Mount Tabor is old. How old? So old it knew Burger King while he was still a prince. So old it knew Clark before he got Sacajawea pregnant the first time. So old it reads the Willamette Week (oh noes…approaching trouble town).

There is a huge party to celebrate this oldness starting tomorrow.

From the Mount Tabor Anniversary website (mttabor100.org).

Mount Tabor Park is today one of the oldest urban parks in the United States (Mount Tabor is so old, it knew Mr. Clean when he had an afro.).

Mount Tabor Park's centennial is established as 1909, when the City of Portland completed purchasing the rural lands now comprising the park. The site was identified in 1903 by landscape architect John Charles Olmsted, brother of Frederick Law Olmsted.

Related Posts and Info from Pipeline

• Portland EVENTS LISTINGS
• 75+ Portland Weekend Events & Parties: July 30-August 2
• August 1: Portland Fremont Festival

Full event schedule and possibly more Mount Tabor is so old jokes after the break…

Detailed Event Information

Pacific Crest Wind Symphony Concert

Saturday Evening, August 1
7:00 p.m. — 8 p.m.

Pacific Crest Wind Symphony, a 40 to 45 member group of musicians, will play a program of light music befitting the centennial celebration.  Pacific Crest Wind Symphony has long been a participant in the Portland Parks summer concert series.  This concert will be the first time that the Symphony has performed in Mount Tabor Park.

Get-A-Life Marching Band Concert

Sunday, August 2
3:00 p.m. — 4 p.m.

The "Get-A-Life" Marching Band will parade into the park from the Salmon Street entrance at approximately 3:00 p.m., pause briefly and play some of their rousing tunes near Reservoir Number 5, and continue to the amphitheater, where they will perform for about an hour.  The "Get-A-Life" Marching Band was honored to march and play in President Obama's January 20 inaugural parade in Washington DC.

Centennial Celebration Art Show

Saturday, August 1 — Sunday, August 2
10 a.m. — 5 p.m.

The Centennial Celebration Art Show will showcase the creativity of numerous artists from the Mount Tabor community and the greater Portland area. The show's theme is “The Four Seasons of the Park,” and any media is acceptable that complements the theme. Please see the link to “Forms” for application and submission forms. There is a deadline of June 30 for art submissions.

• Additional Information and Application Form for the Art Show (.PDF)

Classic Car and Truck Show

Saturday, August 1, 9 a.m. — 2 p.m.
Top of Mount Tabor Park circular drive

The Classic Car and Truck show will be held on Saturday, August 1st. Bring your daily drivers, trailer queens, restored jalopies, hot rods, customs or just works‐in‐progress, and join the fun on Mt. Tabor. Vintage motorcycles are also welcome. The Car and Truck Show will take place on the oval track at the summit of Mount Tabor Park. All Car and Truck Show entrants are asked to register well in advance of the event.

• Flyer for the Classic Car and Truck Show (.PDF)
• Registration Form for the Classic Car and Truck Show (.PDF)

Plein Air Paint Out and Exhibit

Friday, July 31 — Sunday, August 2

Plein air painting simply means painting outside. The Plein Air Paint Out is open to all artists and any medium. Experienced plein air artists and first-timers alike are invited to participate. Ã‚ The Paint Out event begins Friday, July 31 and ends Sunday August 2.  Artists will be painting in and around Mt Tabor during the week before the celebration and during the celebration itself. Freshly created work will be displayed in tents alongside the art exhibit (the plein air art display will be open 10 a.m. — 5 p.m.).

Pastel artist Brenda Boylan, encaustic artist Kimberly Kent, painter June Underwood, and others will offer public demonstrations during the celebration.

The paint out is sponsored by Hawthorne's Muse Art + Design

For information, or if you would like to participate in this non-juried event please e-mail mttaborpaintout@gmail.com

• Event Flyer/Registration Form for the Paint-Out and Exhibit (.PDF)

Mount Tabor Historic Photographs Display

Saturday & Sunday, August 1 & 2: All day

A first-time display of historic photographs from earlier times in the Mount Tabor Park neighborhoods will be presented and sponsored by Jan Caplener of The Caplener~Lincoln Group at Realty Trust. Jan will display approximately 80-90 large format photos, dating from the 1890s to the 1930s.  The photos are from Jan's collection and that of the Dixon family's Montevilla neighborhood Dixon Drug Store collection of early Portland photographs.  The display will be located in proximity to the Art Show tents.

