A Monthly City Celebration for All Ages

Molalla manifests everything people love about rural Oregon, including a charming downtown full of locally-owned businesses, boutiques and restaurants. Join family, friends, and neighbors during the fourth week of each month for 4th Fridays, a celebration that brings the community together to enjoy everything this incredible little town has to offer!

A collective effort led by downtown business owners Heidi Tate of Cache Liquidation and her partners in crime Stefanie Newton of Back to the Racks Boutique and Ashley Bentley of Bentley Feed & Arsenal, the event just turned one year old in September. “We started with summer nights in June of 2023, and when the seasons began to change, we thought,’ We need to keep this going,’” Heidi recalls.

Each month features a unique theme, and participating businesses are designated those evenings with orange flags outside; they pair fun activities and offer special deals. Around rodeo time, it was ‘Hide the Horseshoe,’ where visitors had to seek out a hidden horseshoe at each stop. August was a school supply drive for the local district. Each activity earns a raffle ticket to win a basket assembled with local goodies.

Molalla is home to many talented local makers and small business owners who may not have a physical location, so they host pop-ups in participating establishments. “The goal is to help out the ones without brick-and-mortar,” Heidi says. “We’re promoting them as well as creating the opportunity for the public to make them part of their experience.” There’s always a fun variety, from candles and designer bags to specialty foods and wine.

The city’s thriving downtown is growing, and unique new businesses are constantly popping up. Recent additions include an arcade for kids and a clothing boutique. Several well-loved restaurants and bars are sprinkled throughout, and Molalla Striking Arts, the martial arts school, hosts kids for pizza and games during 4th Fridays for free, so parents can drop off their littles and enjoy a leisurely night on the town. “It gives people a chance to bring their families out to have fun, and they can stay right here in Molalla. We’ve got it all,” Heidi says.

The event is near and dear to Heidi, as both a downtown business owner and a longtime Molalla resident. Her business, Cache Liquidation, opened in February 2023 and comes on the heels of a 17-year teaching career in Mulino. “I taught school and raised my kids here, so this is my second chapter,” Heidi explains. “This community is full of people who want to support us and want us to do well, and that’s what I love about Molalla.”

Though most participating businesses are located downtown, no one is excluded, so any establishment within city limits can participate. People planning to attend can visit Molalla’s 4th Fridays Facebook and Instagram pages to learn which businesses will be part of the next event and get access to a location map. So rally your family, friends and neighbors for an ongoing lineup of delightful evenings supporting local in the friendly, close-knit community of Molalla. Hours are 5 to 7 p.m. and extend to 8 p.m. during the summer months.

For more information, visit the Molalla 4th Fridays’ Facebook page.