Cheers to the Weekend!

It’s a big weekend in Portland this week with lots of fun, free, and exciting events to go to. Here is a round-up of the Vanguard’s top picks for the week:

Festa Italiana, August 23-25th, 11-11 p.m., Free admission | All ages
Festa Italiana offers a taste of Italy by turning Pioneer Courthouse Square into a “Piazza Italia” for the weekend with a pizza tossing and grape smashing competition, live music and performances, and, of course, great Italian food! Admission is free! Everybody “Hey, mambo! Mambo italiano!
Hey, mambo! Mambo italiano, Go, go, go….” – http://festaitalianaportland.shutterfly.com/

KPSU Kruise – Sunday, Aug. 26th, Boards at 10:30 p.m. and begins cruising: 11:00 – 1:00 am, $20
Sit back,relax, and rock out as KSPU takes you up a lazy river on the Porland Spirit with performances by Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Williamette Week’s best new band Radiation City. Tickets are $20 with an $8 bistro menu available. Proceeds benefit KPSU, the student-run radio station at Portland State University. – http://www.portlandspirit.com/kpsu.php

Unrock the Bowl: Help make a beach in downtown Portland – Saturday, Aug. 25th, 9 – 2 p.m., Free | All ages
Tired of having to trek all the way to coast or swimming hole to cool off during hot days? The people that brought you the Big Float are now calling out to PDX’ers to join them as they pick up the rocks from the shoreline at Tom McCall Waterfront Park and make a beach in downtown Portland. Help remove as much or as little as you like, if Portlanders work together anything is possible. Help Unrock the Bowl – http://www.thebigfloat.com/

Powell’s Block Party – Saturday, Aug. 25th, 2-9p.m., Free | All ages
Book lovers it’s time to get off the couch and crash the party! Help celebrate Portland’s beloved bookselling institution’s 41st Anniversary! Powell’s is throwing a block party with mini readings from Chuck Palahnuik, Whitney Otto, Chelsea Cain, Vanessa Vaselka, Karen Karbo, Yuvi Zalkow, Lidia Yuknavitch and special geusts: Congressman Blumenauer, Julie Mancini (Mercy Corps and Literary Arts), and Congresswoman Bonamici. You can see the full schedule and location information at – http://www.powells.com/blog/promotions/powells-block-party-timing-is-everything/

Art in the Dark: Drop of A Hat w/ AWOL Dance Collective, Aug. 24 – 26th 8:30 p.m.,$10-$30 | All ages
Culture buffs and dance fans: Awol dance collective offers a performance that will have you sitting on the edge of your seats as you watch an aerial acrobatic circus unfold before your eyes. Lions, tigers, and trapezes, Oh my! – Visit: http://www.awoldance.org/ to learn more or purchase tickets online.

Oregon State Fair, Aug. 24 – Sept. 3, Cost varies depending on event | All ages
What do you get when you combine a carnival, concerts, farm animals, and homemade pie? The annual Oregon State Fair, a great all ages event that is an Oregon tradition. Check it out at http://www.oregonstatefair.org/