The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) is hosting the Community Showcase at its Center Plaza as a participant in this weekend’s festivities celebrating the opening of Portland’s new central eastside streetcar loop. The new Portland Streetcar line opens September 22 and runs alongside the main entrance to the facility on N.E. Martin Luther King (MLK) Boulevard. A new convention center stop is located south of the main entrance on MLK at NE Hoyt Street.
“Offering the Portland Streetcar as another convenient transit option for our guests to travel throughout the city is a valuable amenity we’re thrilled to provide,” said Scott Cruickshank, executive director of the OCC. “Hosting Saturday’s Community Showcase is the OCC’s way of saying thanks to the community for its support of this important new connection between the Lloyd, South Waterfront, University and Pearl Districts,” he added.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the public is invited to visit with dozens of vendor booths featuring local neighborhood businesses and enjoy live music and comedy entertainment, free of charge. The Menace Band begins performing at 11 a.m.; New Invasion Band at 1 p.m. and, at 3:30 p.m., Helium Comedy takes the stage.
Food and beverages from the OCC’s Hoyt Street Station Community Café will be on hand for purchase.
The day’s festivities begin at 7:30 a.m. with free streetcar rides, followed by the SOLVE Beach and Riverside Cleanup at South Waterfront from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, a 10 a.m. grand opening ceremony at Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), and the OCC Plaza Community Showcase at 11 a.m. For a full list of opening events, visit www.portlandstreetcar.org.
Contact:
Stephanie Soden, Metro Venues
503-797-1818
Stephanie.soden@oregonmetro.gov
