National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City, Oregon:  Family Fun Day, Friday, November 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be crafts and activities for children, parents, and grandparents to enjoy together. All activities have a pioneer or nature theme, and there is no additional charge for materials. At 12:30 in the Leo Adler Theater, there will be a showing of the animated feature film, “An American Tail: Fievel Goes West,” with a running time of 76 minutes. Call 541-523-1843 for more information. Admission rates are $5 for adults; $3.50 for seniors; Free for youth 15 and younger.

Brady Goss Concert, OK Theatre, Enterprise, Oregon: Come rock out at the Old OK Theatre with local piano virtuoso Brady Goss and his smokin’ band, Friday, November 23, 7 to 9 p.m. There are sure to be plenty of local guests on the stage as well. Give thanks, eat some leftover turkey and pie, shop in Joseph, then get on down to the OK! For more information contact Darrell Brann, 541.263.0941 or oktheater1@gmail.com.

Jingle Thru Joseph Holiday Parade, Joseph, Oregon: Saturday, November 24, get in the holiday spirit while browsing and shopping along Joseph’s Main Street, then join the community at 5 p.m. to watch the Jingle thru Joseph Holiday Parade!

The parade caps off the annual Jingle Thru Joseph Holiday Bazaar, Friday & Saturday, November 23 and 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shoppers will find a grand variety of gifts, decorations and greenery, including fresh Christmas wreaths and swags at the bazaar, taking place at the Joseph Community Center. Wallowa County Humane Society will have Pet Selfies with Santa, so, bring your camera. The Humane Society provides help posing pictures of pets, kids and hard-to-handle adults.

Arts East Center, La Grande, Oregon: Saturday, November 24, 8 to 10:30 p.m., join a group of fellow film enthusiasts to watch a curated selection of lesser-known classics, under-seen influential movies, ‘70s and ‘80s “trash,” cop movies, horror and more. The films are projected in the ACE gallery for an authentic film-going experience. Teaching artist Lucas Kruse introduces each screening and facilitates a casual group discussion at the end – like a book club, except it’s Film Club. Follow @filmclubace on Instagram for monthly updates. These screenings take place monthly on the last Saturday. Please enter through the Penn Ave door. Admission is $5 and you must be 18 or older to attend. Find more information at www.artcentereast.org or contact the Center at 541.962.2800 or info@artcentereast.org.

Shoppers will find a festive atmosphere in every community along the byway. Our local businesses support community projects and events throughout the year, so be sure to shop locally and help keep the holiday spirit and economy strong for all. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Take in a performance of “Dr. Balthasar” in the air conditioned Leo Adler Theater. Portraying a mid-1800s medicine show, Dr. Balthasar sells miracle cures, medicines, and dispenses frontier health advice. The show is approximately 40 minutes. Friday-Monday, August 17-20, 11:00, 12:30 and 2:00 each day.

Make a Christmas tree ornament for the National Christmas Tree. Did you know this year’s tree will be from Oregon, and follow the Oregon Trail back east to commemorate the 175^th anniversary of the Oregon Trail? At this workshop, you can help make Oregon Trail themed ornaments that will be used to decorate the tree when it is displayed in Washington, D.C. this December. Materials provided. Friday, August 17, 10:00-2:00.

See a special exhibit, “The Wild is Calling,”  which features original artwork by multiple regional artists inspired by wild and scenic rivers in Oregon and Idaho.

Take your time viewing the outstanding ongoing exhibit about life along the Oregon Trail, for pioneers, Native Americans and people who settled the West. Learn about what inspired people to migrate West and contemplate how you would pack your own household for such an arduous journey.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, about 5 miles east of Baker City, at 22267 Oregon Hwy 86. Currently open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entrance fee $8.00 for adults, $4.50 seniors, 15 and under free; all America the Beautiful Passes accepted. Call 541-523-1843 for more information, or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

It’s County Fair time in Byway Country! Attend a quintessential county fair to see farm and ranch animals, 4H and FFA competitions, and to experience life in the close-knit communities of Northeast Oregon. Sample fair food and visit commercial and non-profit booths to learn what is available and the hot topics in our neck of the woods. Many fairs include rodeo action and parades are common.

Here is a schedule of County Fairs along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway:
Union County Fair, August 1-4, La Grande
Wallowa County Fair, August 4-11, Enterprise
Baker County Fair, August 6-10, Baker City
Baker County Fair & Panhandle Rodeo, September 1-3, Halfway

Adjacent Counties:
Malheur County Fair, July 31-August 4, Ontario
Umatilla County , August 7-11, Hermiston
Grant County Fair & Rodeo, August 15-18, John Day
Morrow County Fair & Rodeo , August 15-19, Heppner

Get the information on locations, websites and activities for all Oregon county fairs by going to the Oregon Fair Association website: http://oregonfairs.org/images/downloads/2018_dates_book_final.pdf. The schedule starts on age 6.

