July Events
Get out day and night to enjoy craft beer, music and film events every July in Portland.
Know Before You Go
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Oregon’s governor has banned all large events through the end of September 2020. For details on the events listed below, please visit their websites.
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 zine.
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 five 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 Summer 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.
Waterfront Blues Festival
Every Fourth of July weekend, the Waterfront Blues Festival takes over downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park.
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.
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