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The Waterfront Blues Festival draws crowds every Fourth of July weekend. The Waterfront Blues Festival draws crowds every Fourth of July weekend.
i
The Waterfront Blues Festival draws crowds every Fourth of July weekend.
Portland Events / Summer in Portland / July Events / Fourth of July Events

Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival

Enjoy live blues music and fireworks from the shore or on the water.

Canceled
Updated Apr. 30, 2020 1 min read Downtown
Canceled
Southwest Portland
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED. We’ll update the page with future event info as soon as we get it. Please check back!
When
July 2–5, 2021
Where
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
98 SW Naito Pkwy
Portland, OR 97204

Know Before You Go

The 2020 Waterfront Blues Festival has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Waterfront Blues Festival website.

Every Fourth of July weekend, the Waterfront Blues Festival takes over downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park. This Independence Day celebration of America’s most heartfelt musical genre has featured masters like the Steve Miller Band, Mavis Staples, Buddy Guy, Booker T, Lucinda Williams, Robert Plant, Taj Mahal Trio and more alongside acclaimed upstarts.

Wailing into the waters of the Willamette since 1987, the annual Waterfront Blues Festival is the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi and second biggest in the U.S. Four days of music bring thousands to the popular Portland park, where more than 30 acts jam from morning until night.

Midnight blues cruises, late-night dances and after-hours shows help spread the music all over town. But, no doubt, the biggest scene is on the waterfront, where festive sunbathers soak in the tunes, stretch out on blankets and dance on the grass while the talented musicians fill the air with blues and everything benefits the Oregon Food Bank.

Upcoming Dates & Times

July 2
Festivals, Music, Summer

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July Events

July in Portland is a busy time, with a variety of live music, beer fests and film events to take in.

Downtown Portland\'s annual fireworks show takes place in the Willamette River, just south of the Hawthorne Bridge.

Fourth of July Events

There’s nothing more American than fun, family and, of course, fireworks. Pack all of that into one weekend with these July 4 events.

The Sounds of Summer

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Michael Franti & Spearhead at Edgefield in 2013.

Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn

With acts that have ranged from Al Green to ZZ Top, McMenamins Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn are an annual rite of summer and the hottest ticket in town.

Oregon Zoo Summer Concerts

Musicians and fans alike flock to concerts at the Oregon Zoo each summer to enjoy live music, sunshine and friends.

Sundown at EcoTrust in the Pearl District

Summer Concert Round-Up

Portlanders' pent-up desire for sun may explain our skill at making the most of summer's long days and warm nights with outdoor concerts.

Folk musicians perform on unique stages at Pickathon.

Pickathon Music Festival

Every August since 1999, Pickathon draws diverse musical performers to celebrate music and the outdoors at the lush Pendarvis Farm just outside of Portland.

Father John Misty performing at Waterfront Park in 2017.

Music Festivals in and Near Portland

Looking for a tuneful way to enjoy your time in Portland? Get your tickets now for these exciting annual celebrations.

Chamber Music Northwest’s Summer Festival

Chamber Music Northwest’s annual summer festival combines high-caliber classical music with a laid-back atmosphere.

Upcoming Concerts & Shows

Full calendar
Canceled
Waterfront Blues Festival
July 2–5, 2021

Waterfront Blues Festival

Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Every Fourth of July weekend, the Waterfront Blues Festival takes over downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park.

Canceled
Festivals
Music
Summer
Canceled
Portland Folk Festival
Jan. 14–16, 2022

Portland Folk Festival

McMenamins Crystal Ballroom $25 – $40

After taking 2021 off, the Portland Folk Festival is coming back strong in 2022 with not two, but THREE days of an all-ages celebration of Folk and American music at the historic Crystal Ballroom. Visit the event website for the latest lineup!

Canceled
Festival
Music
Editor's Pick
RX Fest
Feb. 11–13, 2022

RX Fest

Various Locations $10 and up

​Music is medicine. RX Fest is a multi-venue, multi-day festival is a large-scale benefit for organizations vital to our community, all centrally located in downtown Portland at Star Theater, Dante’s, Kelly’s Olympian and Valentine’s.

Editor's Pick
Festival
Music
Nightlife
NateWantsToBattle with Vespera, Andrew Stein
Thursday, Mar. 18, 2021

NateWantsToBattle with Vespera, Andrew Stein

Polaris Hall $20 ADV / $25 DOS — $90 VIP 1 / $60 VIP 2

Actor/gaming YouTube sensation/musician with alt-rock hits and covers. NateWantsToBattle FACEBOOK A popular voice actor, musician, gaming commentator, and YouTube star, NateWantsToBattle is the nom de plume of Richmond, Virginia native Nathan Sharp. Sharp launched his popular YouTube channel in 2012, where he performs original songs about video games and cover songs from popular anime games…

Music
Goldmund Quartet: Europe’s Rising Stars
Saturday, Mar. 20, 2021

Goldmund Quartet: Europe’s Rising Stars

Online Virtual Concert $20.00 – $125.00

Hailed as one of the most exciting young string quartets in the world, the Goldmund Quartet’s exquisitely refined playing has been awarded prizes at major competitions such as the Wigmore, Melbourne, and ARD Munich. They are the Rising Stars of the European Concert Hall Organisation leading to debut recitals at the Philharmonie de Paris, Amsterdam’s…

Music
Performing Arts
Commissions For Now: Normal Never Was
Wednesday, Mar. 31, 2021

Commissions For Now: Normal Never Was

YouTube Free

After what continues to be a challenging year for the arts, Portland’s Resonance Ensemble introduces “Commissions for Now,” an exciting new video series that premieres commissioned works from three nationally recognized composers performed by Resonance artists and collaborators and captured by Portland filmmaker Kenny Hamlett. The series opens 7PM Wednesday, March 31, 2021, with a…

Music
Performing Arts
Parker Quartet: Inventive & Inspired
Saturday, Apr. 24, 2021

Parker Quartet: Inventive & Inspired

$20.00 – $125.00

Inspiring performances, luminous sound, and exceptional musicianship are the hallmarks of the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet. Renowned for its dynamic interpretations and polished, expansive colors, the group has rapidly distinguished itself as one of the preeminent ensembles of its generation, dedicated purely to the sound and depth of their music. In this concert, the Parker…

Music
Kenari Quartet: Transforming Perceptions of the Sax
Saturday, May 15, 2021

Kenari Quartet: Transforming Perceptions of the Sax

Online Virtual Concert $20.00 – $125.00

Applauded for their “flat-out amazing” performances and “stunning virtuosity” (Cleveland Classical), the Kenari Quartet’s larger-than-life personalities pop off the stage. The unique style and flair of this Protégé Project alumni all-saxophone ensemble electrified Chamber Music Northwest audiences in 2018. Their triumphant return to the CMNW stage will feature modern and contemporary work plus improvisation.

Music
Performing Arts
The Legendary Portland Mile
Ongoing

The Legendary Portland Mile

Portland Meadows $50-$150

An auto/moto/bike race and music festival.

Festival
Music
Sports
The Dance for Romance
Ongoing

The Dance for Romance

Chateau Ballroom $10

The Dance for Romance is a Valentine’s Day social dance for singles, friends, couples and partners. Enjoy award-winning live blues music and a professional DJ spinning pop songs you can dance to solo, grouped or partnered. Arrive early for one or more dance lessons or love life workshops, and throughout the night you can enjoy…

Music
Nightlife

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