Located in Oregon’s beautiful Washington County, Sherwood serves as a fantastic place to both live and work! Voted the 18th Best Places to Live in 2007, Sherwood was also recently ranked the 5th Best Small Town for Families in America in 2013 by CNN Money. With the city of Portland located approximately thirty minutes away, Sherwood has become the premiere city to live in for commuting employees. Additionally, with the city of Sherwood dedicating 300 acres for further employment and economic development, the city’s future as a thriving economy and flourishing community continues to have a sunny forecast.
With a current population just over 18,000 residents, Sherwood also provides a unique mixture of urban lifestyle while maintaining its small-town charm. As part of retaining its small-town charm, Sherwood’s historic Old Town serves as a hub for community events and festivals. The Old Town also features Cannery Square Plaza where the Sherwood Saturday Market is held every Saturday from May through September. The Saturday Market provides a venue for the community to support local artisans, chefs, and farmers. If you are looking for other visual, performing or literary art events in Sherwood, check out Sherwood Foundation for the Arts website. The grand opening celebration for the Sherwood Cultural Arts Community Center is slated for February 28th, 2015 and promises to be a popular venue for local artists, performers, and events.
With mild winter weather and temperate summers, Sherwood attracts visitors throughout the year! Sherwood’s popular Robin Hood Festival is held annually during July and offers events for the whole family, including a knighting ceremony, archery competition, live music and performances. Other activities during the Robin Hood Festival include a beer and wine garden for adults and local vendors. Equestrian enthusiast can visit Sherwood’s own DevonWood and watch top rated equine shows, including the famed Dressage at DevonWood event in July. Another popular summer event is Cruisin’ Sherwood, a classic and custom car show that draws approximately 20,000 regional visitors and over 500 classic and custom cars. For a taste of local fare, spend your afternoon at Sherwood Orchards, a 26-acre u-pick fruit orchard with seasonal, fresh fruit ranging from cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, pears and so much more!
Sherwood also offers close access to many popular bike trails for bicyclists. For more information on trails, check out the Tualatin-Sherwood Bike Map. Additionally, the Ice Age Tonquin Trail is currently under construction, promising an additional twenty-two miles of trail that will connect Sherwood, Tualatin and Wilsonville along wildlife corridors, connecting communities and incorporating natural history along the path. For other outdoor activities in Sherwood, check out the Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge supports a rich diversity of wildlife in the Tualatin River watershed while offering fantastic birdwatching opportunities near urban development and hosting the annual Tualatin River Bird Festival in mid-May. For fishing, hiking and camping, plan a trip to the Mount Hood Wilderness and the Sherwood Campground located just off of Highway 35.
Community events continue year round with a Winter Festival being held in Old Town Sherwood during December. The Winter Festival features a holiday parade, live music, children craft activities and annual tree lighting among the cast of events. For visitors looking to show their support for regional farmers during the colder months, check out Sherwood’s The Great Onion Festival! Held annually on the second Saturday of October, the festival hosts several contests as well as family events including a petting zoo, vendor and craft booths. During the winter, Sherwoodians and visitors can also bundle up and visit the Favorite 5 Country Farms for local produce, artisan products, gifts and holiday cheer! Farms on previous tours include Our Table and Haider Farm and Country Store.
With the Willamette Valley renowned for quality Pinot Noirs, Sherwood is also home to many distinguished vineyards, including Alloro Vineyard, Anam Cara Cellars, Barron-Wahl Vineyard, Beckham Estate Vineyard, Blakeslee Vineyard Estate, Hawks View Cellars, Quailhurst Vineyard Estate, and Ponzi Vineyards Winery. For planning winery tours and learning more about Oregon winery events in Washington County, visit Oregon’s Washington County website. Also, be sure to plan a visit to Sherwood’s own Two Kilts Brewing Co where seven full time beers and five rotating seasonal, craft brewed American ales and lagers awaits in their tasting room!
The city of Sherwood offers everything from a bustling economy, to an historic old-town hub for community events. From fantastic local agriculture, vineyards and parks, to the bike trails, shopping, and festivals, Sherwood continues to retain its unique blend of rural, small-town charm with the convenience and amenities of an urban lifestyle. If you are planning a visit to Sherwood, Oregon, find more information on the city’s website here or visit Sherwood’s Chamber of Commerce here!
For additional information and resources please visit www.sherwoodoregon.gov