North Park Blocks Welcomes Back “Art in the Pearl 2023”

Art In The Pearl® is back this weekend. Enjoy art, music and food in the cool shade of the North Park Blocks towering elms.

Art In The Pearl has been named one of the top 10 Arts and Crafts Festivals in the country (source: Art Fair Source Book).

Scroll through the gallery of photos from the first day 2023

Art In The Pearl is Portland Oregon’s annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival. It is held every year on Labor Day weekend. The 27th annual festival will occur Labor Day Weekend, 2023 in the Pearl District’s North Park Blocks -September 2, September 3 and September 4, 2023.

Hours:
10am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday (September 2nd and September 3rd, 2023)
10am-4pm, Monday (September 4th, 2023)

The Festival is FREE and requires NO TICKETS for entry. Our festival fills the Northwest Portland Park blocks with art, theater, music, and hands-on activities for people of all ages.

More info here https://artinthepearl.com/

KATU-TV: Park Safety Concerns Cloud School Opening

Here’s the latest report from Jackie Labrecque, KATU News Published: Aug 29, 2015  Aug 25th KATU report here

PORTLAND, Ore. — Parents whose kids attend the Emerson School in North Park Blocks are joining in the chorus of concerned voices for all the crime happening there: People camping out, doing drugs, and having sex all in a school zone. And the area is home to Art in the Pearl, a huge art festival over Labor Day weekend.

It was a reunion after summer vacation on the playground outside the Emerson School. The annual school picnic means school is about to begin.

“This year is decidedly different than any other year,” said Principal Tara O’Neil who had gloves on, and was carrying a sharps container as we talked with her. “I’m walking around making sure there’s no needles on the playground or in the grass around the park.”

Emerson is right along the North Park Blocks in the Pearl District.

“Just the numbers of street campers of people who are out in the park sleeping, or living all day long — it’s ballooned, it’s more than doubled than from what I can see out our window,” said O’Neil.

The kids have noticed, too. Their parents told them to share.

“It’s kind of crazy how many people are around, and it seems kind of unsafe,” said Max Pettit, who is in middle school, and graduated from Emerson two years ago.

“I see some fighting, getting arrested, it’s a very big issue,” said Enzo Ungar-Gutierrez.

“We’ve seen people shooting up, people having sex, we’ve seen people peeing, and the other thing in our doorways,” said Jean Fleming, who lives near the park.

Neighbors collectively say they do not feel safe.

Crime in Pearl's Parks

“This is a crime, nuisance, and quality of life issue. This is not a homeless issue,” said Fleming’s husband, Mic Fleming. “This is all new people, this is all new activity, this is a level we have never seen before.”

No one at City Hall would talk on camera, but we learned Portland park rangers are increasing visits at the park as frequently as possible, including an extra evening patrol. Over Labor Day weekend, when vendors have permits to set up shop for Art in the Pearl, police officers will work with park rangers to move the campers out.

Parents know that is just a short-term solution.

“We have a lot of people who can’t afford a roof over their head, or drug treatment, or good mental health counseling. I believe it’s really indicative of a much larger problem,” said an Emerson parent.








City Tries to Take Back North Park Blocks

Da Tung and Xi'an Bao Bao behind fence
Da Tung and Xi’an Bao Bao behind newly installed  fence

In less than two weeks the North Park Blocks will host Portland’s premier Labor Day event – Art in the Pearl. After ignoring deteriorating conditions all summer, the city finally took first steps to try and restore control of the North Park Blocks.

As we have reported, this summer the North Park Blocks have been overrun by traveling gangs, rampant drug use, prostitution and off-leash dog attacks.

Today the city began erecting barbwire-topped chainlink fencing to cordon off the park from all public use. It’s unfortunate that the city’s delayed response  to weeks of unlawful behavior requires such drastic measures.

Hopefully the North Park Blocks will be  a safe and livable space for all to enjoy during the art fest and beyond.

Displaced camper watch installation of park fencing
Displaced campers watch installation of park fencing from Park playground