BAKER CITY, OR__

Located outdoors in a circle of replica covered wagons, an encampment of historical re-enactors will cook meals over open fires and offer samples of the food pioneers ate on the trail – including bison stew, beans and bacon, biscuits and cobbler. The cooks will utilize many local ingredients, including heirloom vegetables grown by volunteers. Costumed interpreters using tools and materials typical of the 1850s frontier era will show skills and technology of the Oregon Trail pioneers. Mountain men will share stories while demonstrating flint knapping, black powder shooting, and frontier survival skills. Musician Hank Cramer will perform frontier era music on Saturday, and The Carters will perform on Sunday.

The special exhibit “Finding Fremont” about explorer John C. Fremont’s time in Oregon will be open during regular business hours in the Center’s Flagstaff Gallery.

The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted. Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

As is typical in byway country during the heart of summer, there are lots of ways to spend the weekend, soaking up the sun or cooling off in a watery wonderland.

In Baker City, it’s time for Minor’s Jubilee – a celebration of the region’s gold mining history and a great excuse for lining up lots of music and vendors in the park and bronc busting and bull riding at the fairgrounds. A visit to the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center will inform and delight history lovers of all ages.

In La Grande, Adams Avenue is alive with activity during the long-standing Crazy Days and Grande Ronde-a-View Car Show. You will find lots of great bargains as businesses clear out their seasonal inventory with tables on the sidewalk. Fire trucks will offer showers to dampen the heat, and the bay doors of the old fire station will be open to expose the new Side A Brewing & Pub, where you can cap off the day with a cool brew and delicious burger or spicy mac and cheese. Be sure to take the time to see the beautifully restored vintage fire trucks and exhibits in the adjacent Eastern Oregon Fire Museum.

At Wallowa Lake, meet at the lodge before 9 a.m., Sunday and take part in a family-friendly Discovery Walk. Billed as enlightening, opportunistic, engaging and flexible, Discovery Walks match participants with a resident naturalist for a morning walk. These can be many things: rambles with kids through the Lodge grounds, wandering up old moraines with curious visitors, or marches up Hurricane creek hunting basalt. Or, take a ride on the Wallowa Lake Tramway for a discovery walk of your own along the two miles of trails at the top.

And, in the heart of the canyon, Hells Canyon Adventures offers jet boat rides on the Snake River. Could there be a better way to see this amazing canyon and beat the heat? Here is this weekend’s schedule:

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2017 
Kirkwood Jet Boat Adventure 10:00-3:30 
Afternoon Wild Sheep Adventure- 4:00-6:00     

SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2017
Kirkwood Jet Boat Adventure 10:00-3:30
Morning Wild Sheep w/ Lunch 10:00-12:00
Afternoon Granite Creek Adventure – 2:00-4:00

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017   
Morning Granite Creek Adventure 10:00-12:00
Day Rafting with Jet Boat Return 9:00- 4:00
Kirkwood Jet Boat Adventure 10:00-3:30
Afternoon Granite Creek Adventure – 2:00-4:00

There are many more choices of how to spend your weekend in Hells Canyon Country! Go to the Visitor Resources page and follow the links to area chambers of commerce for more ideas.

July 1, 2 & 3 – Folk Musician Hank Cramer performs music and tells stories from the old west at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., daily.

July 14 & 15 – Michael “Bad Hand” Terry presents his program “People of the Plains,” discussing history and traditions of Plains Indians, and his research and work in producing authentic replicas of tools, dress, and equipment of the Plains tribes. He will be in the Leo Adler Theater, from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m.

July 15 & 16 – Blacksmith Gary Lewis demonstrates historic metal working techniques of the frontier era from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day

July 28 & 29 – Western singer Mary Kaye performs her “Spirit of the West” program with songs about the people, history, culture and landscapes that define this region Saturday, July 29 at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in the Leo Adler Theater. Evening concert at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 28th (outside, weather permitting).

July 6, 13, & 20 – The Thursday Outdoor Club offers learning activities for youngsters to hone outdoor skills from 1 to 2 p.m.

Throughout the month, staff interpreters will offer a variety of living history programs, outdoor cooking demonstrations, history hikes, and gold panning along with demonstrations to help visitors learn about regional geology, frontier life ways, and outdoor skills. Contact the interpretive center for the daily schedule.

The Bureau of Land Management National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted. Call 541.523.1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

Visitors can learn about wild horses on western lands, see a trainer doing a demonstration on getting the “first touch” in on a wild horse, and meet an adopted wild horse. BLM Wild Horse and Burro specialists will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the herds, adoption program, and history of the program.  Two wild horses will be on site and available for adoption. The film “Unbranded” will be shown in the Leo Adler Theater at 10:30 and 12:30. There will be educational and fun materials for both adults and kids.

