‘Tis the season! No, not the holiday season! (Not yet, anyway!) Fall is the season for the giant consignment/resale events that have sprouted like mushrooms all over the Portland metro area in recent years. If you were so inclined, you could head to one of these supersales every weekend between now and the end of October.

Something of a mix between a gigantic garage sale and a real-life version of Craigslist, each sale boasts clothes, toys and other flotsam and jetsam from hundreds of consignors, all gathered together in a bargain hunter’s paradise. For a newbie, staring at a football field’s worth of stuff to buy can be overwhelming, so we asked Brooke Unwin – coordinator of the Just Between Friends sale, one of the oldest and best-established sales in the region – for some tips on getting the most out of each sale. (After you’ve read all our tips, you’ll find a handy-dandy calendar of some of our favorite upcoming resales.)

• Unless you’ve got a babe in arms who loves to sleep in the sling, don’t bring the kids! You’ll want to be able to concentrate on digging out the best deals, not chasing after the children or trying to explain to them why you’re not buying that enormous bouncy castle. If you do want to bring the kids, try to find out ahead of time whether the sale you’re going to has a kids area, like Super Kids Resale in Gresham, which is hosting a face-painter this year, among other activities.
• Give yourself plenty of time. To get the most out of a resale can take a good 3 to 4 hours, especially when you factor in standing in line at the end to pay for your finds.
• Bring a friend, someone who knows your taste and can help you, in Unwin’s words, “divide and conquer!”
• Make a list prioritizing exactly what you need – including sizes – and make a copy for the friend you’re bringing along.
• Speaking of prioritizing, figure out what’s most important to you and head there first. Don’t get distracted along the way! Big items like wagons or indoor play structures go quickly so don’t dawdle. Veterans advise hitting the clothing area last. Because there’s so much of it available, there likely will be a good selection left when you get there. And don’t forget to look under the piles and on bottom racks of clothes – you might find hidden treasures.
• “By far, my biggest recommendation is to volunteer (to work at the sale you’re going to),” Unwin says. “Those people get what they want – and you should see the stuff … they get! It’s amazing.” That’s because volunteers – the people who work the cash registers or help keep things organized during the sale – get to shop earlier than the general public. The more time you volunteer, the earlier you get in.
• Take your kids’ measurements before you start, including inseams, waist and arm lengths. Some people even trace their kids’ feet on a piece of cardboard so they can measure shoes, Unwin says. There are no returns and sizes can vary with brands. Your kiddo might be a 2T in Gap sizes and an 80 in Hanna Andersson’s Euro sizing. Have an idea of what they need for different brands.
• Before you head to the check-out line, take a little time to go through what you’ve grabbed and make sure you really need it all. Double-check for wear and tear, too; though the sales have volunteers who examine all items, they aren’t trained professionals and they may have missed loose buttons or stains.
• Bring reusable shopping bags to cart out your loot. Lots of people also show up with wagons to haul around their gear as they hit different parts of the sale.
• Bring food, and snacks. All that shopping gets tiring, and not every sale has food readily available.
• Bring cash, especially if you want to set a spending limit for yourself. That will force you to carefully curate your purchases. And if you’re really bargain-hunting, items are usually 50 percent off on the final day of the sale.
• Keep an eye out for new-in-the-box items at resale prices. After all, the holidays aren’t so very far away.
• If you’re hunting for media like DVDs or video games, do an inventory of the titles you already own before you leave home. After all, will you really be able to remember whether you’ve already got Bob the Builder: Dig Lift Haul, or if it’s Bob the Builder: Pet’s in a Pickle on your shelf?
• Finally, if you’ve got a smart phone, consider downloading a barcode scanning app like RedLaser. It lets you scan the barcode on any item and pulls up an instant comparison with retail prices so you can figure out whether you’re really getting a good deal.

