Parade of Lights
The Parade of Lights is a perfect kick-off to the holiday season! Bring out the whole family to enjoy a “home-grown” parade filled with zany floats and decorative lighting. Come early to enjoy dinner at one of our downtown restaurants and step out the door just in time to catch the parade go by! If you don’t like sitting on the side-lines, enter your own float into the parade.  The parade begins at 5:30pm from the parking lot at the First Baptist Church (1505 Monmouth Street, Independence -across from Central High School).  The parade will travel East down Monmouth Street, turn left onto 2nd Street, right onto "B" street, and then right onto Main Street; ending at the Independence Civic Center. If you wish to participate in the parade contact the Visitor's Center at 311 Monmouth St., Independence, (503) 838-4268.

Parade of Lights Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 Event Schedule

1:45pm-Santa arrives by train at the intersection of 2nd and Monmouth Streets!
2-4pm-Santa's at the train for photos, gifts, treats, and cocoa.
2-5pm-Cookie Decorating at Ovenbird Bakery (215 S. Main St.).
4-5:30pm-Cookies and cider at the Library.
5:30pm-Parade of Lights Begins.
6:30pm-Parade ends at the Civic Center. Awards, carols, and cookies.
(555 S.Main St.)

Hop and Heritage Festival
 The "original" Hop Festival, also known as the Hop Fiesta, began in early 1930's. The festival grew out of the celebrations in the migrant camps at the hop fields. These celebrations marked the end of harvest. At last the celebrations were combined into one large party in Independence. The festival/fiesta in its original form continued until the mid 1950's, missing only years when the US was most deeply involved in World War II. By the early 1950's the hop crop began to decline. The demise of a large hop harvest also meant the end of the early festival/fiesta. Between the mid 1950's and 2001 there was no official Hop Festival. But other cultural celebrations were tested, some running many years.
Mayor John McArdle created a team in the spring of 2001. He charged this team with exploring the feasibility of bringing back a hop festival to Independence. The team decided that the new incarnation needed to embrace the cultural and historic texture of the community. A date was picked: the last Saturday in September. September 11th occurred, just 18 days before the planned festival. During a meeting on September 12th cancellation of the festival was considered. But ensuing discussion made the resolve to have a festival even stronger. So, on September 29, 2001, 5 blocks of downtown were closed to traffic. Vendor spaces were marked out. Historic displays were in place. Entertainment was planned.

The Independence Hop & Heritage Festival 2001 opened with a stirring but spontaneous patriotic display. Entertainment filled the city stage for 12 hours. The Independence Farmer's Market stayed open all day in the spirit of the festival. The Heritage Museum provided window displays of vintage photographs for downtown businesses. There were lots of vendors, craft displays, a beer garden and a petting zoo.
The festival has stayed true to its nature with a few fun filled additions: Tractor Pull, Lawnmower Races, Pie Eating Contest, Salmon Run Art Contest and Display, Car Show, Helicopter Rides, Pancake Breakfast, and Hot Air Balloon Lift-off. You are guaranteed to find something fun at the Hop and Heritage Festival!
Official Website

Ghost Walk
Not all of our history is traditional. Some of it is of the spectral variety. The strangest piece of folklore is cradled by a popular event, the Ghost Walk. At the end of summer each year folks gather downtown for a free walk through what is purported to be a very haunted area. Walkers learn local history as they hear their favorite ghost stories and visit “active” sites. One such site is Lenora’s Ghost, a business actually named for an often-sighted spirit. The original Lenora was a young bride during World War I. She was lodging at the building – then a hotel. While there she received a telegram informing her that her husband had been killed in France. She was so distraught that she threw herself off an internal balcony, taking her own life. Mischievous yet unexplainable things happen in Lenora’s Ghost. Waitresses report frequent hair pulling and light pushes. Things are moved between closing and reopening. Folks feel watched by unseen eyes. Today, there is a big stain on the floor marking the site of Lenora’s fatal landing. The stain always reappears, despite ardent cleaning. Lenora herself is often spotted in the crosswalk right outside Lenora’s Ghost, but always vanishes before reaching the other side.

4th of July Celebration
Independence Oregon celebrates its namesake, with a 4-day celebration called: 4th of July Independence Days. It was formally known as “Western Days”. The dates change yearly, but they are always centered on the 4th of July. Last year 20,000 people attended our 4th of July Festival.
Events include: children’s parade, main parade, magic shows, carnival, motorcycle show, traditional vendor booths, and concert performances in our wonderful amphitheater. Spend one 4th of July with us and you will find it hard to celebrate anywhere else!
Two nights of fireworks are displayed over the Willamette River, as event-goers watch from Riverview Park. If you are from Oregon you are probably already aware of our epic battery barrage that tantalizes your visual senses. It doesn’t matter where you are from; if you want to see the best fireworks show in Oregon, make Independence your destination for the 4th of July!
Official Website.

Best Oregon 4th of July Events: Fireworks Shows and Independence Day Parades, Music and Activities http://oregon-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/best_oregon_4th_of_july_events#ixzz0l7JUYOEI

Mexican Fiesta
Latin music, food, a low-rider car show, clowns and even fire dancers are all planned as part of Fiesta Mexicana. Admission is free and open to all community members.
Coordinated by Grupo Cultural Huitzilin and Companeros de Polk, the event began in the city on a smaller scale more than 15 years ago as a local celebration of Mexican Independence Day. It took place at local churches or businesses until its popularity prompted a move to Riverview Park in the early 2000s.
Adrian Castro, co-coordinator, said that the event will also serve as a sort of resource fair for small businesses and government and social service agencies. The U.S. Census Bureau, for example, will be on hand to explain the importance of participating in census counts.
People can enjoy the music, get to know their neighbors, and don't have to worry about the cost.

 West Bank Summer Solstice Festival
The West Bank Summer Solstice Festival is held at the Riverview Park Amphitheater in downtown Independence. The event is hosted by “Ragin’ River Steak Co.”, led by the ever optimistic visionary Alex Trevino. The event is planned as an upscale picnic in the park.
Local wineries are brought in to sell wine and provide tastings. While you are indulging in gourmet foods, yours eyes can feast on local art work. Music playing all day is a compliment to this one-of-a-kind festival.  Solstice doesn’t forget about those who enjoy a good glass of beer, local breweries will also be in attendance.
Featured is the Downtown Independence Wine Walk. Discover local shops as you are led on a wine tasting that encompasses two blocks of the downtown sector. Feel free to venture off on your own to visit a shop that you find interesting. Just remember to have an empty wine glass when outside a designated tasting area. This is a brilliant opportunity to drop the kids off at the baby-sitter and enjoy a day with that special someone, at a very special festival.