THE DALLES — The Northwest Cherry Festival will return April 24-26 with a refreshed, re-imagined format designed to balance celebration, economic impact, and the realities of ongoing downtown construction.
Due to the City of The Dalles First Street Project, the traditional footprint of the festival required modification this year. After months of site visits, coordination, and discussion beginning in October, the Chamber and City worked together to evaluate space availability, access, power, water, vendor logistics, and public safety before finalizing a revised plan.
“We heard the concerns from businesses along 4th Street and took them seriously,” said Lisa Farquharson, President and CEO of The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce. “The 2026 festival has been modified, downsized in certain areas, and relocated where necessary to reduce impact while still preserving the economic and community benefits this event brings. Our goal was to find a responsible balance.”
The carnival footprint has been revised and relocated to Lewis & Clark Festival Park (Union and W 1st Street), curtailed in size, and will operate Friday (4-10 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m.-10 p.m.), and Sunday (11 a.m.-6 p.m.). Vendor market activities will take place Saturday only, reducing multi-day street closures. Several festival elements have been redistributed throughout downtown to minimize concentrated impacts.
Rather than centralizing all music, the Chamber is partnering with local pubs, restaurants, and venues to activate downtown all weekend. Businesses are invited to share their live music schedules so they can be promoted through the official festival webpage, NorthwestCherryFestival.com and the community calendar at TDCommunityCalendar.com.
City Manager Matthew Klebes stated: “The First Street Project is a major investment in the future of downtown The Dalles. While construction creates temporary challenges, we appreciate the Chamber’s willingness to adapt the Cherry Festival footprint to maintain the event while reducing impacts on nearby businesses. The revised plan reflects collaboration and balance — preserving economic opportunity while responding to community concerns.”
Further logistical details, maps, and participation opportunities will be released in the coming weeks.
Despite construction challenges, the Northwest Cherry Festival continues its long-standing tradition of honoring community, supporting small business, and celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage. “We believe this refreshed format keeps the spirit of the Cherry Festival alive during a transition year,” Farquharson added. “It’s resilient. It’s collaborative. And it’s still going to be fun.”
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