Now that you’re ready to shop with the experts, here are some upcoming sales for serious bargain hunters:

• Just Between Friends, September 17-19, Portland, portland.jbfsale.com
• Super Kids Resale, September 23-26, Gresham, superkidsresale.net
• Twice Around the Block, October 1-3, Milwaukie, tatbsale.com
• Sweet Repeats, October 6-9, Tigard, sweetrepeatsconsignmentsale.com
• Pass it On, October 15-17, Portland; October 21-24, Hillsboro, passitonsales.com
• Baby’s Bottom Dollar, October 22-24, Tigard, bbdsale.com
• Full House Moms, October 28-30, Portland, facebook.com/pages/Full-House-Moms-Resale/258645796917

by Julia Silverman

You’ll find all your old favorites — big-time entertainers, 4-H and FFA exhibits, crafts and baked goods and midway rides galore — but you’ll also find plenty of new attractions to excite even the most experienced fair goer!

Back this year are ATV Safety Rides, the Bi-Mart Monster Truck Experience, a BMX demo and riding area, the Cherry City Roller Derby Girls, mountain biking, rock climbing, a skate park and more. New to the fair are sand sculpting, an outdoor aquarium, flat track dirt racing, the Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center, bowling, Volcanoes baseball, Air Soft shooting and several other intriguing additions. And don’t miss Days of the Dinosaur, featuring more than 35 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, skeleton replicas, a fossil dig, 3-D cinema, a little dino ride and other big time dino fun!

ENTER HERE BY NOON ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, FOR A CHANCE TO WIN.

PLEASE NOTE: We’ll be mailing the tickets on Saturday afternoon, so plan to visit the fair between August 31 and September 6.

What’s your best memory from — or favorite attraction at — the Oregon State Fair?

This month seems to be especially rich in cultural celebrations – including the ones below – making it the perfect time to start exploring the cultures of the world with your family!

India Festival. Entertainment and food from India. Aug. 15, 11 am to 9 pm. FREE, vendors charge. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave. 503-645-7902. icaportland.org.

Glendi. Greek festival with entertainment, pony rides, face painting, crafts and more. Aug. 20 and 21, 11 am to 10 pm. FREE, charge for food and children’s activities. St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 14485 SW Walker Rd., Beaverton. 503-644-7444. glendipdx.com.

Explore Japan. Drink tea, learn how to use chopsticks, make crafts and more. Aug. 20, 11 am to 1 pm. FREE w/museum admission. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.

Soberiha. A Russian-American cultural festival in the style of a traditional Russian folk carnival with American music. Aug. 21, noon to 6 pm. FREE. Esther Short Park, W Columbia/8th St., Vancouver, Wash. 360-907-4876. cityofvancouver.us/calendar.asp.

Celebrando la Familia. A Latino Summer Resource Fair with information on health, education, legal and other topics along with entertainment and more. Aug. 22, 1 to 5 pm. FREE. Esther Short Park, W Columbia/8th St., Vancouver, Wash. 360-907-4876. cityofvancouver.us/calendar.asp.

Festa Italiana. Italian entertainment plus marionettes, pizza toss, grape stomp and more. Aug. 26 and 28 noon to 11 pm; Aug. 27 noon to midnight. FREE, vendors charge. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave. festaitalianaportland.shutterfly.com.

Salsa en la Calle PDX. Salsa lessons for all ages, a children’s art tent from noon to 6 pm, and dancing in the streets! Aug. 29, 11 am to 11 pm. $15; free ages 12 and under. East Bank Festival Plaza, SE Main/Water. 503-314-2639. salsaenlacallepdx.com.

What’s your family’s favorite local cultural celebration?

But there is one thing I sorely miss about my son’s younger days, and that one thing is Oaks Park’s Preschool Rides. For $6.25 per child, kids 6 and under can enjoy all the kiddie rides they can handle for two straight hours, followed by milk, cookies and a story. (Parents get in free!) It’s paradise for little kids, everyone moving at a slower pace, everyone happy and smiling and thrilled by the magic of the big pink slide, the soaring balloons and spinning tea cups, the historic carousel, the peaceful train, the bouncing frog hopper and the remarkably speedy (though somewhat rickety) mini-roller coaster. The day I realized my son had outgrown those perfect summer mornings was a sad day for me indeed.

We had an amusement park not unlike Oaks Park in the middle of the city where I grew up, but that park is long gone, having been turned into a lucrative seven-story shopping mall and traffic magnet sometime during my middle school years. Maybe that’s why I was so fond of Oaks Park’s Preschool Rides. Not only did they remind me of my own happy preschool days, they reminded me that I now live in a place where a little amusement park can still exist within the city limits, providing fun-filled days for kids of all ages all summer long.

