The Northwest Art and Air Festival is an annual festival in
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the county seat of Linn County, Oregon, and is the eleventh largest city in that state. Albany is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
that celebrates local art and aeronautics. The Oregon Festival and Events Association has twice named the festival "best in its budget class" and in recent years the festival has averaged 40,000 visitors during the course of the event.
[Robbins, Amand]
''Art & Air Fest aims for the sky''
''Albany Democrat-Herald'' 2008-08-21 retrieved 2008-09-18 In 2008 festival attendance was described by city officials as "the biggest by far".
[Ingalls, Cath]
''City says crowds ‘biggest ever’''
''Albany Democrat-Herald'' 2008-08-27 retrieved 2008-09-18
The Northwest Art and Air Festival was conceived in August 2000. It is run by
Albany Parks & Recreation and the Albany Visitors Association, and is sponsored by a local aerospace alloy manufacturing company,
ATI Wah Chang. It suffered its only cancellation: in 2020.
Locations include Timber Linn Park and the
Albany Municipal Airport.
Art
Over 70 artists from Oregon showcase their work. Art includes, pottery and ceramics,
wood furniture and woodworking, jewelry, lotions and soaps, painting, photography, rugs, and toys.
[
]
Music
Music is performed on two stages with notable acts appearing in the Oregon Amphitheater on Saturday night. Past acts have included Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez (; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing more ...
, Los Lobos
Los Lobos (, Spanish for "the Wolves") are an American rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional music such as cumbia, ...
, Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers (born John Henry Ramistella; November 7, 1942) is an American musician. His repertoire includes pop, folk, blues, and old-time rock 'n' roll. Rivers charted during the 1960s and 1970s but remains best known for a string of hit sing ...
, Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross (born Christopher Charles Geppert; May 3, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter from San Antonio, Texas.
He won five Grammy Awards for his eponymous debut album released in 1979. The singles "Sailing" (1980), and "Arthur's T ...
and, in 2008, Little River Band
Little River Band (LRB) are a rock band originally formed in Melbourne, Australia, in March 1975. The band achieved commercial success in both Australia and the United States. They have sold more than 30 million records; six studio albums rea ...
.[
]
Air
The Albany Municipal Airport hosts a variety of events including a display from the U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
of a Blackhawk Black Hawk and Blackhawk may refer to:
Animals
* Black Hawk (horse), a Morgan horse that lived from 1833 to 1856
* Common black hawk, ''Buteogallus anthracinus''
* Cuban black hawk, ''Buteogallus gundlachii''
* Great black hawk, ''Buteogallus uru ...
helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...
. Local pilots instruct children from ages 8 through 17 on the basics of flight through a 20-minute instruction session called Young Eagles, which ends in a 20-minute airplane ride over the Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley ( ) is a long valley in Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The Willamette River flows the entire length of the valley and is surrounded by mountains on three sides: the Cascade Range to the east, ...
. Airplane and helicopter flights are offered. Radio controlled airplane
A radio-controlled aircraft (often called RC aircraft or RC plane) is a small flying machine that is controlled remotely by an operator on the ground using a hand-held radio transmitter. The transmitter continuously communicates with a receiver ( ...
s are put out for display. Ultralight
Ultralight aviation (called microlight aviation in some countries) is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with ailer ...
s, experimental aircraft
An experimental aircraft is an aircraft intended for testing new aerospace technologies and design concepts.
The term ''research aircraft'' or ''testbed aircraft'', by contrast, generally denotes aircraft modified to perform scientific studies, ...
and small jet plane
A jet aircraft (or simply jet) is an aircraft (nearly always a fixed-wing aircraft) propelled by jet engines.
Whereas the engines in propeller-powered aircraft generally achieve their maximum efficiency at much lower speeds and altitudes, jet ...
s are present and flying.[Moody, Jennife]
''Innovations Soars at Airshow''
''Albany Democrat-Herald'' 2008-08-24 retrieved 2008-09-18
Balloons
A signature production of the Northwest Art and Air Festival is said to be its "Night Glow" hot air balloon
A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carries p ...
lighting. At dusk in Timber Linn Park, balloons ignite their engines—this illuminates the balloons like giant nightlight
A nightlight is a small light fixture, usually electrical, placed for comfort or convenience in dark areas or areas that may become dark at certain times, such as at night or during an emergency. Small long-burning candles serving a similar fun ...
s. The show is coordinated to music and in 2008 added a laser light
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fir ...
show.[
In the early morning on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, at least forty balloons are launched. Spectators are allowed to get close to the balloons as they fill and get ready to launch. Rides are available for a fee.
]
See also
* Hot air balloon festival
Hot air balloon festivals are held annually in many places throughout the year, allowing hot air balloons operators to gather- as well as for the general public- to participate in various activities. They can include races; evening "night glows", ...
s
References
{{reflist
External links
Northwest Art and Air Festival
Culture of Albany, Oregon
Festivals in Oregon
Tourist attractions in Linn County, Oregon
2000 establishments in Oregon
Annual events in Oregon