John Patrick Pullen

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an adult prepares to race a skull and crossbones-styled soapbox an adult prepares to race a skull and crossbones-styled soapbox
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PDX Adult Soapbox Derby at Mt. Tabor Park

Portland Adult Soapbox Derby

Grown-up kids make inventive vehicles in this quirky summer race.

1 min read Belmont

John Patrick Pullen

Southeast Portland
Editor's Pick
When
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free
Where
SE 60th Ave &
SE Salmon St, Portland, OR 97215

Put down your video game controllers and step away from your Mario Kart. The best way to race isn’t on a screen; it’s down an extinct cinder cone volcano in Southeast Portland. The annual PDX Adult Soapbox Derby, pits grown-up kids against each other, with each team designing and assembling their own downhill racers in pursuit of maximum speed or big laughs.

Mount Tabor Park

Mount Tabor Park, a century-old public space, is known for its open-air reservoirs, forested hiking trails, sunset picnics, epic city views, its annual Adult Soapbox Derby, and, yes, its volcanic cinder cone.

Explore

This race returns every August to Mt. Tabor Park, an extinct volcano that is now a forested urban park. Dozens of teams build cars to zip down the course, a great mix of curves and straightaways, lined with picnicking onlookers — many sipping cool brews in the designated beer garden.

two people wearing sunglasses and togas ride a pink elephant-shaped soapbox derby cart
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Whimsical handmade carts speed down Mt. Tabor at the PDX Adult Soap Box Derby.
Credit: Jason DeSomer
two people race down a hill in a hand made derby car
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The PDX Adult Soapbox Derby returns to Mt. Tabor Park each year.
Credit: Brian Brewer via Flickr

Prizes for speed, engineering, fan favorites, and lifetime achievement are handed out to deserving daredevils, but the cheers may be more valuable than any award. Everything from streamlined, lacquered, wooden one-man bombers to fully-packed “Scooby Doo” Mystery Machine doppelgängers zoom down the hill, making this a great day in the park for kids and the young at heart alike.

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