Preschool Rides starts tomorrow (June 22) and runs from 9:30 to 11:30 am every Tuesday and Wednesday through September 29 at Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way.

If your kids are still young enough to enjoy a good old-fashioned kiddie ride, you should definitely check it out. And say hi to the Frog Hopper for me!

oakspark.com/chippersrides.html

Kids and parents aren’t the only ones gearing up for a summer of fun. Local libraries are getting ready for another summer of reading for fun and prizes. Here’s a roundup of some of the area’s library reading programs for kids (and one for adults!). They’re all free and offer great prizes and incentives to keep kids reading all summer.

And the fun doesn’t stop there … visit your local library or their Web site to find out about the exciting events they have planned for kids and families throughout the summer.

Multnomah County Library: Beginning June 18, kids and teens can visit any Multnomah County Library branch to sign up for the Summer Reading game. The program runs through August 31.

Adults in Multnomah County can get in on the action, too, with Read 4 Life. Just read or listen to four to six books, complete the Read 4 Life card (available at any branch), return it by August 31 and you’ll be entered in a drawing for one of two e-book readers.

Clackamas County Library: Clackamas County’s summer reading program began June 1. You can download the reading log from the Web site, color or cross out a picture for each 15 minutes read, then return the completed log for prizes between July 28 and September 5.

Washington County Cooperative Library Services: Washington County’s program began June 1 and runs through August. Sign up at any WCCLS branch.

Fort Vancouver Regional Library District: Clark County’s summer reading program also began June 1. It ends August 15. Kids can earn prizes and a certificate of achievement for their summer reading efforts.

Some individual branches are hosting their own summer fun, including Ledding Library of Milwaukie. Their summer reading program began June 1 and ends August 31. Check with your nearest library branch to find out what’s happening in your neighborhood.

(Did we miss anyone? Please let us know so we can add other local programs to the list!)

Need some summer reading recommendations? Talk to the children’s librarian at your local branch, or check out these links on Multnomah County Library’s Web site:

• Fun Facts & Stories for Early Childhood
• Fun Facts & Fiction for Ages 5-12
• Fun Facts & Fiction for Teens
• For adult reading suggestions, fill out the library’s preference form and get custom recommendations just for you.

Our July issue will include summer reading recommendations for kids of all ages provided by some of our favorite local children’s librarians, too!

What books do you recommend for great summer reading?

The theme for their free event is “Explore Your Backyard,” with activities to encourage families to experience active outdoor fun in our own backyards, neighborhoods and region.

Smokey Bear and Ranger Rick will be in attendance, and activities will include a Family Fun Walk along the Columbia River and much more. You’ll be able to get up close and personal with birds of prey, ride in the Big Canoe or paddle a kayak, play disc golf, watch a Dutch over cooking demonstration, find out how to care for wooden lawn furniture and learn about the many opportunities for walking, biking and hiking around the area. There also will be an archery demonstration and bike maintenance clinic, and the Burgerville NOMAD will provide tasty eats.

For more information about this free event, visit cityofvancouver.us/watercenter.asp.
For more information about National Get Outdoors Day, visit nationalgetoutdoorsday.org.

You might have attended an Earth Day event this past weekend, but don’t stop there. Here are a few upcoming events to inspire you even further:

Reseeding Our World. Music and entertainment, Kids’ Village, interactive activities and lots of green info. April 24, 10 am to 7 pm. FREE. A project of City Repair. Washington High School, SE 12th/Stark. 503-235-8946. cityrepair.org.

Papa G’s Earth Day Celebration and Show. This event features juggler/children’s entertainer Joe Mishkin, free samples, specials and giveaways. Evening performance by Michael Hurley and the Jim Boyer Band. April 24, 11 am to 7 pm. FREE. (Evening concert is $7.) 2314 SE Division. 503-235-0244. papagees.com.

Children’s Museum Earth Day Celebration. Earth-loving music at 11 am and 1 pm, and other special activities throughout the weekend. April 24 and 25, 9 am to 5 pm. Most activities free with museum admission. Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org.

