Portland Blues Festival patrons can expect to enjoy a lot of good music and plenty of all around fanfare. This annual four-day event, which is more officially known as the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, features some of the most renowned artists in the Blues industry and is one of the most popular Portland attractions. This event also raises significant amounts of money for the Oregon Food Bank.

The main venue for the long-running Portland Waterfront Blues Festival is the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. This park is located downtown and unfolds along the banks of the Willamette River. Four stages are set up to handle the majority of the acts, and these stages host more than 100 performances between them. In other words, there are a bunch of opportunities to see live music during the festival, especially when you also consider the live performances that are held at other venues around town on the side and those that are offered in tandem with a cruise up the river.

The large boat titled the Portland Spirit that is used for the Blues Cruises during the Blues Fest in Portland Oregon features three stages, and both afternoon and evening cruises can be enjoyed. An hors d'oeuvres buffet and a bar are available on the cruises should you want to enjoy some food and drink on board as you listen to the tunes. Cruises depart from SW Salmon and Naito Parkway.

Portland Map

Back on land, those who are enjoying the sweet sounds of the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival will also have food and drink options to take advantage of should they please. Numerous vendors are in place. If you seek alcoholic beverages, Portland and Oregon are both known for excellent beer. You can sample beers from local breweries and try some wines from the nearby Oregon wine country. Also complementing the musical performances during the Portland Blues Festival are arts and crafts displays and workshops, which are often a big hit with families.

If you are interested in adding the Blues Fest in Portland Oregon to your upcoming vacation itinerary, early July is the time to arrive. The event ends on July 5, and as you might imagine, the night of July 4 is capped off by a dazzling fireworks display to celebrate the Fourth of July.

To gain entrance to the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, you can show up on any given day and pay at the gate or buy a pass in advance. Buying a pass in advance is recommended, as the festival often sells out fast. The passes also allow for extra perks, such as early admittance and entrance to after-hours performances at other venues in town.

If you don't buy a pass for the Blues Fest in Portland Oregon, a suggested donation is required to get in at the gates, and any and all visitors are asked to bring at least two cans of nonperishable foods. Parking fills up fast, and as such, visitors are encouraged to rely on public transportation for getting to and from the festival.