Guest trainer is Lesley Neuman. She has been working with wild horses since 1999 and has been involved with the Mustang Heritage foundation since 2006. She is known as a gifted trainer with a rare ability to understand, communicate with, and gentle wild and unhandled horses. She also has an uncommon gift for communicating with her human audience, while in the process of guiding a wild horse from panicked captivity to comfort and confidence in humans.

Norm the mustang is an adopted wild horse who assists Debbie and Calvin Henshaw with the program “Horse Sense”. This ongoing program explains how a horse’s habits, senses, and reactions have helped them survive against predators throughout time.

The documentary film “Unbranded” will be showing and runs one hour 46 minutes, The film follows the story of 4 young Texans who adopted 16 wild mustangs, trained them, and undertook an epic journey on horseback border to border from Mexico to Canada.

The Bureau of Land Management National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted.  Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

Ninety minute workshops start at 10 a.m. each day.  The daily themes include:

Monday, March 27: Pioneer for a Day – Dress up in pioneer clothing and work with other kids in an interactive overland simulation. Make decisions and explore the Trail as you tour the Center with Ranger Rachael. Try your hand at kneading hardtack and have a taste of dutch-oven grub.

Tuesday, March 28: Heirloom Gardening – Ranger Rachael leads this workshop about foods that pioneers grew. Hear the legend of the three sisters (“corn, squash, beans”) and make your own seed pellet to take home and plant.

Wednesday, March 29: Solar Eclipse – Ranger Cheri teaches eclipse legends of the Native Americans, and helps you build a model of the sun and moon, so you can show others how solar eclipses happen.

Thursday, March 30: Making a Fire the Old-Fashioned Way – Ranger Jeremy will help you make your own char cloth and practice safely starting a camp fire with a flint and steel.

Workshops are suitable for ages six and up. There is a charge of $5.00 for each workshop. All supplies included.  Entrance fees apply; all visitors 15 and under are always free. Space is limited, so pre-registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, call (541) 523-1852 or email ots1844@gmail.com.

Films for youth will also be shown daily in the theater at 10:00 a.m. and noon.  Junior Explorer Activities and the interactive children’s exhibit “Wagons Ho! Experience the Oregon Trail” are also open daily, with a puppet box activity for younger visitors.  On Friday, there will be pioneer themed hands-on activities for all visitors at no additional charge from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $5 and $3.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted.  Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

Baker City, Oregon__The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (NHOTIC) and Trail Tenders are hosting a variety of activities for visitors during “Family Fun Day,” the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 25, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Family fun day offers a chance to learn more about the frontier and natural history of the region and to foster inter-generational connections. Visitors will be able to make rag dolls and dip candles. Other activities include a pioneer costume photo booth, a wildlife “skulls, scat and fur” table, as well as a variety of Junior Explorer workbooks.

Folk Musician Hank Cramer will perform in the Leo Adler Theater at 11:00 and 12:30. Wildlife-themed films will also be shown in the theater throughout the day. 

Operated by the BLM, the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. Exhibits include life-size dioramas of life on the Trail, hands-on activities such as packing your wagon, videos and interpretation. The Center is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $5 and $3.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted.

Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events.

Bureau of Land Management – The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands.

For most trips, the Eagle Cap Excursion Train departs at 10 a.m. from the Elgin Depot and returns around 2 p.m. For those trips, lunch is served on the train.

Rides this late-summer and fall season include train robberies, a photo run to capture the autumn colors, a Wine & Cheese Train and Brews & Brats. See the trip descriptions for details and the schedule.

To reserve your seat and ensure your lunch is on the train, make your reservations by 4 p.m., the Friday afternoon prior to the trip you want to take. The train can often handle some last-minute walk-on passengers, subject to seat availability. Those waiting to purchase tickets at the depot Saturday morning should arrive at the depot by 9 a.m. and should be aware some trains sell out.

Ticket prices are:  youth, 3 to 16 = $35 / adults = $70 / seniors 60+ = $65. Lunch is prepared by Ten Depot Street of La Grande and included in the ticket price. For train tickets and details on the excursions go to www.eaglecaptrainrides.com. Or, if you prefer to talk with an agent or want lodging options, contact Alegre Travel, 1.800.323.7330 or travel@alegretravel.com.

The historic Joseph Branch, now known as the Wallowa Union Railroad, was rescued from salvage in 2003 when the Wallowa and Union county governments formed the Wallowa Union Rail Authority and purchased the highly scenic railroad connecting Elgin with the Wallowa Valley. Volunteers with the Friends of the Joseph Branch, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, operate the train and depot, host passengers, renovate the passenger cars and preserve the history of the railroad.

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