Hundreds enjoy two-night ‘Summer Arts Fest’ in Ventura Park

INCLUDES CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO | Here’s a look at the second of two evenings of concerts held in outer East Portland as part of Portland Parks’ ‘Summer Free for All’ …

In the Hazelwood neighborhood, Ventura Park is again the location for the East Portland Summer Arts Festival events.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Again this year, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) launched its “Summer Free for All” in outer East Portland with two-evening East Portland Summer Arts Festival concerts – on Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13 – and again in Ventura Park.

Back when it first began, this “festival” was an afternoon-long event that was climaxed with an evening concert. But, for the past two years, it’s been pared down to just one evening-only event. It was back to two days this year!

It’s the Vasquez family! They came from the Richmond neighborhood to enjoy this outer East Portland free concert.

Bands performed with the enhancement of professional sound and staging in the south end of the park, up against SE Stark Street, at the bottom of a slope that forms a natural amphitheater.

On July 12, the show featured the “Edna Vazquez: Best of Both Worlds” tour. The now-Portland-based Mexican singer-songwriter – who is originally from Colima, Jalisco, México – described her show as “a dynamic musical journey, exploring the worlds of mariachi and rock”.

But there was one more day to go.

See, and hear, highlights of the July 13 East Portland Summer Arts Festival in our video:

The July 13 concert was entitled, “Portland Taiko and Friends: A powerful evening of drums, dance, and musical storytelling.”

Immediately before the Sunday evening concert, PP&R’s Community Music Center invited arriving guests to make their own music using percussion instruments and a giant-sized keyboard.

Then the Mexica Tiahui Aztec Dance Group started off the show with performances of traditional, energetic drumming and dancing. Next up was “40s Band Era” music by the Minidoka Swing Band, a group of high school students who – through their music and storytelling – are keeping alive the memories of Japanese American “internment bands” during World War II.

The Minidoka Swing Band takes the stage.

Portland Taiko percussionists drum out enchanting, mesmerizing rhythms.

After a brief intermission, the headliners – Portland Taiko – began their set. Their lively and spirited performance of Japanese taiko drumming merged traditional techniques with modern creativity and Asian American identity – fusing music, movement, and storytelling.

PP&R’s Summer Free for All isn’t over!
Check out the “Summer Free for All” events still to come in August, across Portland: CLICK HERE for the listing of the remaining movies, concerts, and other special events.

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