• Mount Angel is a bavarian-style city of Oregon
• The city is home to the largest Oktoberfest festival in the Pacific Northwest
If you want to experience an Old World European atmosphere without leaving Oregon, Mount Angel is the place to visit. Shaped by Bavarian settlers and Swiss Benedictine monks, the town is known for its strong German heritage.
It is also home to Mount Angel Oktoberfest, the largest folk festival in the Pacific Northwest, attracting more than 300,000 visitors each year. This four-day celebration has been held every September since 1966.
The butte overlooking the town was once a place of worship for Native Americans, who called it Tapalamaho, meaning “mount of communion.”
In 1881, Benedictine monks from Engelberg, Switzerland, arrived in Oregon seeking a new home. Around the same time, Bavarian immigrants settled in the area.
In 1883, the monks founded a boys’ school and established Mount Angel Abbey.
The community took the name Mount Angel, an Anglicized version of Engelberg, and was officially incorporated on April 3, 1893.
Today, Mount Angel is a small community of about 3,500 residents.
It is located between Woodburn to the north and Silverton to the south, about 18 miles northeast of Salem and 45 miles south of Portland, along Highway 214.
Set in the fertile Willamette Valley, the town lies between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range.
The local economy is supported by agriculture and light industry, with farms producing berries, Christmas trees, and other crops.
Festival & Events
Visitors to Mount Angel can enjoy Bavarian-style architecture, traditional food, and unique shops.
Popular attractions include St. Mary Catholic Church, the Mount Angel Abbey, the Mount Angel Glockenspiel, the Mount Angel Abbey Library, and the Maibaum.
Seasonal events and festivals add even more charm throughout the year.
Festival & Events
- Volksfest - a celebration of German Sausage takes place on the fourth weekend of February
- Independence Day celebration - July 4th
- Mt. Angel Oktoberfest is held on the second week of September
- Huzelnut Festival takes place on the first weekend of December.
Mount Angel | Facts
Region: Willamette Valley • Oregon • USA
County: Marion
Founded: 1850
Incorporated: 1893
Population (2017): 3,536
Area: 1.14 mile2 (2.95 km2)
Elevation: 51 ft (168 м)
Average Winter T°: 42°F (5.3°C)
Average Summer T°: 66°F (19°C)
Adventures Nearby
Directions to Mount Angel
From I-5,
- Take exit 271 in Woodburn toward Woodburn/Silverton
- Take OR-214 South and travel 9.3 miles to Mt. Angel.