By Patti Jo Brooks The Mountain Times
Drinks, music, and family fun abound at this year’s Music Fair and Feast, hosted by the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy three fun-filled days of great entertainment, good eats, and lots of family activities — July 10 through 12 in Sandy’s Centennial Plaza. Also known as the Beer Garden, the Music Fair and Feast is actually a complete street fair of its own — and it supports a really great cause. While joining in on the festivities with friends and family, you’ll also be participating in the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce’s one big fundraiser of the year. Now that’s a win-win situation!
Make your way over to 17466 Hoffman Ave. (across from City Hall) where you’ll find the greater part of the Plaza enclosed and set up with a live music stage and participating food vendors. This year’s lineup includes returning favorite CeCe’s Gyros from Gresham and newcomer Braddah T’s, serving up homemade Hawaiian food. Columbia Distributing will offer a variety of brews such as Coors Light, Coors Banquet, a local IPA, Hard Cider, and Hard Seltzers. Wines and a Vodka Lemonade cocktail will also be in the mix. Non-alcoholic beverages including iced tea and bottled water will be available as well.
The Music Fair and Feast kicks off Thursday, July 10 at 5 p.m. with Family Night – complete with giveaways for the kids. Admission is free and kids are welcome until closing at 11:30 p.m. Since the Plaza’s in the center of town, it’s a great spot to settle in and view the Sandy Mountain Parade, which celebrates the opening of the Sandy Mountain Festival. The parade starts at 7 p.m., so there’s plenty of time to grab a beverage and a bite beforehand.
When the parade wraps up, Radio Riots take the stage from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., performing a fun, dance-filled set spanning seven decades of hits. “It’s so much fun to watch the kids out there dancing. It’s cute,” says Khrys Jones, event organizer for the Music Festival and Feast.
On Friday, July 11, gates open at 5 p.m. with general admission for adults at $13. Kids are welcome in the Beer Garden until 8 p.m; after that, it’s restricted to ages 21 and over. Reentry stamps are available for those who wish to leave and return.
The Friday music lineup includes:
Mystic Mama Band, 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. – Spanning seven decades of your favorite music in a few dance-filled hours, The Radio Riots have something for everyone.
The Archives, 7:00 p.m.–8:45 p.m. – a Portland cover band playing an upbeat mix of ‘80s, ‘90s, and beyond
Volume Plan, 9:15 p.m.–12:00 a.m. – Portland’s premier alternative rock cover band
Saturday, July 12, festivities start at noon and last until 12:30 a.m.. Family Day, running from noon to 3 p.m., features kids’ games, a photo booth, painting stations, and hands-on crafts like maracas and guitars. Free Family BINGO runs 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., led by Shay Shay from No Place Saloon. “It’s a blast. She’s hilarious,” says Jones.
Saturday’s musical lineup includes:
Drifter, 3:00 p.m.–3:45 p.m. – folk rock with an emotional, high-energy twist
Fire & Ice, 4:15 p.m.–5:00 p.m. – a tribute to Pat Benatar
Ra Khan, 5:30 p.m.–7:15 p.m. – an island reggae band spreading the healing vibes of reggae music across the Pacific Northwest
Exquisite Taste of Plain Water, 7:45 p.m.–9:30 p.m. – blending Classic Country, Americana, Pop, and Rock
RPM, 10:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m. – a high-powered local rock cover band
VIP Passes are available for purchase through the sandyoregonchamber.org website or at our VIP sponsor’s location, Geren’s Farm and Landscape, for $45. A pass can be used either Friday or Saturday night and includes:
VIP Entrance (no waiting in line)
Three drink tickets
A limited-edition, color-changing souvenir cup sponsored by Geren’s Farm and Landscape
A 2025 limited-edition sticker
Presenting sponsor Les Schwab Tires invites you to stop by Sandy Les Schwab Tires and pick up your $2 off coupon, good toward the Music Fair and Feast entrance fee. For a complete list of sponsors and additional information, visit the website, click the “Calendar” tab, and select “Music Fair and Feast.” Sponsors make this event possible, so let’s acknowledge them and show our support whenever possible.
The Music Fair and Feast runs alongside the Sandy Mountain Festival, which hosts the Thursday, July 10 parade and an elite art festival in Meinig Memorial Park on Saturday, July 12. Just a block from Centennial Plaza, the park makes it easy to swing by and support local artists. Jones is especially excited about working in tandem with Sandy Mountain Festival’s new president, Lisa Snider. “Lisa’s wonderful!” she says. “It looks like a bright new partnership is in the making — and Sandy will be the beneficiary.”