Downtown Venues Set for Music, Arts as The Dalles Hoot Debuts this Weekend
The Dalles, Ore., March 4, 2026 — A new downtown music and arts festival will bring dozens of performances and community events to The Dalles this weekend as The Dalles Hoot takes over multiple venues March 6–8.
Organized by the nonprofit The Dalles Overground, the three-day festival will feature free live music, art activities, and community events spread across four downtown locations: the Granada Theatre, Wines on Second, River City Saloon, and the Historic Herbring House.
Kelsey Alsheimer
Overground Treasurer Kelsey Alsheimer said this morning that final preparations are underway as artists begin arriving for the inaugural Hoot festival.
“We’re really excited and we’re putting the last minute touches on it right now.” She noted organizers are setting up a green room in the building space between River City Saloon and Farm Stand to serve as a hub for performers and volunteers.
Alsheimer, a local marketing consultant, said the festival represents the kind of community event she has hoped to see grow in The Dalles.
“Oh yeah, this is so fun,” Alsheimer said. “I have lived in the Gorge for a decade and it is great to help create fun amazing things. The Dalles deserves good things, and musical festivals and fun community events are a part of that. It’s great to be part of this huge community effort to bring this to town.”
Music will run Friday and Saturday evenings at Wines on Second and River City Saloon, while the Granada Theatre will host the festival’s headlining concerts both nights. Doors at the Granada open at 6:30 p.m.
The Friday headlining show featuring Robert Francis, Margo Cilker and Laura Gibson is already sold out, as is Saturday’s Granada lineup featuring Vandoliers and 1876. Organizers said no walk-up seats will be available for those performances due to capacity limits. Any canceled tickets would be released online if they become available.
While the Granada concerts require advance registration, performances at Wines on Second, River City Saloon and the Historic Herbring House do not require tickets and are open to the public. Seating at those venues will be limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Friday evening performances begin at 5:15 p.m. at Wines on Second with Travecito Effectivo, followed by Forrest VanTuyl at 6 p.m. At the Granada Theatre, Laura Gibson performs at 6:50 p.m., Margo Cilker at 7:35 p.m. and Robert Francis at 8:30 p.m.
River City Saloon hosts Sundiver at 9:35 p.m., followed by Holy Catholic Social Club at 10:30 p.m. and DJ Anjali at 11:30 p.m.
Saturday night music begins again at Wines on Second with Cimiotti at 5:15 p.m. and Isabeau Waia’u Walker at 6:05 p.m. The Granada Theatre will feature 1876 at 6:55 p.m. followed by Vandoliers at 7:55 p.m.
Later Saturday night at River City Saloon, 200e performs at 9:25 p.m., Darci Carlson at 10:25 p.m. and DJ Rescue at 11:30 p.m.
The Historic Herbring House will also host “Coffee with a Songwriter” sessions Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., offering a more intimate setting for conversations and acoustic performances.
Beyond music, the festival will include a wide range of independently organized activities across The Dalles, including interactive art events, a community fun run, songwriter coffees, beer and yoga at Freebridge Brewing, author talks, dancing and special promotions from local businesses.
Organizers note that some of these partner events may include a fee and are independently operated.
All official Hoot performances are free, and organizers are encouraging attendees to be cautious of ticket resale scams, noting that the festival does not endorse ticket resales.
The festival was created as a way to activate downtown during the late-winter season while highlighting local businesses, artists and public gathering spaces. Organizers say the event could grow into an annual cultural celebration if it proves successful.
Additional information about the festival and schedule is available at https://tdoverground.org/hoot.
