take care of some of the outdoor maintenance on our homes. You can always hire a local small business to handle these projects for you, but if you have the DIY spirit and are willing to spend some time in the heat, you can tackle these on a day off!
  | Air Conditioner Upkeep If you’re lucky enough to have Air Conditioning, those units have been working overtime the last couple of months. Before the weather turns and we switch from AC to heat, August is a great time to schedule an HVAC tune up. There are lots of great companies to support locally, and our favorite is Elevate Heating & Cooling. You’ve probably driven past their Century Blvd office a hundred times as you drive down Hwy 26. We’ve been lucky so far this summer to not have too many forest fires burning close to town. Even with a summer with great air quality, August is a great time to check and change out your furnace filters. A clean filter will not only improve the air quality in your house, but it will also help your HVAC system to work more effectively. Rachel Callahan Sponsored by Callahan Construction and Design |
🌻 The Nature of Things: Sky above, soil below, and everything in season.
🌼 August garden rhythm — Late-summer in Hillsboro calls for two big must-dos: irrigate and pest-proof. OSU Extension reminds us to keep an eye on irrigation (measure out ¼" of water with something like a tuna can to guide your watering) and to shade new plantings from that stubborn sun. It’s prime time for mulching ornamental beds, pruning cranberries, fertilizing cucumbers, squash, broccoli, plus cleaning up strawberry beds for next year’s yield. And if you’re dreaming of a vibrant fall garden, plant kale, Brussels sprouts, turnips, Chinese cabbage, and parsley while the soil’s still warm.
🍂 What to sow now for fall & spring — Real Simple recommends hardy, eye-catching perennials to plant this month that’ll bloom beautifully in spring: think irises, daylilies, hydrangeas, peonies, and blue star (Amsonia). These choices promise resilient, early-season color next year.
🌑 A rare black moon & the New Moon in Virgo — Astronomers are calling the New Moon on August 23 a “black moon,” because it’s the second one in August. Not visible, of course, but it gives us the darkest skies of the month—perfect for stargazing. The moon enters a new cycle in grounded Virgo at about 06:06 UTC (Griffith Observatory)—that’s 11:06 p.m. PDT on August 22.
To make the most of this week:
Water deeply, mulch diligently, and prep for cooler-season sowing.
Plant perennials now for a glorious spring show.
Watch the skies during the new moon—those darker nights are stellar for spotting the Milky Way (and maybe a late meteor or two).
🚙 Worth the Trip: Not too far. Totally worth it.
I have lived in Hillsboro since 2012, and though my family and I have heard of Washington Park (the one behind he zoo), we have never visited. And boy howdy am I wondering why we waited this long! Washington Park has a HUUUUUUGE list of attractions!
Obviously, there is the Zoo, Japanese Gardens, and the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum. All paid attractions that are worth a visit in their own right. My son LOVES going to the Zoo and thus, we’ve been members since he was in preschool. Today, however, I want to let you in on the secret of all the fun FREE stuff there is to do!!
Like the Hoyt Arboretum! “Hoyt Arboretum is Portland’s museum of living trees, featuring more than 2,300 species of trees from around the world, along 12 miles of trails.” Trail maps are available, and yes! It’s totally free!
The International Rose Test Garden! You can absolutely rent this space for a gorgeous romantic wedding, because it boasts a whopping 10,000 roses, typically in bloom from May through October, overlooking Portland’s skyline and Mt. Hood. But if you just want to wander and channel your inner Bridgerton, yup. It’s free to wander too!
Got littles? After you’ve wandered the Rose Garden, head over to the Rose Garden Children’s Playground with an accessible playground that includes slides, swings, a sand pit, and restrooms. The adjacent Elephant House is available for picnic and event reservations through Portland Parks & Recreation.
But the list isn’t done! There are Tennis Courts, an Archery Range (bring your own equipment for both), picnic tables, and an open field for your leisure. In addition, there are beautifully stunning memorials you can walk like the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial, and the Sacagawea Statue Memorial.
And to top this whole thing off, you can get a shuttle to take a grand tour of all Washington Park has to offer with the Free Shuttle Loop so you don’t even have to worry about parking! Take the Max to the Zoo, and you’ll find the start of the Shuttle that can drop you off at each spot!
There’s plenty more planned, and lots more to do so I can provide the bestest neighborhood newsletter this side of the tunnel! But for now I just want to say thanks. Thanks for joining my very long group chat in my brain, for all your future suggestions to share with others, and for hanging out all the way to the end.
I’ll see you next Wednesday, and I hope you have a GREAT week!
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