Albany
Around Albany
Photo: M.O. Stevens · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Oregon · 132k people
Albany
Locals say Linn County · “Carousel Capital of Oregon”, “Hub of the Willamette Valley”
Where the river bends through the valley.
Willamette Valley GreenWillamette River BlueHarvest Amber
Welcome to Linn County, where the Willamette Valley meets the Cascades. Enjoy the small-town charm, the rivers, and the friendly folks.
Clubs for Albany
No clubs for Albany yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Albany. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Albany. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Albany Historic Carousel & Museum Hand-carved carousel and local history.
- Willamette Riverfront Park Riverside trails and picnic areas.
- Linn County Expo Center Hosts fairs, rodeos, and concerts.
- Monteith House Museum Oldest house in Albany, built in 1849.
- Albany Regional Museum Exhibits on local history and culture.
- Historic Downtown Albany Victorian architecture and local shops.
- Outdoors Walk the Willamette River Trail
- Outdoors Fish the Santiam River
- With kids Visit the Albany Carousel
- With kids Attend the Linn County Fair
- Evenings Brewery taprooms in downtown Albany
- Evenings Live music at the Expo Center
- Locals love Farm stands
- Locals love Covered bridge tours
Through the year
- Linn County Fair July Annual fair with rides, livestock, and local food.
- Oregon Jamboree August Country music festival in Sweet Home.
- Lebanon Strawberry Festival June Community celebration with strawberry shortcake and crafts.
Mild, wet winters and dry, warm summers. Best time to be out is from June to September. Best: June through September for warm, dry days.
Talk like a local
- “the valley”
- The Willamette Valley
Getaways
Local flavour
Rooting for Oregon State Beavers, Oregon Ducks, Portland Trail Blazers
Eat and drink
- Marionberry pie Oregon's signature berry
- Oregon hazelnuts State nut, grown in the valley
- Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Local wine region staple
- Craft beer Oregon's brewing culture
Where people go
- Covered bridges Historic wooden bridges scattered across the county
- Historic downtown districts Victorian-era architecture and local shops
- Riverfront parks and trails Along the Willamette River
- Farm stands Local produce and hazelnuts
Heritage and traditions
Linn County is proud of its deep pioneer roots, its collection of historic covered bridges (the most in the West), and its lively community festivals like the Oregon Jamboree and the Lebanon Strawberry Festival.
This time of year in Albany
- Harvest and wine season Fall Grape harvest and local wine tastings.
Say it like a local: “hella” — very
Festivals
- Linn County Fair July Classic fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Oregon Jamboree August Major country music festival in Sweet Home.
- Lebanon Strawberry Festival June One of Oregon's oldest community festivals.
- Albany River Rhythms Summer Free outdoor concerts along the Willamette.
- Brownsville Civil War Days June Civil War reenactment in a historic town.
Landmarks with a story
- Historic Downtown Albany Victorian-era buildings and a walkable downtown.
- Monteith House Museum Home of Albany's founders, the Monteith brothers.
- Albany Regional Museum Local history exhibits.
- Covered bridges Linn County has the most covered bridges in the West.
- Albany Historic Carousel & Museum A hand-carved carousel built by volunteers.
- Brownsville Historic District A well-preserved pioneer town with many historic buildings.
Food traditions
- Marionberry pie The marionberry was developed in Oregon; locals love it in pies and jams.
- Hazelnut everything Oregon grows most of the US hazelnut crop; locals use them in desserts and snacks.
- Willamette Valley Pinot Noir The region is famous for its Pinot Noir wines.
- Craft beer Oregon has a strong craft beer culture, and Linn County has its own breweries.
- Farm-stand produce Locals shop at farm stands for fresh berries, vegetables, and eggs.
Music and arts
- Oregon Jamboree A major country music festival.
- Albany Carousel Artisan carousel carving and painting.
- Covered bridge photography The bridges are a favorite subject for photographers.
A little history
- 1848 The Monteith brothers founded Albany.
- 1850s Settlers arrived via the Oregon Trail.
- Early 1900s Covered bridges were built across the county.
- 1900s Timber industry became a major employer.
- 1940s Grass seed farming became important.
Rivalries
- Oregon State Beavers vs Oregon Ducks The Civil War rivalry in college football.
- Game day Friday night lights
- Game day Fishing on the Santiam River
- Outdoors Walk the Willamette River Trail
- Outdoors Fish the Santiam River
- With kids Visit the Albany Carousel
- With kids Attend the Linn County Fair
Locals speak with a standard Western American accent, often saying 'pop' for soda and 'the coast' for the Oregon Coast. They might also use 'crick' for creek and 'hella' for very, though the latter is more common in California.
Only here
- Linn County has the most covered bridges in the West.
- The Albany Carousel is a hand-carved carousel built entirely by volunteers.
- The Oregon Jamboree is one of the biggest country music festivals in the Pacific Northwest.
- The Lebanon Strawberry Festival is one of Oregon's oldest community festivals.
New here? A few tips
- Bring an umbrella; it rains often.
- Try a marionberry pie from a local bakery.
- Visit the Albany Carousel; it's a community treasure.
- Explore the covered bridges; they're a local icon.
- Attend the Oregon Jamboree if you like country music.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
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Part of Portland area
Nearby
Every areaCorvallisOregonWhere the valley meets the forest.SalemOregonWhere the valley blooms and the capitol stands tallEugene–SpringfieldOregonWhere rivers, trails, and a love of sport meet.NewportOregonWhere the forest meets the sea, and the catch is always fresh.PortlandOregonWhere the river meets the mountain, and the coffee never stops.TillamookOregonWhere the forest meets the seaBendOregonWhere the river runs clear and the trails never endRoseburgOregonWhere the river meets the pines.
Albany, OR. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.