There are plenty of places to celebrate Independence Day across Oregon, but few combine live music, riverfront scenery and holiday tradition quite like Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival.
Now celebrating its 39th year, the festival has become one of the state’s signature summer events, drawing thousands of people to Tom McCall Waterfront Park for three days of nationally recognized entertainment, regional musicians, local food, family activities and a Fourth of July fireworks display that ranks among Oregon’s largest.
What began in 1988 as a festival dedicated to preserving and celebrating blues music has steadily evolved into one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier outdoor music gatherings. While the blues remains at its heart, today’s festival features an expanded lineup that includes soul, rhythm and blues, funk, Americana and roots music, reflecting the many genres that trace their roots back to the blues tradition…