West Linn’s new, revitalized Wednesday Farmer’s Market will kick off June 22 in Historic Willamette with a Summer Solstice Celebration of music and magic to entice bountiful harvests throughout the Willamette Valley.
Renaissance style merrymaking with roving minstrels, jugglers, lords and ladies, pirates and puppets will turn West Linn’s historic core into an Elizabethan market full of fresh produce and entertainment. The celebration is hosted by West Linn’s Historic Willamette: A Main Street Community with major funding from presenting sponsor Albertsons of West Linn and supporting sponsor Pacific West Bank. Additional funding is provided by the Willamette Neighborhood Association, Les Schwab-West Linn branch, Allium French Bistro, Healthy Spaces, Play2Grow, Gelfand Insurance, BJ Willy’s Public House & Eatery and BJ Willy’s Woodfired Pizza.
Shakespeare, who referred to the longest days of the year as Midsummer, considered Solstice a time of magic. That’s why Historic Willamette Main Street is especially pleased to have local historic conjurer Danny Schreiber, a student of Renaissance magic, serving as Master of Ceremonies. Schreiber, who produces the neighborhood’s annual Turn of the Century Living History Tour, will be joined by local singing quartet “Time After Time” and West Linn’s own royalty, the Old Time Fair Princess Court.
Summer Solstice will also have a sidewalk sale featuring merchandise and discounts from the quaint shops, tasty restaurants and friendly services that make Historic Willamette unique. A food court will feature roasted fare appropriate to the era.
A puppet theater replete with Rapunzel and dragons will amuse kids of all ages. Aspiring young Robin Hoods and Maid Marians will find a treasure trove of games and role-playing activities that range from sword play to castle-storming to archery competitions, courtesy of Play2Grow (www.weplay2grow.com). West Linn’s Giggles the Clown will provide pirate stenciling (gigglesclown@hotmail.com). All entertainment is free of charge.
Solstice celebrants of long ago wore garlands of herbs and flowers, leaped bonfires and drank mead from fermented honey. These traditions evolved into today’s June weddings, honeymoons, and best wishes for health and happiness.
So it’s fitting that Solstice marks the return of Wellness Wednesdays to Willamette with ongoing health and healing demonstrations sponsored by Healthy Spaces retail store and spa. (www.healthyspacesonline.com). During Solstice, garlands and healing baskets will be available for purchase with a percentage of proceeds going to the West Linn Food Pantry.
Throughout the evening, Canterbury Lords and Ladies, fresh from preparations for their upcoming July Canterbury Faire and Jousting Fest in Silverton (www.canterburyfaire.com) will stroll the market. Parrots riding the shoulders of their own swashbuckling Captain Jack’s will ship ahoy from St. Helens where Labor Day weekend’s Portland Pirate Fest is readying. (www.portlandpiratefestival.com).
At 7 pm, Portland’s lively Bridgetown Morris Men (www.bridgetownmorrismen.com) decked out in ribbons and bells, will bring age-old English customs of song, dance, and fine fellowship to life. Their high-spirited moves hark to practices of yore that hastened hearty harvests.
“Historic Willamette, rich with the lore and lure of its converging rivers and mighty waterfall, is the right place to welcome summer,” says Diane Bays, owner of Healthy Spaces.
West Linn’s theme-based, revitalized Farmers Market will run from 5 – 8 pm every Wednesday from Summer Solstice (June 22) through August 24. The market is located at Exit 6 off I-205 between 12th and 14th Streets on Willamette Falls Drive. Weekly themes include a spring greens festival, a berry explosion the week of July 4th with a showcase about antioxidants. During July’s Dog Days of summer, animal treats, tricks and training will be featured. Super food and aromatherapy will be featured during August’s Flower Fest.
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