If you haven’t heard about this year’s East Portland Expo, or Fun-O-Rama – take a look at this, and see why you should make plans to attend both fairs this weekend …
With pavilions set up, last year’s EPO XPO is ready to welcome visitors. East Portland News archive photo
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Two exciting, family-oriented events that we’ve shown as our July Featured Events in our Community Calendar are taking place in outer East Portland this weekend!
Read on, and learn about the return of the 2nd Annual East Portland Exposition – and the return of the GABA Fun-O-Rama Fair & Cruise-in.
2010 East Portland Exposition
On both July 17 and 18, the 2010 East Portland Exposition (EPO XPO) is truly becoming outer East Portland’s premiere summertime family-fun event.
“It’s a two-day community expo,” said founder and organizer Mark White. “This year it’s again at Ed Benedict Community Park, along SE Powell Boulevard, between SE 100th Avenue and 102nd Avenue.”
White told us that this year’s EPO XPO will feature numerous exhibitors, lots of entertainment and food, free health testing, and free activities for children and families.
Live entertainment picks up the tempo of this event each day. East Portland News archive photo
Fun, active activities – like these bounce structures – keep the kids occupied for hours. East Portland News archive photo
- Entertainment: There’s lots of it, all day long, both days – from “Kids Central” loaded with great, free kids activities, to eleven (11) top live bands. CLICK HERE to see the full entertainment schedule, and details about the bands scheduled to play.
- Exhibitors: The list features too many to count! From neighborhood and community organizations, to nonprofit organizations, to businesses – you’ll be able to get a wealth of information on a wide variety of topics. CLICK HERE to see the full listing of exhibitors.
- Multicultural Share Fair: It’s a celebration of the incredible and vast diversity found in outer East Portland, comprised of a handful of “villages” featuring performances, demonstrations, and activities. CLICK HERE to learn more about this new EPO XPO feature.
- Food: Local vendors provide food and beverages at EPO EXP throughout both days.
Food, and lots of it, will be available at this year’s EPO XPO. East Portland News archive photo
Co-sponsored by all 13 East Portland Neighborhoods, the 2010 EPO XPO also includes free health-testing each day. Both Saturday and Sunday end with Portland Parks’ Movies in the Park at dusk – Transformers (2007) on Saturday evening, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on Sunday evening.
Sunday Parkways means no motorized vehicles
This year, EPO XPO will be partnering with the City of Portland for the very first Sunday Parkways in East Portland; and EPO XPO will be at the heart of it all.
>> Note: Motorized vehicle parking is NOT available on Sunday – come on Saturday if you drive. For more information regarding Sunday Parkways East Portland, see the City’s official website: CLICK HERE.
The gates open at 11 a.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m.; active children’s activities close at 7:00 p.m.; the park stays open until after Movies in the Park.
2010 GABA Fun-O-Rama
Community Fair & Cruise-in
One attraction of the Fun-O-Rama continues to be their terrific cruise-in. East Portland News archive photo
On July 18 only, the 2010 Gateway Area Business Association Fun-O-Rama Community Fair & Cruise-in returns to outer East Portland.
On Sunday, if you’re not inclined to pedal your way to EPO XPO – because all of the streets in southern outer East Portland are closed off for the Sunday Parkways event – here’s another great event to attend.
Hop in your car or truck and come on out for a fun, family day, from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Parkrose! Look at all they’ll have going on:
Gateway Area Business Association board members (standing: Lou Fontana, of Parkview Christian Retirement Community, and Ajnesh “AJ” Prasad, from Columbia State Bank; seated: Lee Powell, Farmer’s Insurance, and David Panichello of Opti-Con, Inc. These public-spirited citizens are shown making plans for this year’s GABA Fun-O-Rama Community Fair & Cruise-in.
Check out all they offer at this year’s event:
- Cruise-in – more than 100 classic muscle cars, trucks, specialty vehicles, and antique cars will be on display
- Rock out – with great live classic rock and blues by “The Stingrays”
- Fun for the kids – including a Super Bounce, Dunk Tank, and Whirly Bird
- Great food – You’ll find BBQ Chicken, pulled pork, pizza, tacos, hot dogs, and more.
Drawing on their extensive repertoire, The Stingrays are like a “live jukebox” who play and sing all the hit rock-and-roll songs from the era. East Portland News archive photo
“Proceeds from our event this year,” reminded event coordinator Lou Fontana, “support Loaves & Fishes, Parkrose High Scholarships, Oregon Humane Society, Salvation Army, Parkrose Athletics & Band, David Douglas Athletics & Band, and Centennial Athletics and band.”
It’s all happening at Parkrose High School at 12003 NE Shaver Street (a block west of NE 122nd Avenue. To learn more, see their webpage PDF flyer: CLICK HERE.
Organizer Lou Fontana shows off one of the trophies to be awarded at the 2010 GABA Fun-O-Rama Community Fair & Cruise-in.
© 2010 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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