Men With Sticks

Saturday, August 1, 10 a.m.
Sunday, August 2, 10 a.m.
On the green at the top of Mount Tabor Park

Come join Mark Larsen, creator and founder of Men With Sticks, on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., in the trees at the top of Mt. Tabor. Mark will lead a demonstration and workshop in the art of creative movement with sticks. Men and boys of all ages are welcome; sticks will be provided.  Just wear loose, comfortable clothing, and be prepared to move and have fun!

Men with Sticks is a movement and exercise course designed to create health, strength and integrity in individual men, their relationships with other living beings, their communities, the world community, the whole living planet. Positive energy is created and expressed energetically through these exercises and spreads throughout the universe.

For more information, log on to http://www.menwithsticks.com or call email Mark Larsen at sevenstararts dot com

Mount Tabor Centennial Celebration Volkswalk

Saturday, August 1
8 a.m. — 1 p.m.

A commemorative walk hosted by the East County Wind Walkers in celebration of 100 years of Mount Tabor Park. There will be two 5K, or 3.1 mile loops. Do one loop, or both! Duration of the Volkswalk loops will be 8 a.m to 1 p.m. The walk is on pavement and well-maintained park trails, with gradual uphill inclines. The starting point for the walk will be at the park entrance on SE 69th Avenue. Walkers must register at the start point, and will be given a map at registration. The volkswalk is not suitable for wheelchairs.

For information and to register please call Janet Winner at (503)254-3252

Portland Parks & Recreation Department Climbing Wall

Saturday, August 1, 11 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, August 2, 12 noon — 4 p.m.
At the basketball court next to the park's Cauldera Amphitheater

Test your rock climbing potential on the Climbing Wall! This free event is open to adults up to 250 pounds in weight, and to children over 45 pounds in weight. . Each climber must have a waiver signed, wear closed toe shoes and not be under the influence of any intoxicants.

The "traveling" rock wall is 20' feet high when in the upright position, and it has two climbing routes. The climber is fitted into a sit-type harness (the most common type of harness used in the sport of rock climbing) and is connected to a self-belay system that allows the climber to climb freely to the height they desire. The belay system then controls the speed of the climber's descent. Each belay cable is rated for a weight range of 45-250lbs.

Portland Police Bureau K-9 Tracking Dog Team Demonstration

Saturday, August 1 at 2:00 p.m.
Park Cauldera Amphitheater

A demonstration by Portland Police Bureau's K-9 dog tracking team handled by Sgt. Bob McCormick and other officers of the Bureau's K-9 corps will be shown in the Mount Tabor Park amphitheater at approximately 3:00 p.m, Saturday, August 1. The dogs will demonstrate their ability to track, capture, and control suspects while obeying their handler's verbal commands. This event will be an exciting demonstration by Portland's finest and their highly trained working dogs.

Kid's Parade

Saturday, August 1, 3 p.m. — 3:30 p.m.

Bring your young ones to the park and have them join in a fun, festive walking parade, followed by an ice cream social! Kids are encouraged to wear costumes, especially old fashioned clothes (to represent the park's history) fairy costumes, storybook characters, animals, "green" costumes, etc.  Small floats, soap box cars, wagons, tricycles, and other small non-motorized vehicles are fine.  Please, no cars or motorbikes. There is no age limit for participants.

The parade will begin at on the road at the eastern side of the park, just up from the tennis courts, and proceed to the park amphitheater area.  The best approach to the starting point is from the SE 69th Street entrance on the north side of the park; stay left, and proceed up the east drive to the parade start point.  Kids (and parents) should arrive at the starting point by no later than 2:30 p.m.  Look for the balloons and signs that will mark the starting point.

For more information call Mara Cogswell at (503)251-0419, or email her at shecogs_at_yahoo_dot_com.

Ice Cream Social

Saturday, August 1, 4 – 5 p.m.

Picnic Shelter A near amphitheater parking lot

Enjoy an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social with Ben & Jerry's ice creams, complete with free toppings! There will be a nominal charge for scoops of delicious B&Js ice creams, compliments of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Shoppe on SE Hawthorne Blvd. Toppings provided by Friends of Mount Tabor Park.

