festivals - Pitstops for Kids

5 fun ways to view the total solar eclipse in Oregon

August 16, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

On Monday, August 21st, a total solar eclipse will cross over 14 U.S. states. In the week leading up to this rare event, tourists from across the world will converge to see the moon’s shadow touch the earth. The shadow (called the umbral cone) will make landfall in Oregon just north of Newport at 10:15 am PST, then make its way east across the state. Hotels along the path of the eclipse are already maxed out, and reservable Oregon campsites are completely filled.

If you haven’t made your reservations yet, don’t worry! Try your luck with dispersed camping on Oregon public lands, opt for a first-come, first-served campground, or check out one of these fun ways to view the total solar eclipse!

Bring the family to a Willamette winery:

Brooks Winery, located along the path in Amity, Oregon is hosting a Total Solar Eclipse Event August 20th-21st. On the 20th, families can participate in a BBQ supper followed by live music and a star talk, then are invited to camp right at the winery. On the 21st, the day will begin with yoga followed by a sparkling wine brunch and a talk by Professor Ethan Siegel, an astrophysicist from Lewis & Clark College. The eclipse viewing will then be followed by pizzas from the winery’s wood-fired oven and, yes, more wine. Families are also invited to bring their own picnics and explore the grounds. The two-day package will set you back $350, with a discount for just the 21st.

A little further south, Illahe Vineyards will host a similar eclipse viewing from 9 am – 12 pm on Monday, August 21st. Light food will be available for purchase, as well as complimentary eclipse viewing glasses for a prime panoramic viewing experience. Day only tickets are only $50, and include a wine flight for the adults and light food.

Attend Central Oregon’s Moonshadow Festival:

Running August 18-22nd, the Moonshadow Festival will be held at Wine Down Ranch near the Crooked River Valley. This 2100 acre traditional western ranch will provide camping options for both tent camping and RV camping, or day passes can be purchased for any of the four days of the festival. We recommend getting tickets early, however! Day passes are $50, and camping for the festival will set you back as much as $600 (still much less than a hotel room).

Go to the Willamette Country Music Festival:

This year’s festival is August 17-20th in Brownsville, but event planners have decided to extend one day to include eclipse viewing on the 21st. Tickets are only $25 for Eclipse day, and camping on site is another $200. There will be live music and entertainment during the day, as well as a fireman’s breakfast. Gates will open at 7 am on the 2st.

Head to the Salem fairgrounds:

In addition to an event at the actual capitol building, Salem will host an eclipse event at the state fairgrounds, hosted by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). The event will start at 6 am, with the viewing at 10:17 am. OMSI is only selling 8,000 tickets at $8 apiece for adults and $6 for kids. Parking is only $5. As this is the best deal we’ve seen yet for eclipse viewing, ticket will go very fast!

Look for smaller events on the Oregon coast:

Want to escape (some) of the crowds? Head to where the eclipse will first be viewed, in Pacific City, Depoe Bay, Lincoln City, and Newport. Try to get a campsite in one of Oregon’s first come, first served state campground sites on the north coast or better yet, try camping on Oregon’s public lands, then drive to the eclipse towns early in the morning. Remember that most campgrounds will be hosting small events as well, including informational talks. Good luck to you!

Foodie fun for families: Oregon Chocolate Festival with kids

January 27, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, a family trip to Ashland, Oregon should be on your radar. With both the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) and Rogue River in its backyard, Ashland is known for its outdoor adventure. And of course, it’s also a theater destination, as home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In recent years, Ashland has sprung onto the culinary scene as well, with brew pubs, wineries, and restaurants. Have a foodie family? Come in early March to enjoy the Oregon Chocolate Festival with kids.

The Oregon Chocolate Festival has always called Ashland home. Last year, it was held at the fun, retro-styled Ashland Hills Hotel and Suites, with over 30 chocolatiers and a total of 44 vendors. In addition to sweet samples from all the chocolatiers, located from around the state, the festival hosts dessert contests, auctions, and demos from local chefs.

How to plan your day at the Oregon Chocolate Festival with kids:

The festival runs three days, over a Friday-Sunday. We recommend attending on Sunday, which is a shorter, and therefore cheaper day. Start with the Willy Wonka 5K fun run. This low-key race includes a 1/2 mile sprint for kids and a traditional 5K for everyone in the family, strollers and dogs welcome. Stay afterward to peruse the vendor booths, taking at least a few hours to sample the chocolate from everyone! Yes, you will overindulge!

Grown ups: in addition to the chocolate booths, cider and wine booths are set up. For the kids, water stations are plentiful, and there’s usually some form of hot chocolate or liquid chocolate to try.

When you enter the festival (held indoors), you’ll be given a schedule. Pay attention to this information, because it tells you when and where to see chef demonstrations and other events. On the Sunday we visited, we watched a 30 minute demonstration on making a eucalyptus-infused chocolate dessert and the grown ups attended a beer and chocolate pairing class. These classes and demos are included in your ticket price.

After you’ve had enough chocolate (it DOES happen eventually!) head outside of the hotel to find Ashland’s best food trucks. This is a great opportunity for a low-cost and easy lunch!

Once you’ve ‘cleared your palate’, head back inside for more samples and to make some purchases of your favorites. All the booths we visited took debit and credit cards, so bringing cash wasn’t necessary. We ended up with several treats we couldn’t resist, as well as business cards so we could order from chocolatiers outside our area.

Tip: Be sure to vote for your favorite chocolate creation or business in the ‘people’s choice’ style awards. On Saturday afternoon, ‘official’ awards are given out as well.

Festival ticket prices:

Friday and Sunday are half-days and $15 each. Saturday is a full day, with $20 tickets. Multi-day tickets are available, but probably not necessary. Kids 8 and under are free!

Where to stay:

Combine a trip to the Oregon Chocolate Festival with a family getaway in Ashland. Stay at the site of the festival at the Ashland Hills Hotel and Suites with their package deal. In 2016, it was under $160 for a room and tickets for two (just add any youth tickets needed). Read a full review of this hotel. We’d plan to ski one day at Mt. Ashland Ski Area and attend the festival the next!

We received tickets to the Oregon Chocolate Festival free of charge, for the purpose of review. We thank the festival for their hospitality.