Bullfrog Days

The first annual

Bullfrog
Days

A hometown celebration of music, art, local businesses, and glorious amphibious nonsense.

Saturday, August 22, 2026
10 AM–5 PM
From Highway 30 to the Columbia River

See what’s happening Shop merch

St. Helens.
Making something for itself.

Bullfrog Days poster featuring a whimsical flying frog over a moonlit St. Helens skyline

The plan is growing

What’s happening so far

More activities are being added as St. Helens businesses join in. Check back. This list will keep growing. We're building this soapbox racer while it's already rolling downhill.

12 PM–5 PM

Super Secret Frog Project

Not saying it's a frog-a-pult but . . .

Spilt Ink Gallery

1-ish until whenever

Canyon Creek Ramblers

live music on the sidewalk!

2Cs Vendor Mall

10 AM while they last

Riddle me this?

Answer our riddle and win a prize!

2Cs Vendor Mall

12 PM–5 PM

Coloring and Bubbles

Kids can color the Bullfrog Days art

The Sweet Starling Co

12 PM–5 PMor while supplies last

Muddy Waters Energy Drink Special - Bullfrog Days Only!

Redbull base, green apple, strawberry, topped with whipped cream

Sherlock's Grocery on St. Helens St

12 PM–5 PM

Artsy-Fartsy Stuff!

Bullfrog and Grateful Dead themed canvases to paint for all ages (small fee). Look for tables set up for this special activity taking place during their annual end of summer sale

The Real Deahl

12 PM–5 PM

Children's Activity!

Frogs gonna race, of course

Beyond the Forest

12 PM–5 PM

Bullfrog Days Drink Special

Pretty sure gummies are involved!

Lightning Treats and Sweets

12 PM–5 PM

GRATEFUL BEEF

Thin sliced italian beef piled onto a hoagie roll with provolone horseradish, fried onions, and jus

RUM RAISIN CANNOLI

Jerry was indifferent to "Cherry Garcia" and the real ones know that he consumed Haagen Dazs Rum Raisin on the nightly. This is that, but cannolified.

Sidewalk Chalk Drawing Station

For kids and adults!

Pretty Nice Deli

12 PM–5 PM

Sidewalk Chalk Drawing Station

For kids and adults!

Yankton Store and Restaurant

12 PM–5 PM

Bullfrog Mocktail Special

Get it two ways: infused energy drink or soda drink

Bertucci’s Chocolates and Sandwich Shop

1 PM until it ends

Bullfrog 2½: Still Waiting for Jerry

Two hippies have been waiting in Plaza Square for Bullfrog to start since 1969. Things are getting weird. Joined by one or more free souls. Saturday on the street outside Pretty Nice Deli, 290 S. 1st Street, downtown St. Helens. Starts at 1 pm, more or less.

CASTING CALL COME ONE COME ALL!! Wear a costume. You are a hippie. It's August 1969. Bullfrog 2 has been canceled. You're hanging around Plaza Square waiting to hear where the concert is going to happen. Do whatever seems appropriate and most of all HAVE FUN!

The Grateful Dad

While They Last

Frog-a-rita??

Yup, it's a Green Melon Margarita!

El Tapatio

12 PM-5 PM

Sidewalk Chalk Drawing Station

For kids and adults!

Richardson's Furniture & Mattress Gallery

10ish

Get Hippie With Us

Groovy temporary tattoos (free), photo op prop, fun decor, and bubbles, lots of bubbles!

FreeBird Salon and Feathers & Leathers

All Day

Find Grateful Dead Easter Eggs

Playing Grateful Dead music all day (every day?), plus look for Grateful Dead easter eggs throughout the shop.

The Paddle Shack

Time TBD

Your event could be here

Host an activity, offer a special, play music, make art, or dream up something delightfully frog-related.

Join Bullfrog Days

“Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart…”

—Grateful Dead, Shakedown Street

A day for St. Helens

Our town. Our people. Our kind of strange.

St. Helens has changed. Mills closed. Familiar places disappeared. The town has taken some hard knocks. But its heart is still here in the people who make things, open their doors, play music, raise families, volunteer, and keep showing up.

Bullfrog Days is St. Helens making something for itself.

The celebration stretches from Highway 30 to the river, through the Houlton, Midtown, and Riverfront Districts. Wander through town, revisit familiar places, and see what your neighbors are creating.

Highway to river

One celebration across town

Music, art, and activities at local businesses from Highway 30 to the river.

Why Bullfrog?

A peculiar piece of local history

In 1969, the Grateful Dead were supposed to perform a concert dubbed Bullfrog II at the county fairgrounds. The concert was in jeopardy when the fairgrounds canceled the venue contract. Hijinks ensued, hippies took over courthouse square, and a local berry farm came to the rescue. The shenanigans down by the river became Bullfrog II, and the concert held at Pelletier Farm became Bullfrog III.

Bullfrog Days is a cheerful nod to that stranger and stranger chapter in local history.

Read the Columbia County Museum Association's Bullfrog story →
Bullfrog Days flying frog sticker art

Participating so far

Businesses making it happen

Bertucci's Chocolates and Sandwich Shop
Beyond the Forest
El Tapatio
FreeBird Salon and Feathers & Leathers
Lightning Treats and Sweets
The Paddle Shop
Pretty Nice Deli
Richardson's Furniture & Mattress Gallery
Sherlock's Grocery on St. Helens St
Spilt Ink Gallery
The Real Deahl
The Sweet Starling Co
Yankton Store and Restaurant
2Cs Vendor Mall

Own or run a local business?

Host an activity, offer a one-day special, display art, provide music, or invent something weird enough to make a frog proud.

Join Bullfrog Days
Bullfrog Days frog character

Official Bullfrog Days goods

Take a frog home.

Tees, totes, caps, and other amphibious goods.

Secure Shopping at Fourthwall

Calling local artists

Design the 2027 Bullfrog Days poster

The 2027 poster could be yours. Contest rules, deadlines, prize information, and submission details are coming soon. Start imagining now!

Ask about the contest
2027 Your art here

You already know the town

A few useful reminders

Parking

Please use free on-street parking. Avoid residential streets.

Restrooms

Public restrooms available at Columbia View Park (Riverfront).

Accessibility

Accessible parking is available throughout town. Most buildings are accessible.

Getting around

Street closures are not anticipated.