Catch a ride to the Hood River Orchard and Ale Festival
Hood River Oregon’s popular fall festival Hood River Hops is now the Hood River Orchard and Ale Festival.
Autumn has arrived, bringing with it two of Hood River’s most beloved annual events. The Hood River Orchard and Ale Festival (formerly the Hood River Hops festival) takes place on Saturday, October 4, 2025, followed by the Hood River Harvest Fest from October 10-12, 2025. Both events offer a fun, family-friendly way to enjoy the season, featuring fresh-hopped beers, ciders, regional produce and the vibrant spirit of the Gorge. These fall favorites have become a must-attend tradition for locals and visitors alike.
The first-ever Hood River Orchard & Ale Festival, a fresh festival that brings together the region’s finest cidermakers and brewers during peak harvest season. Originally as a showcase solely for beer, the Orchard and Ale Festival will highlight crisp craft ciders and fresh hop beers. Find the list of participating breweries and cideries here.The venue in the center of downtown Hood River also features a craft marketplace of vendors and kitchens, and a live stage for some of the best bands from the area. Nestled in the heart of orchard country and hop fields, this event is your chance to sip the freshest pours in one of Oregon’s most scenic settings.
Salmon-Safe is sponsoring a Fresh Hop Drinker’s Choice Competition at the festival to celebrate these special beers. Festival-goers should look for beers with the Salmon-Safe logo at the festival and cast their ballot with their favorite brews. Salmon-Safe is providing the brewer of the winning beer with the prize of a year’s worth of salmon from the world’s largest salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska. There is a prize for the winning hop farm manager, too. They are also giving away two letterpress American Hop posters from 33 Books Co. in Troutdale, Oregon. Salmon-Safe will have a table at the festival where you can learn more about how they partner with hop farmers and brewers to protect salmon.
With large crowds expected at both festivals, Gorge Transit is encouraging attendees to skip the stress of traffic and parking by taking advantage of convenient public transportation. The Columbia Gorge Express offers an easy and affordable ride from Portland’s Gateway Station, directly to the Hood River waterfront, where the events take place. It’s a great option for those who want to enjoy the festivities – especially beer and cider tastings – without needing a designated driver.
“Why worry about driving when you can enjoy the journey?” said Amy Schlappi, Executive Director at Columbia Area Transit. “We encourage festival-goers traveling from the Portland/Vancouver area to take advantage of our scenic shuttle service. It’s a convenient, direct way to get to the heart of Hood River and enjoy the festivities without the hassle.”
The bus from Portland is $10 each way. For those planning to visit Hood River more than once in the next year, the Gorge Transit Pass is your gateway to exploring the stunning Columbia River Gorge. This annual pass provides unlimited travel to and from the Portland/Vancouver area and throughout the Gorge on the Columbia Gorge Express. Available for just $40 for adults and $20 for youth under 17, the Gorge Pass offers convenient, year-round flexibility. Riders can easily download the pass to their smartphones via the Token Transit app or choose a physical pass that fits right in your wallet.
Online schedules are available for all routes at gorgepass.com, and printed schedules are available at all transit provider offices, on buses, and at local Chambers of Commerce.
For more information about Gorge Pass visit gorgepass.com or call 833-3GO-PASS.
About CAT
CAT is a service of the Hood River County Transportation District, which provides public transportation services throughout Hood River County and is the operator of the Columbia Gorge Express to Portland, Troutdale, Multnomah Falls, and Cascade Locks seven days a week. Transit Services are funded with local, state, and federal funds. Learn more about CAT at www.rideCATbus.org or call (541) 386-4202.
About Gorge Transit
The Gorge TransLink Alliance seeks to enhance regional connectivity and develop a seamless network of transportation services within the Columbia River Gorge area while linking these services to the metropolitan cities of Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. Learn more about Gorge Transit at www.gorgetransit.com or call (833)-3GO-PASS.