Northwest Art and Air Festival facts for kids
The Northwest Art and Air Festival is a super fun yearly event held in Albany, Oregon, United States. It's a special celebration of both amazing local art and cool things that fly! This festival has been called the "best in its budget class" twice by the Oregon Festival and Events Association. Lots of people love it, with about 40,000 visitors coming each year. In 2008, city officials even said it was "the biggest by far"!
The idea for the festival started in August 2000. It's organized by Albany Parks & Recreation and the Albany Visitors Association. A local company that makes special metals for airplanes, ATI Wah Chang, helps to sponsor it. The festival has only been canceled once, in 2020. You can find the festival at two main spots: Timber Linn Park and the Albany Municipal Airport.
Contents
Awesome Art
The festival is a great place to see art! More than 70 artists from all over Oregon come to show off their creative work. You can find many different kinds of art here. Some examples include beautiful pottery and ceramics, unique wood furniture, and cool woodworking pieces. There's also sparkling jewelry, handmade lotions and soaps, colorful paintings, and interesting photography. You might even see cozy rugs and fun toys! It's a fantastic chance to discover new artists and their amazing creations.
Cool Music
Get ready to enjoy some great tunes at the festival! Music is played on two different stages. On Saturday night, bigger bands and famous performers often play at the Oregon Amphitheater. Over the years, many well-known artists have performed here. Some past acts include Joan Baez, Los Lobos, Johnny Rivers, and Christopher Cross. In 2008, the popular band Little River Band even played! It's a perfect spot to relax and listen to live music.
Amazing Air Show
The Albany Municipal Airport is where all the exciting air events happen. The U.S. Army often brings a real Blackhawk helicopter for everyone to see up close.
Young Eagles Flights
One of the coolest parts for young people is the "Young Eagles" program. If you are between 8 and 17 years old, local pilots can teach you the basics of flying! This includes a 20-minute lesson, followed by a thrilling 20-minute airplane ride over the beautiful Willamette Valley. It's an incredible way to experience what it's like to fly a plane!
Planes and More
Besides the Young Eagles program, you can also take airplane and helicopter rides for a fee. There are also displays of radio-controlled airplanes, which are like giant remote-control toys that really fly! You'll also see unique aircraft like ultralights, which are very light planes, and experimental aircraft that pilots build themselves. Sometimes, even small jet planes are there, flying around!
Hot Air Balloons
A truly magical part of the Northwest Art and Air Festival is the "Night Glow" hot air balloon show. As the sun sets at Timber Linn Park, the hot air balloons light up their burners. This makes the balloons glow brightly like giant nightlights against the evening sky. The show is set to music, and in 2008, they even added a cool laser light show! It's a breathtaking sight you won't forget.
In the early mornings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you can watch at least forty hot air balloons launch into the sky. Spectators can get very close to the balloons as they fill up with hot air and get ready to take off. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even take a ride in a hot air balloon for a fee!
See also
