Celebrating its 28th year, this is not just Portland or Oregon’s largest festival: It’s the largest blues fest west of the Mississippi River. With entry by suggested donation or by purchasing festival passes, the Waterfront Blues Fest is also the biggest fundraiser for the Oregon Food Bank each year, netting more than $4 million in the past five years. Family-friendly and featuring plenty of local talent as well as instantly recognizable classics from blues, funk and rock legends, spending Independence Day on the banks of the Willamette River will also earn you a front row seat for the city’s most impressive display of fireworks. The four days of blues by the river are bolstered by day and nighttime action including DME Blues Cruises on the Portland Spirit and After-Hours All-Stars performances featuring many of the bill’s top names.
Good news for 2015: While Gregg Allman was forced to cancel his performance last year due to health reasons, the Allman Brother (with Ex-PDX musician Jay Collins) will be headlining the Blues Fest's first night as his tour hits Portland on July 2. Then July 3 will see Galactic with Macy Gray on the main stage while Buddy Guy will close out the fest on July 5.
Dates
Thursday, July 2 to Sunday, July 5
Location
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, OR
Price
$10 suggested daily donation or a variety of inclusive passes starting at $40.
Arrival
Come early so you can score the ideal location to catch your fest favorites, then relax and take in the tunes.
Insider Info
Attracting all ages, this festival definitely skews older with families and groups making a day of it by selecting a prime spot in front of the stage that features the acts they want to catch. Low beach chairs, blankets and coolers are allowed but you’ll have to leave your booze at home (and purchase beer and wine on-site). If you plan to camp out in the sun all day, bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat. That said, once you’ve staked out a spot, feel free to divide and conquer (preferably leaving one watch behind) by bouncing around the fest to see what’s happening on each of the four stages (including crossing beneath the Hawthorne Bridge to the checkered zydeco dance floor—which is always lively).
