Golden Road Arts Presents Free Art Lessons in Public Parks the Summer of 2026
After several successful years of free summer art events, Golden Road Arts is partnering with local libraries to bring hands-on art lessons to kids in Hillsboro and North Plains, Oregon. Through the Art in the Park series, Golden Road Arts will host free events in parks across Hillsboro, delivering creative, engaging art experiences for elementary and middle school children in the community. Taking place throughout July and August of 2026, these free events are designed to inspire artistic exploration and provide fun, enriching activities for school-aged kids all summer long.
DUE TO OCCASIONAL HEAT SPELLS, CHECK WITH OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR THE LIBRARY FOR STATUS OF EVENTS.
Be sure to see the complete schedule below for park dates and times, and plan to attend as many free Art in the Park events as you can this summer.
Hillsboro Art in the Park Dates and Locations
Wednesdays, 10:30 AM to Noon
- July 8 – Reedville Creek Park
- July 15 – McKinney Park
- July 22 – Reed’s Crossing Park
- July 29 – Frances St. Park
- August 5 – Hidden Creek East Park
- August 12 – Magnolia Park
- August 19 – Evergreen Park
Thursdays, 10:30 AM to Noon
- July 9 – UJ Hamby Park
- July 16 – Butternut Creek Park
- July 23 – Shadywood Park
- July 30 – Walnut St. Park
- August 6 – Orenco Woods Park
- August 13 – Tamarack Park
Each event will be 90 minutes and is open to the public.
North Plains Art in the Park Dates and Locations
Golden Road Arts is also partnering with the North Plains Library for Art in the Park on Mondays this summer. These free 90-minute events give children the opportunity to enjoy hands-on art activities in a welcoming outdoor setting.
Mondays, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
- June 15 – Brynhill
- June 22 – Sunset Ridge
- June 29 – Jessie Mays
- July 6 – Brynhill
- July 13 – Sunset Ridge
- July 20 – Jessie Mays
- July 27 – Jessie Mays
- August 3 – Sunset Ridge
- August 10 – Brynhill
What Is Art in the Park?
Art in the Park is an event series combining literacy and art to provide a fun and educational experience for elementary and middle school children.
For each of the Hillsboro events, a specially chosen library book will be selected to form the basis of the free art lesson. Attendees will listen as Rocio Espinoza-Cotero of the Hillsboro Public Library reads a story in Spanish. Barbara Mason will then read the same story in English.
After listening to the story, children are encouraged to complete art projects based on the themes of the book. Age-appropriate books provided by the library, and a free coloring book created by Golden Road Arts, are also provided for every child in a take-home kit.
How Can Art in the Park Benefit School-Aged Children?
Art in the Park ensures that elementary and middle school children are given a creative outlet this summer. The feedback from last year’s events highlighted how the accessible and story-driven art project format sparked a creative interest that flourished throughout the summer. With guidance and support from Barbara Mason and others, children are encouraged to experiment with art techniques and discuss their work openly.
Art in the Park also provides an opportunity for kids to get out of the house and enjoy Hillsboro’s public parks. The event themes are the outdoors, nature and diversity, and the beautiful surroundings of the parks provide the perfect backdrop for a day of creative expression.
As those familiar with the free art resources created by Golden Road Arts will already know, access to quality art education has many additional benefits that assist children throughout their academic life. From confidence-building and academic performance to fine motor skills and communication skills, art education is an important companion for math, science, languages and other foundational subjects in the curriculum.
Join Us for Free Art Events in Oregon This Summer
Golden Road Arts provides free art events for children in Hillsboro and throughout Oregon. We also produce a range of free art lessons to assist parents and teachers in delivering a high-quality art education. Browse our free art lessons or call us at (503) 718-7097.
