Festivals

Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival. One of the premier bluegrass fests in the West takes place in Stevenson, Washington, every fourth weekend in July. www.columbiagorgebluegrass.net.

Holiday Wine & Art Festival. Held in mid-November at the Resort at the Mountain in Welches, this holiday-themed gathering features tastings from several prominent wineries and a marketplace of crafts vendors and artisans. www.theresort.com.

Hood River Hops Fest. In late September, beer lovers have the chance to sample some 60 hop-intensive beers in Hood River, which has become one of the top small towns in Oregon for craft brewing. www.hoodriver.org.

Maryhill Winery Concert Series. About 20 minutes east of The Dalles on the Washington side of the Gorge, Maryhill Winery hosts summer concerts, drawing some nationally renowned rock and pop acts, in a cozy, 4,000-person amphitheater. www.maryhillwinery.com.

Nicky USA's Wild About Game. This meat-centric food festival held in early September on Mt. Hood at Timberline Lodge features a competition among four top chefs each from Portland and Seattle. Guests can sample and vote on each dish and nibble and sip from a large marketplace of top Oregon purveyors, including cheese makers, charcuterie producers, wineries, and breweries. www.nickyusa.com/wag.

Timberline Lodge Mountain Music Fest. This free single-day gathering at iconic Timberline Lodge takes place over Labor Day weekend and showcases top-name bluegrass bands from around the country. www.timberlinelodge.com/mountain-music-festival.