June
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2012 The
News for the Mid-Willamette Valley
June Loc Events C al alendar Page 2
125 Years of Pioneer Picnic
The beautiful Rose Petal Fountain at the Oregon Garden.
The Oregon Garden A Mid-Valley Treasure
The Oregon Garden is officially 11 years old at the end of June. Now is a great time to plan a day or a weekend to enjoy more than 20 themed gardens on an 80 acre site that truly offers something for everyone. In the Children’s Garden, kids of all ages can dig for the bones of our Cementosaurus, play in the hobbit hole, watch the train go around on a track and wonder about the weird plants garden. While the garden can be navigated entirely on foot, the narrated tram ride is a must-do for just about every visitor. Unlimited use of the tram is included in the admission price, and it’s a great way to see an overview of the entire garden, or to take a ride to one of the tram stops in along the path, where you can get off, explore, and get back on the next time it comes around. The colors and the textures are constantly changing, even from day to day, as the garden displays perennials of many descriptions, and every year they plant over 40,000 annuals, creating brilliant swathes of color throughout the grounds. Monthly programs include at least one Garden University class as well as activities for children through our Junior Gardener’s Club. Check their website at www. oregongarden.org for information about all of the
monthly programs and their special events. The Oregon Garden features a number of special events, too! Join them for their July 3rd celebration, featuring a concert and grand fireworks display, along with children’s activities. “Movies in the Garden” is a new event this year, and you can join them each Thursday July 19 - August 23 for outdoor movies. The car show in the Garden is on August 26, featuring more than 100 cars and live music. Then comes fall, and it’s time to get your boots on for the Barn Dance & Pig Roast. Harvest in the Garden, featuring Scarecrows in the garden for the entire month of October, and Family Harvest Days each Saturday. The Oregon Garden Resort, a craftsman-style inn, beckons right next door. Guests can snuggle into one of 103 rooms, each located in a cottage, and each room with its own fireplace and private, landscaped patio. The main lodge features a lounge with live music nightly, a restaurant highlighting Northwest cuisine, a full-service spa. Every day is a good day to enjoy the beauty and inspiration you will find at The Oregon Garden located at 879 W. Main Street in Silverton, east of Salem.
The Hobbit Tunnel in the children’s area at the Oregon Garden.
The Oregon Garden’s wonderful Water Rings display.
One of the entries in last year’s Pioneer Picnic Grand Parade.
By Rick Rogers It’s officially the oldest continuous annual celebration in the State of Oregon. It all started in 1887 at Brownsville in South Linn County as a reunion of pioneers who had traveled to the west on the Oregon Trail. The official Pioneer Picnic website says that in the beginning families from throughout the Willamette Valley came for the event on horseback and in wagons and buggies to pitch their tents in Brownsville’s Pioneer Park. Early Pioneer Picnics featured three days of fun, fellowship and worship services. Those that gathered in the park would entertain each other with recitations, plays and musical numbers. They would spread their blankets on the ground and there was always plenty to eat and drink. Spirited Sunday sermons were also an important part of the festivities. As the century changed, the event continued to grow adding parades, carnivals and more entertainment to appeal to the entire family. This year’s 125th annual Pioneer Picnic will take place in Brownsville on June 15, 16 and 17 with all kinds of fun, games and activities ranging from a quilt and fiber arts show to the popular annual talent show. There is also a flower show, a tractor show, a horse play day, square dancing, a spelling bee and many more performances and activities to take part in or just enjoy. This year, the Coronation of the 2012 Pioneer Picnic Queen will take place on the park stage at 7PM on the night of June 15. Earlier in the day, the annual kiddy parade will make its way through downtown Brownsville at 1PM. The Grand Parade takes place at 10AM on Saturday, June 16. Each of the three days will see a great Wagon Train Breakfast in the park from 7AM until 10AM. But wait, that’s not all, there is a baseball tournament on Saturday and a 5 on 5 basketball tournament on Sunday. You also won’t want to miss the Logger’s Jamboree Sunday afternoon. You will want to head to Brownsville for a weekend of fun as you take part in the 125th celebration of this historic picnic. For more information, go online to: www. historicbrownsville.com.