MISC.
Oregon State Fair
The 150th anniversary of the fair continues at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. The hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Sept. 4 to 6; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Labor Day, Sept. 7. The remaining concerts: Jerrod Nieman, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4; Eric Burdon & The Animals, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5; Kelsea Ballerini, Dan & Shay, 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. For complete info: www.oregonstatefair.org.
First Thursday
It promises to be a popular night of art gallery openings in the Pearl District and elsewhere, Thursday, Sept. 3, right before Labor Day weekend, which includes the popular Art in the Pearl, Saturday through Monday, Sept. 5 to 7. Kumoricon
The annual convention in Vancouver, Wash., includes cosplay, gaming, dancing, panel discussions, DJ music and karaoke.
7 a.m.-3 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 5-6, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7, The Hilton Vancouver, 301 W. Sixth St., Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay, 100 Columbia St., www.kumoricon.org, $60 at door
Haunted maize
Its not too early for Halloween attractions, as the popular The Maize at The Pumpkin Patch and the Portland Corn Maze open on Sauvie Island on Sept. 5, and continue through the big night, Oct. 31. For complete info: www.portlandmaze.com.
MUSIC
Oregon Symphony
The Waterfront Concert kicks off the season for the symphony. Itll feature music, fireworks and afternoon performances by musicians and youth orchestras. The concert kicks off the symphony season, which includes in the first month: the National Circus and Acrobats of the Peoples Republic of China (7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, starting at $20); guitarist Pablo Villegas (Sept. 12), Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions (Sept. 17); The Music of Pink Floyd (Sept. 19); Patti LaBelle (Sept. 20); and percussionist Colin Currie (Sept. 26-28).
Waterfront Concert, 1 p.m. Thursday (symphony starts at 7 p.m.), Sept. 3, Waterfront Park, www.OrSymphony.org, free.
Ariana Grande
The pop vocalist visits Portland on The Honeymoon Tour, coming off Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album (My Everything) and Best Pop Duo/Group (with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj for Bang Bang).
7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, Moda Center, www.rosequarter.com, $29.50-$69.50
TBA: 15
Heads up: Put on by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, the annual Time-Based Art Festival, which features cutting-edge performance, visual art installations and music, along with workshops and talks, takes place Sept. 10 through 20 at various venues. Tickets for general admission are $60 (The Works), $150 (Enthusiast), $250 (Immersion), $500 (Patron), For all info: www.pica.org/tba.
STAGE
The Understudy
Artist Repertory Theatres season gets underway with the laugh-out-loud comedy about the underbelly of the theater business by Theresa Rebeck, notable American playwright and creator of TVs Smash. An understudy of an understudy is forced to work with an exasperated stage manager. Its an existential look backstage at what it takes when the show must go on, an exposé of human motivation. Its directed by Michael Mendelson.
Sept. 8-Oct. 4, Artists Repertory Theatre Alder Stage, 1515 S.W. Morrison St., www.artistsrep.org, $48, previews $25