Earth Day Run. Run for fun and the earth, with music and activities after the race. April 24. 9:45 am kids’ runs; 8:30 am 10K; 8:45 am 5K. Kids Recycle Race is free; Kids 1K: $7; other races: $40. Earth Advantage National Center, 16280 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road. 503-635-3577. energyevents.com.

Earth Day at Cooper Mountain Nature Park. Take a walk and learn about flowers and birds. Ages 2 to 5 with a grown-up. April 22, 10 am. $8 per child. 18892 SW Kemmer Rd, Beaverton. 503-629-6350. thprd.org.

Earth Day Sustainability Fair. Kids’ crafts plus info for grown-ups. April 22, 4 to 6 pm. FREE. Garden Home Recreation Center, 7475 SW Oleson Rd. 503-245-9932. gardenhome.plinkit.org.

Celebrate the Earth at Tryon Creek. Lean about bobcats, enjoy crafts and dress as an animal for the parade. April 25, 2 to 4 pm. FREE. Tryon Creek State Park, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd. 503-636-4398. tryonfriends.org.

We’re not suggesting you rid your house of all electronic media, but wouldn’t it be interesting to unplug your family for a week and see what happens? If you’re game to give it a try, now’s the time. April 19 to 25 is national Turnoff Week (which includes all screen-related entertainment), a time when families all across America will take the plunge to disconnect from their electronic security blankets and reconnect with their families.

You don’t have to plan anything extreme to replace TV time with family time. Take a walk. Play a board game. Bake cookies. Read aloud. Invite friends over for dinner or dessert. Check with your child’s school and your local community center for activities scheduled throughout the week as well.

For more ideas about non-screen activities, visit insteadoftv.com.

And if you don’t make it through the whole week without plugging in, give yourself credit for the effort. Even one night a week is a great start … and you might be surprised how much you all enjoy it!

What’s your family’s favorite unplugged activity?

If you’re looking for some inspiration – or want to increase your gardening prowess – check out the Master Gardeners’ Earth Day Celebration at the Community Demonstration Garden this Saturday! This free event includes activities for the whole family, with master gardeners from Oregon State University’s Extension Service on hand to answer your gardening questions. Learn how to start a “pizza patch,” check out some “wacky garden science” and take home some seedlings for your own backyard farm.

This Earth Day Celebration kicks off a new series of Summer Saturdays in the demonstration garden. Here’s the rest of schedule:
May 17, 11 am to 1 pm: Build a scarecrow, plant a pizza patch and learn how to create terrariums.
June 19, 11 am to 1 pm: Taste the harvest, bring old boots and shoes to boot camp and take home your own painted rock garden mulch.
July 17, 11 am to 1 pm: Explore the trees in an arboretum tour and enter the world of worms.
August 21, 11 am to 1 pm: Enjoy a pizza party at the pizza patch, plus hot salsa and cool drinks.
September 25, 9 am to 2 pm: Check out the plant sale, swap recipes and taste tomatoes.

The Community Demonstration Garden focuses on teaching the local community how to use safe, sustainable gardening practices to grow food and native plants. 503-445-4608. metromastergardeners.org.

What will you grow in your backyard farm this year?

Register online by April 2 and you might score a free ticket! (Organizers have a limited number of free tickets to give away.)

Presented by Drive Less/Save More, the show will feature activities for the whole family, including a Demo Ride Area, a Kid’s Activity Zone, Sprint Races, Bike Stunts, a BMX Jam Session, an Urban Bicyclist Fashion Show, a Pimp’d Bike Contest and more! Local bicycle experts also will lead workshops on all things bike-related, from road safety and flat tire repair to family biking, bike commuting and maintenance. You’ll also find one of the largest displays of bicycles, gear and apparel under one roof.

If you don’t snag one of the free tickets before April 2, it’s only $7 at the door for adults. Kids 12 and under are free and don’t need to register.

The show will be held on April 10 from 10 am to 6 pm, and on April 11 from 10 am to 5 pm at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE MLK, Jr. Blvd. For more information and to register, visit pedalnationevents.com.

Pedal Nation is sponsored by Drive Less/Save More, Nutcase Helmets, Amtrak Cascades, Hopworks, Momentum Magazine, Therapeutic Associates, Showers Pass, Kink fm, NW School of Freeride and other partners/supporters.