Mount Tabor early morning bird-watching walk

Sunday, August 2, 7:00 a.m.
Meet at parking lot near Cauldera Amphitheater

Rise early and enjoy the freshness of a late summer morning in Mount Tabor Park while you listen to and watch for the multitude of birds to be seen and heard in the park at this time of year. The walk will start at 7:00 a.m., and will be lead by Gerard Lillie, and Christopher and Adrian Hinkle, all three avid bird watchers and authorities on our avian friends. The bird-watching walk will begin at the park's Cauldera parking lot, near the Amphitheater, above Reservoir 5. Dress for cool weather, and bring binoculars. For more information, contact Gerard Lillie at (503)720-6758 or by email: gerard.lillie@comcast.net

Vintage Bicycle Show

Sunday, August 2
10:30 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
Top of Mount Tabor Park, west side of circular loop drive

The vintage bicycle show will showcase older, vintage or classic bicycles as well as newer bicycles with classic styles. Bikes on display may include pennyfarthings, high wheels, boneshakers, cyclotouring and randonneuring, tricycles, tandems, safety bicycles, Schwinns, among others. Owners will be there to "talk story" about their bikes and answer questions. There may be a lecture on Portland's "Golden Age of Cycling" by Eric Lundgren, a local bicycle historian.

For more information, please contact Oliver Smith, (503)201-3294 Email: oliverbsmith@yahoo.com or Andy Ennis, (503)231-8399 Email: ennis@pdx.edu

Centennial Celebration Dog Parade

Sunday, August 2
3 p.m. — 3:30 p.m.

Bring your pooch to the park to join in this parade of dogs, (on the leash, of course!) through Mount Tabor Park on Sunday, August 2. The dog parade will start at approximately 3 p.m., and will follow the "Get-A-Life" Marching Band from in front of Reservoir Number 5, then up to the amphitheater. Dog owners need to have their pet at the starting point by 2:45 p.m. Please register for this event well in advance. Call Nancy Norby at (503)232-0446 to register.

Green Vehicle Fair

Sunday, August 2nd 10am — 4pm

Come see the latest in eco-friendly vehicles — plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles (EVs), personal mobility devices such as the Segway, biofueled cars, electric bikes, scooters and much, much more at the Mt Tabor Centennial Celebration. Exhibitors will include some of the major hybrid dealers such as Toyota, Honda and Ford. You'll also have a chance to see other sustainable transportation alternatives such as car-sharing options from Zipcar, and a line up of fuel-efficient vehicles from Smart Car and other manufacturers.

For more information, email Dave Raphael at draphael@comcast.net

Guided Cultural and Natural History Walks of Mt. Tabor Park

Saturday, August 1 & Sunday, August 2

Take a guided walk through Mt. Tabor Park to learn more about one of Portland's largest and most important historic and majestic parks. The park exemplifies elements from important periods in the nation's history including the City Beautiful movement, Progressive Era and New Deal. Learn how the park design is directly connected to the famous Olmsted landscape firm and how continuity of care for a half-century has helped to give us the beauty and utility we enjoy today. We will also walk around our 100-year- old reservoirs, which are listed along with the park on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn about some of the amazing reservoir construction details, ranging from the cement masons who came from Italy to the intricate cast iron fencing. Whether your interest is cultural or natural, this tour will enlighten you about some of the fascinating features of the park from upland forest, volcano crater, panoramic views, historic architecture and ornate reservoirs.

The walks will be guided by Shannon Loch, who has lived near Mt. Tabor Park for over 12 years. Assisting Shannon will be Brad Yazzolino and Dee White. They all share a love for the Park's beauty and a passion for maintaining and preserving Mt Tabor Park and its historic Reservoirs now and for our future generations.

Participants should: dress appropriately with good footwear, bring drinking water and be prepared for some uphill walking.

Tours will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2 and last approximately 1 ½ hour, or until 12:30 p.m.  Tours begin at the western promenade next to Reservoir 5, which overlooks the city.  For more information , please contact Shannon Loch at (503) 701-6608, or email her at ShannonLoch@gmail.com.

Tree and plants of Mount Tabor Park guided walk

Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2 at 11 a.m.

Join Tony Cole, one of the founding members of the Friends of Mount Tabor Park and an expert on all things relating to nature in the park.  Tony will lead an informative walk to see the two "Heritage Trees" in the park, a Big Leaf Linden and a Giant Sequoia.  He'll also show you several Douglas fir trees that are eighteen feet or more in circumference.  Tony will also discuss how some of the invasive plants are gaining ground in the park, and what efforts are being made to eliminate these pest plants.

This guided walk will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2.  Meet Tony at Picnic Shelter A, across the road from the amphitheater parking lot.