Annual Albany Events

Celebrate the world of fungi each September at the Albany Mushroom Festival. This free outdoor event features hands-on workshops, expert-led talks on mushroom foraging and cultivation, and a bustling marketplace with artisan goods and supplies to grow your own mushrooms. Enjoy mushroom-inspired dishes from local food vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities for all ages. The festival highlights the ecological role and cultural importance of mushrooms in the Willamette Valley while supporting sustainable practices and local growers.

Step into a world of holiday magic at Christmas Storybookland, now including the beloved Pastaga Lights. Held at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center, this free family event features more than 85 handcrafted displays of classic nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and movies alongside glowing Christmas trees, model trains, and whimsical scenes like a teddy bear village and singing penguins. Kids can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus at their North Pole home, and all ages will enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Celebrate summer with live music and community fun at River Rhythms, Albany’s popular Thursday night concert series held in July and August at Monteith Riverpark. Set along the Willamette River in downtown Albany, these free concerts feature a wide range of musical styles — from classic rock to country, Celtic, soul, and more. Past performers have included Smash Mouth, Tower of Power, and the Dixie Chicks.

River Rhythms offers more than music: enjoy local food vendors, family-friendly art activities, and a relaxed, picnic-style atmosphere. A free vintage trolley shuttle makes it easy to get to the park from stops around Albany. Concerts begin at 7 p.m., and early arrival is encouraged. Admission is free; donations are welcome. 

The Northwest Art & Air Festival is a truly unique event. Balloonists from around the country flock to Albany every year the third weekend in August. Early in the morning, they launch from Timber-Linn Park for flights around the Albany area. At night, balloonists ignite their burners and let the colors of their balloons shine at the gorgeous Night Glow event.

Artists fill the grassy meadows of Timber-Linn Park with a wide variety of artwork, and free nighttime concerts at Timber-Linn amphitheater have brought in acts like Joan Jett and Foreigner. The Art & Air concert series, which was named Oregon's best music program within a festival for 2013, is always free and open to the public.