What's Happening in Newberg, Oregon

Nestled in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley Wine Country, Newberg is known for its acclaimed wineries, scenic beauty, farm-to -table dining and small-town charm. The historic downtown area is filled with unique boutiques, art galleries, and quaint dining establishments, giving visitors a taste of local craftsmanship and culinary creativity. Beyond food and wine, Newberg offers outdoor adventures with nearby trails, river activities, and seasonal hot air balloon rides over the valley.

“We're seeing incredible momentum in Newberg, from our expanding wine industry to new lodging and restaurant developments,” said Leigh Jensen, executive director, Taste Newberg.

“Now is the perfect time to discover Newberg, a destination that embraces its deep-rooted traditions and its evolving spirit, making it an ideal escape for anyone looking to experience Oregon Wine Country.”

Here's what's new in Newberg and surrounding Yamhill County:

Lodging:

Fairfield Inn & Suites Portland Newberg: The new 79-room hotel on the east end of Newberg will open in spring of 2025. The property provides spacious and contemporary guest rooms and includes a seasonal outdoor pool and a fitness center equipped with exercise equipment.

The Allison Inn & Spa: The luxurious wine country property will undergo a refresh, to be completed by February 2025. Guests can expect to see updates to common spaces to enhance the guest experience while maintaining the iconic hotel's high standards of elegance and relaxation.

Arts & Culture:

Chehalem Cultural Center: Downtown Newberg's center for art and culture welcomed a new Performing Arts Wing in September 2024. The 9,000 sq ft Performing Arts Wing features the 225-seat LaJoie Theatre, which hosts all manner of performance art and will be the only quality mid-sized, public use performance venue in the region. The Performing Arts Wing also includes a dance and movement studio, as well as a renovation to the center's main lobby which includes a grand staircase and open atmosphere.

Wine:

Artist Block Wine Bar blends together the worlds of fine wine and contemporary art. The venue offers patrons an immersive experience where they can savor small-batch wines curated by Bree Stock, Oregon's only female Master of Wine, while enjoying art displays from emerging artists. This tasting room and art gallery opened to the public in June 2024.

Ambar Estate: On the site of Willamette Valley's first Regenerative Organic Certified® vineyard, Ambar Estate's new tasting room is a masterpiece of modern design, featuring stunning glass-walled architecture by Juancarlos Fernandez of Signum Architecture and landscape architecture of Hoichi Kurisu, renowned for his designs of the Portland Japanese Garden. The tasting room, which featuring wines from winemakers Kate Payne Brown and Bryan Weil, opened to the public in June 2024.

Balsall Creek Vineyard: Situated on 35 acres of bucolic farmland just outside downtown Newberg, this newcomer focuses on producing exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and also cultivates up-and-coming varieties like Gamay, Sauvignon Blanc, Aligoté and Pinot Meunier. The new tasting room offers three unique indoor spaces: the main tasting room, a luxe lounge, and an open-kitchen private dining room, as well as 2,500 square feet of outdoor patio complete with covered areas and a fireplace. Opened in May 2024.

Domaine Lumineux: In spring of 2024, Domaine Lumineux opened a new tasting room in the heart of historic downtown Newberg. Housed in a charming Victorian-style building, the tasting room offers both indoor and outdoor seating, providing a cozy atmosphere to savor their award-winning wines by the glass, bottle, or flight. Guests can also enjoy light bites and select music from an extensive vinyl record collection.

Food/Drink:

Alpha Bravo is a speakeasy-style ramen bar offering a unique dining experience where guests can craft their own ramen bowls from a selection of fresh ingredients and rich broths. The establishment, which opened in November 2024, also features an elevated wine list to complement its dishes.

Gusto: Based on the success of Rosmarino in downtown Newberg, Italian chef Dario Pisoni opened this lunch spot and specialty market in spring of 2024. Gusto sells Rosmarino's famous pasta, sauces, gelato and more to enjoy at home, as well as panini sandwiches for a quick lunch. Their deli cases offer cheese, charcuterie, housemade focaccia, and cannoli, as well as imported products such as oils, vinegars, sweets, and wine.

Kayt's Kitchen: This Filipina-American owned bakery offers creative and colorful pastries, which changes every week. A delightful array of baked goods usually includes bagels, rolls, pop tarts, bars, and more. Their food truck is open Fridays and Saturdays.

Lemon & Olive: Following the success of its food cart in the Bite of Newberg pod, this new Mediterranean eatery expanded into an indoor-outdoor space in spring of 2024. The restaurants features bright mezze platters, gyros, hummus and other dips. Neighbor shop Valley Wine Merchants curates their wine list. For dessert, owners Tara and Robert Link created a local spin on a Middle Eastern favorite: chocolate hazelnut baklava.

Retail:

Minthorn Mercantile: Downtown Newberg is soon to welcome a new men's boutique, contributing to what is becoming a “boutique row” for the city. The store combines Southern and Pacific Northwest influences, aiming to fill an underserved niche by offering high-quality men's apparel and lifestyle goods.

Glass Girl Studio: This new, nature-inspired and woman-owned art studio and gift shop located in downtown Newberg offers colorful glass art, locally made gifts, and artisan jewelry. The shop, which opened in June 2024, offers private glass workshops for small groups.

Shoemates Footwear: The McMinnville-based destination footwear store opened its second location in downtown Newberg in June 2024. Shoemates carries high quality, sought after pairs from Birkenstock, Blundstone, Taos, and other USA and European brands that are built to last and ideal for the Pacific Northwest lifestyle.

Upcoming Events:

Halliday Stage Concert Series, September 6, — December 14, 2024

The Halliday Stage Concert Series is a lively music event that brings the community together for a series of concerts. Set at the Halliday Stage in Newberg's Cultural District, the series features a diverse lineup of local and regional musicians, offering genres from folk and rock to jazz and blues.

First Friday Art Walk, Fridays

The Newberg First Friday ARTwalk is a monthly event that showcases local art, music, and tastings in downtown Newberg, Oregon. Held on the first Friday of each month from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM—excluding January and July—the ARTwalk connects downtown businesses and galleries with local creatives, offering visitors an engaging cultural experience.

Media Contact: Emele Hibdon, pr@tastenewberg.com, 808-741-2895