Portland Parks & Recreation Presents East Portland Summer Arts Festival | Featuring Grammy Winner Esperanza Spalding

Portland Parks & Recreation is proud to present the first annual East Portland Summer Arts Festival (EPSAF) on July 9 and 10 featuring Five-time Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding.

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From press release:
East Portland Summer Arts Festival
July 9-10, 2022
More info: portland.gov

Ventura Park
460 SE 113th Avenue in Portland

The inaugural EPSAF celebration and performances will be held at PP&R’s Ventura Park and is part of Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer Free For All. Grammy award-winning Portland native and artist esperanza spalding is headlining the festival, which is free and open to all.

FEATURING: Five-time Grammy award-winning bassist, singer, songwriter, and composer esperanza spalding will headline the first-annual East Portland Summer Arts Festival! Spalding is an alumna of PP&R’s Community Music Center. Her performance is the evening of July 10. Aaron Nigel Smith & 1 World Chorus + Sora Shodo (reggae fusion and live painting performance) will also be featured at the festival. The East Portland Summer Arts Festival is a new addition to PP&R’s Summer Free For All. The theme of this year’s inaugural festival is music and expression.

“There is no Portland without a vibrant arts and culture community, and without vibrant arts and culture across our whole community,” said Portland Parks Commissioner Carmen Rubio, who also serves as the City’s Arts and Culture Commissioner. “From our festivals to our playgrounds, accessibility is key to fostering a deep and lasting appreciation for our parks and recreation system. This first-ever East Portland Summer Arts Festival accessibly brings arts and culture to East Portland, and I’m hopefully it will be a treasured annual event.”

Daytime arts activities from 2 pm-4 pm with a headlining performance at 6 pm daily. East Portland Summer Arts Festival attractions include multicultural music and dance performances, including Spalding, Aaron Nigel Smith, and 1 World Chorus, live painting from Sora Shodo, Tongan dance, Hip Hop dance performance by Manifest Dance Agency PDX & Hip Hop Soulsation Academy and more. Free drop-in mini music lessons, art activities, and more will be provided by Portland Parks & Recreation’s very own Community Music Center and Multnomah Arts Center. Big Up Music Show, and Family Fun Drumming will be a part of our daily activities, something for the entire family.

“The enthusiasm of the neighborhoods and community have been remarkable,” says PP&R Director Adena Long. “It’s so exciting to see one of Portland’s own, esperanza spalding, return to her hometown to headline this new, major showcase. The festival overall – and her performance in particular – will be a highlight of Portland’s summer.”

Special thanks to our nonprofit partners: Community Music Center, Inc. for their support of esperanza spalding’s engagement and Multnomah Arts Center Association for their support of the East Portland Summer Arts Festival.