Cove Palisades State Park celebrates Festival of the Land

Festival of The Land returns to The Cove Palisades State Park to celebrate the diverse history, food, and cultures from Central Oregon 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1.

This free festival honors the land, food, and stories from where the Crooked River and the Deschutes River canyons meet. Many cultures have made this area home, and each brings a diversity of experiences to share.

All activities will be held at the Crooked River Day Use Area:

• History, culture, and wildlife displays

• Dutch oven cooking demonstrations

• Meet an archeologist.

• Kids’ games and activities

• Petting “zoo”

• Produce and prepared food for sale at farmers market featuring Red Beard BBQ

• Pollinator and fish displays and more.

Visitors will also have an opportunity to learn about the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, vaqueros who rode and roped on cattle ranches, wheat farmers who came from Grandview and Geneva and The Cove’s orchard that once was the primary source of fresh fruit for Central Oregon. Oregon State University now uses the land to research the best agricultural practices.

“The land connects people from many backgrounds to a single place,” said Park Ranger and festival organizer Erin Bennett. “Festival of The Land is an opportunity to come together and share those connections.”

Parking is free but will be limited.

The event was made possible through the generous support of PGE and the Rotary Club of Jefferson County as well as community partners including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon State University and Oregon Department of Forestry. Learn more about the event on the event page at https://StateParks.oregon.

This festival is part of State Parks Day, an annual celebration that offers free camping and day-use the first Saturday in June at Oregon State Parks. It is one of many events on June 1 this year in addition to free camping and day use.