The final weekend of July features plenty of options for Philomath-area residents. You can begin the weekend Friday evening with a fundraiser concert and silent auction at Lumos or take in a performance by a Grammy Award winner at the Sanctuary of Healing Arts. The PHS All-Class Reunion and the final hours of the Lions Club Book Sale are highlights on Saturday. Then there’s Music in the Park, the farmers’ market and a few other events on Sunday.
Gallery: Sip and Stroll 2024
A collection of photos from the Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce’s Sip and Stroll on Saturday.
Here’s a rundown of Philomath events and activities for the weekend — defined here as 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday — along with a selected few from neighboring communities.
Friday, July 26
Strengthening Rural Families, a nonprofit that serves individuals and families in rural communities in Benton and Linn counties through various educational programs, workshops, classes and events, will hold its annual fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. at Lumos Wine Co. This organization, which is based here in Philomath, is hoping folks will take advantage of this Friday night social opportunity to enjoy music by Mule on Fire, participate in a silent auction and bring a picnic while sampling some wine. Lumos will donate a portion of all wine sales during the event to the organization. Admission is free. Lumos is located at 24000 Cardwell Hill Drive. Philomath News wrote a separate story on this upcoming event.
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Sara Gazarek, a Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist, along with band members Larry Koonse (guitar), Richard Lloyd Giddens Jr. (bass) and Mark Ferber (drums), will make an appearance in Philomath tonight at 7 at the Sanctuary of Healing Arts. General admission tickets are $40 and can be purchased online. Organizers said that a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to SafeHaven Humane Society in Tangent. SoHA’s wooded venue is located at 23321 Alsea Highway, which is about 4 miles south from the Highway 20 and 34 intersection. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more details on the event, see the Philomath News preview.
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In our neighbors to the east, the Corvallis Celtic Festival will be in its second of four days with live music at the new PRAx concert hall on the OSU campus. Powerhouse fiddle and guitar duo Rakish, the festival headliner, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in a special ticketed concert. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online.
Saturday, July 27
The annual summertime gathering known as the PHS All-Class Reunion (some folks may remember this being called the Philomath Old-Timers Reunion) will run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Philomath City Park. A potluck lunch begins at noon. Ken Pellett and sons Tyler and Colby Pellett will entertain in the event’s final hour. Anyone with a past association with PHS (students, teachers, staff, etc.) is invited to attend. For more details, read the Philomath News preview story.
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The third and final day of the Philomath Lions Club book sale will go from noon-6 p.m. at Skirvin Park’s Philomath Frolic and Rodeo Grounds. Today’s session features the $4 per bag sale (the Lions Club provides a paper grocery bag). Special books are half price on the final day. For more info on the book sale, see the Philomath News preview story.
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Lumos Wine Co. will host a free Saturday concert with Wild Hog in the Woods, old-time stringband musicians. Lumos is located at 24000 Cardwell Hill Drive — head west out of Philomath on Highway 20, take a right on Kings Valley Road and after a mile or so, take another right on Cardwell Hill Drive. The winery will be about two-tenths of a mile down the road on the right side. Those headed out area advised to bring their own blanket or chairs to sit on along with a picnic dinner.
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Starker Forests will host an outing from 9-11 a.m. at the Soap Creek Tree Farm north of Corvallis as part of its Summer Tour Series. The tour includes up to a two-mile walk where participants will learn about a wide range of forestry topics and management practices. For more about the series of tours, see a story published by the Philomath News.
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Philomath Museum’s “The Big Picture: American Quilts From the Volckening Collection” exhibit is up at the Moreland Gallery on the second floor.The show, which will remain in place through Oct. 12, features the collection of Bill and Linda Volckening with quilts that go back as far as the 18th century. On the museum’s ground floor, the “What Is It?” exhibition remains with objects that were used locally in the past and would have been familiar to most people living then — an opportunity to enjoy your encounters with the past. Philomath Museum is open from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is free.
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The Corvallis Celtic Festival’s third day of events includes activities in and around Central Park from 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Events include a bagpiper parade, live music from eight bands and smaller performances from storytellers and singers. The Corvallis-Benton County Library will offer workshops on beginning guitar, beginning and advanced Irish drum, pennywhistle, fiddle, and singing. There will also be workshops, including dance, offered at the First Presbyterian Church. A variety of food and beverages along with Celtic-themed vendor booths will be set up. Admission to the festival’s daytime events is free, although festival buttons will be sold for an optional donation of $10 or more. For more details, see the festival’s event schedule.
Sunday, July 28
Philomath’s Music in the Park concert series welcomes the Barrie Dempsey Duo to Philomath City Park. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Randy Kugler Community Hall and gazebo vicinity. The Barrie Dempsey Duo performs folk and Americana. The concerts are free. Mud Oven Pizza is scheduled to be on site.
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The Philomath Farmers’ Market enters its 10th week in front of Philomath Community Library. The event goes from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with a vendor list that includes produce, other food items, crafts, services and information. The POP Club for kids is also available. The market accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards and Double Up Food Bucks, which match SNAP purchases up to $20 each week for fresh produce and food products.
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Westwood Community Church’s summer outdoor concert series continues with a 6 p.m. performance by the Cornerstone Gospel Singers. No admission will be charged but an offering for Cornerstone’s ministry will be taken. Organizers encourage attendees to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on with limited seating available. Westwood Community Church is located at 23319 Highway 34 at Greasy Creek Road, approximately 4 miles up the Alsea Highway from Philomath. See the Philomath News Community Calendar for more details.
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DRTR, a local blues and americana band made up of the trio of Mike McDonough, Dave Rogers and TR Gregg, will perform from 2-4 p.m. at Lumos Wine Co. under the oaks. Baked & Loaded Potatoes food truck will be serving all day. Lumos is located at 24000 Cardwell Hill Drive.
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The Corvallis Celtic Festival’s final day of events includes activities in and around Central Park from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Events include a bagpiper parade, live music from four bands and smaller performances from storytellers and singers.
