2026 Cherry Festival in Photos
Photos by Joshuah Albert and Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., April 26, 2026 — The Northwest Cherry Festival filled downtown Saturday with crowds, color, and community spirit, as vendors, classic cars, quilts, and family activities brought Federal Street and surrounding blocks to life.
From the open-air vendor market and quilt show at St. Peter’s Landmark to the KODL Classic Car Show stretching along Federal Street, the day offered something for every age.
KODL Car Show in downtown The Dalles.
Families gathered at the community fair and children’s activity area, while spectators lined the streets for the popular dancing horses performance.
Carolyn Burns shows off the quilt that was raffled at the Quilt Show on Saturday at St. Peter’s Landmark and Victor Johnson’s Herbring House.
Go Ashley! Cherry Fest runners got after it early on Saturday as the Columbia Gorge Community College held a Fun Run through the cherry orchards at 8 a.m. The event drew 175 people - about 50 more than last years, according to officials. The race featured 10k, 5k and 3k events.
Peggy Peterson was all smiles when she hit the 5K turnaround at the Fun Run.
Kids got into the Fun as well.
The Vendor Market was packed at Federal and Second streets as food and fun items abounded. The free snow cones at the Northwest Natural Gas were a true tongue freezer and crowd pleaser.
Lines were long for these grilled beauties.
Dancing Horses on Second and Laughlin streets brought out a large crowd on Saturday at 2 p.m. A Mariachi band provided live music for charro / cowboy demonstrations, which featured intricate, traditional equestrian skills. The music was full of danceable tunes that highlighted the movements of the caballos bailadores or dancing horses. The performances of charro or cowboys and their well trained horses is a staple of Mexican rodeo (Charrería).
Havin’ it made in the shade outside Sunflower Vision at Washington and Second streets.
Big Decision at River City Saloon
Jeshua Marshall and The Flood at River City Saloon.
