July Events
Get out day and night to enjoy craft beer, music and film events every July in Portland.
Smack dab in the middle of summer are some of Portland’s favorite events, festivals and things to do. Head to waterfront for the city’s annual Blues Festival, grab your favorite floatie and dive into the Willamette River for The Big Float and sip on dozens of locally made brews at the Portland Craft Beer Festival. Read on for some of our favorite July events and offerings, or check out our full events calendar to see everything on offer.
Waterfront Blues Festival
The largest blues festival west of the Mississippi River, Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival rocks crowds at Waterfront Park with five days concerts and fireworks every Fourth of July.
Portland Craft Beer Festival
Held over the Fourth of July, the Portland Craft Beer Festival at Fields Park in Northwest Portland rounds out the summer’s plentiful beer fest offerings by restricting its tap list to only beers brewed in the city.
Cathedral Park Jazz Festival
Founded in 1981, the three-day Cathedral Park Jazz Festival is now the West’s largest and oldest free celebration of jazz and blues. Held in Cathedral Park beneath the historic St. Johns Bridge, the scenery is almost enough to steal the show.
PDX Pop Now!
The PDX Pop Now! festival highlights as many as 50 local independent artists at a single venue over the course of two days. The volunteer-driven nonprofit behind the festival also produces an annual compilation CD of local music.
The Big Float
Thousands bring their favorite floaties for The Big Float, an annual summertime splash in the Willamette River, followed by a beach party just south of the Hawthorne Bridge.
Portland Highland Games
This celebration of all things Scottish features dancing, piping, drumming and fiddling, traditional food and the “heavy events,” which include the caber toss and the Portland stone — a 96-pound rock hurled by only the brawniest athletes. The Portland Highland Games are held just east of Portland in Gresham.
Portland Zine Symposium
Portland’s DIY culture is alive and well, and you can catch it in all its vibrant blacks and whites at this annual gathering of underground media connoisseurs. The Portland Zine Symposium is a free, two-day event that includes workshops, panel discussions and tables of people buying, selling and trading zines.
Flicks on the Bricks
Gather up the family and head to Pioneer Courthouse Square for free movies and popcorn under the stars on Portland’s “largest outdoor screen.” Catch Flicks on the Bricks four consecutive Friday nights, July through August.
Top-Down Rooftop Cinema
Enjoy Portland’s temperate summer nights with Top-Down Rooftop Cinema. Film screenings, along with performances from local bands, cocktails, beer and barbecue are offered six Thursday evenings in a row atop a Portland State University parking structure.
Noon Tunes
Since 2002, Pioneer Courthouse Square has celebrated summer with two free lunchtime concerts every week in July and August. The popular Noon Tunes Concert Series showcases the best in regional and local musical talent each Tuesday and Thursday from noon-1 p.m.
July Highlights
Explore more things to do and see in July in Portland.
More July Events
Check out our editor's picks for top things to do in July in Portland.
Portland Flea + Food
The Portland Flea + Food is a monthly market held on the last Sunday of the month in Portland, Oregon. Every market features 80+ local artists, makers, and curators of the best vintage, handmade and locally-sourced goods in town.
Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn
Since 2008, McMenamins Edgefield, a bucolic venue located 15 miles east of Portland in Troutdale, has welcomed musical acts to its Concerts on the Lawn series, which is a local rite of summer.
Waterfront Blues Festival
Every Fourth of July weekend, the Waterfront Blues Festival takes over downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park.
Portland Craft Beer Festival
The Portland Craft Beer Festival brings a huge outdoor party to the Fields Neighborhood Park, along with a huge selection of local beers, ciders and wine, originating from Portland, Oregon breweries. Only beers, plus ciders and wine, crafted within the city limits of Portland are featured at the PCBF which makes it unique and different…
Rose Cup Races
Celebrate racing history at Portland International Raceway’s 60th annual Rose Cup Races! Enjoy great racing, pageantry and honoring an iconic family-friendly event in the Pacific Northwest.
The Big Float
Every summer since 2011, thousands of people swim and float in the Willamette River for the annual Big Float event.
Portland Picnic Wine Tasting Festival
Bring a blanket or chair to enjoy the fourth annual Portland Picnic in Westmoreland Park. Featuring tastings from an array of 100 wines from around the world. There will also be beer available from Level Beer and nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy. A great selection of local vendors will be offering tasty food, live music, and…
Fete de la Bastille & Waiters Race
The Fete de la Bastille is the West Coast’s largest Bastille Day celebration. The festival is free and open to the public and attracts as many 8,000 participants. A fun tradition during this festival is the Annual Waiters Race. The popular Portland Waiters Race returns to Bastille Day and will start at 2 p.m. Racers…
Portland Highland Games
For more than 60 years, the Portland Highland Games have delighted participants with a unique, Scottish experience featuring incredible Scottish pipe bands, bag pipers and drummers, dancers and athletes. Come enjoy a full day of this Scottish festival. Explore Scottish clan tents and learn about your Scottish history (you may be surprised to find a…
Oregon Northwest Merfest
Oregon Northwest Merfest is a festival for the entire family that brings awareness to conservation with a fun “under the sea” theme. Join Oregon Mermaids for a day of mermaids, pirates, sea-themed entertainers, puppet shows and ocean-themed yoga. Oregon Mermaids impart their love of the briny deep, its wildlife, the ocean beaches and conservation information…
Oregon Brewers Festival
Portland hosts dozens of beer festivals every year, but none compares to the Oregon Brewers Festival. With offerings from 80 craft brewers, the event draws nearly 70,000 attendees to the downtown waterfront every July.
Division/Clinton Street Fair and Parade
Celebrate the funky charm of one of Southeast Portland’s oldest neighborhoods at the Division/Clinton District’s annual Street Fair and Parade. The morning parade along Division and Clinton Streets will kick off a full day of live music, family fun, children’s events, great food, interesting art, craft and community booths, sidewalk sales for bargain hunters, and…
Pickathon
Every August since 1999, Pickathon draws diverse musical performers to celebrate music and the outdoors at the lush Pendarvis Farm just outside of Portland.