Last Thursdays On Alberta Street Begins This Week

PORTLAND, OR - From the Portland Bureau of Transportation: This Thursday will be the start of the Last Thursdays on Alberta street festival on NE Alberta Street, which will close the road to all motor vehicle, bicycle and bus traffic from 6 to 9 p.m., and open it for the popular community event.

This year, there will be three events, on June 28, July 26, and August 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. each evening.

The event is on NE Alberta Street, between NE 15th and 30th avenues. The Portland Bureau of Transportation invites all Portland families, artists, and neighbors to enjoy the vibrant street scene and support local businesses and artists.

This year, Last Thursdays on Alberta will celebrate its tradition as a fun, family-friendly showcase of grassroots art and music. Portland is a place where neighbors and friends meet in our streets to enjoy life outside. PBOT is committed to supporting a vibrant and livable city.

Last Thursdays on Alberta is a celebration of grass roots art, food, and culture. This year, there will be new features at the event in partnership with Alberta Art Works and Indigenous Come UP. These features will provide opportunities to make crafts, learn about using salvaged materials at home, and learn about our cultural history.

This year will have some special new features:

• Alberta Art Works will have special programming at four places in the festival, at NE 17th, 19th, 23rd, and 25th avenues. These four areas will feature voices from the neighborhood. In June, Last Thursdays proudly features local South Asian dancers the Gulabi Gang, the Unpresidented Brass Band, and a tiki bar bike. In July, the four areas will feature Kutatonon's young African dancers, fire performers at the Big Red Bus, and the Revolution Choir. Look for colorful flags marking the performance areas
• A Native American crafting circle will gather on the north side of the 21st and Alberta St. intersection. Stop by to make some crafts! Then, check out the Native American art that will be located in this area.

Last Thursdays on Alberta is part of PBOT’s Portland in the Streets effort that uses our largest public space - our streets - as a gathering place where neighbors come together, support local businesses and encourage creativity.

People who plan to visit NE Alberta Street this Thursday are encouraged to take public transit, bike, take BIKETOWN, or walk to the area. Attendees are reminded to be courteous to the surrounding neighborhood. Please park with consideration and limit the level of noise when returning home after the event.

Vendors are asked to register at www.lastthurspdx.org.

Image via Lisa Finn/Patch