Willamette Valley Lavender Festival & Plein Air Art Show is Back

NEWBERG, Ore. – The 19th annual Willamette Valley Lavender Festival & Plein Air Art Show will take place at the Chehalem Cultural Center on July 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The festival will feature a variety of lavender products, art and craft booths, and lavender-infused cuisine and refreshments. Visitors can also purchase fresh-cut lavender and lavender plants from local farms. Food trucks will offer their full menus, including specialty lavender-infused food and beverage options.

The event will also showcase the Oregon Lavender Paint Out, where artists display original paintings created “en plein air” in the weeks leading up to the festival. The Paint Out attracts both amateur and professional artists from the Northwest and beyond.

An opening artist reception and concert will kick off the festival on Friday, July 12 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom, with awards announced at 6:30 p.m.

A free community concert featuring the Grammy-nominated percussion ensemble Sandbox Percussion will follow from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Forecourt.

The festival marketplace will host over 40 artisans and creators with unique lavender-themed items. Additionally, workshops and artist demonstrations will be held throughout the event. On Saturday, July 13 at 11 a.m., local artist Christine Joy Swanson will conduct a plein air demonstration. On Sunday, July 14 at 1:30 p.m., Wayward Winds Lavender Farm will present a lavender plant demonstration.

“Oregon has long been a lavender pioneer,” said a representative of the Oregon Lavender Association. “The variety and breadth of the lavender-based industries located here reflect that long tradition. Plan to visit one of our lavender destinations this year and experience the relaxation of lavender for yourself.”

While the lavender festival is the epicenter of lavender celebration, Willamette Valley businesses are finding their own ways to celebrate the blooms in July. For example, local ice cream maker Cream Northwest is whipping up a batch of lavender ice cream and sorbet, while Good Company Cheese Bar and Bistro created a lavender paloma cocktail to go along with other lavender-infused treats, and SubTerra Kitchen & Cellar has created a lavender-focused tasting menu. You can see the full list of participating business at the Taste Newberg website.

For more information about lavender in Oregon, visit Lavender Northwest’s Oregon Lavender Destinations website. Read last year’s article about the Plein Air Paint Out, and see a full list of lavender festival events at Newsberg.