Portland and Area Activities Planner - June 28, 2024

WATERFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL
2024 marks the 37th anniversary of the Waterfront Blues Festival, a jubilant celebration in downtown Portland. Founded in 1988, this Independence Day festival has welcomed over 2,000 artists, including Gregg Allman, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Plant, Mavis Staples and Trombone Shorty, garnering international acclaim and raising over $10 million dollars for local community organizations, the Oregon Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. 

This year, the festival features headliners Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Greensky Bluegrass, Lucinda Williams, Margo Price, St. Paul & The Broken Bones and Bobby Rush & North Mississippi Allstars.

4TH OF JULY SPECTACULAR
Celebrate the holiday with a bang at the Oaks Park 4th of July Spectacular. Admission includes all-day access to all of the rides, free first-come, first-serve picnic grounds, and Portland's best fireworks display.

Everyone ages 3 and older, including non-riders, must have a ticket to enter the park. Kids 2 and under are free. Ticket quantities are limited. Tickets are only available online in advance; they will not be available at the gate.

4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS DINNER CRUISE
Watching the fireworks light up the sky on Independence Day is a magical experience, and there’s no better view than from a boat. Celebrate the Fourth of July with a cruise and enjoy the Waterfront Blues Fest fireworks show on the Willamette River.

HILLSBORO ROTARY JULY THE 4TH PARADE
Enjoy the celebration of Independence Day AND more than 100 years of the Hillsboro Rotary!

The Hillsboro Rotary will host the 2024 4^th of July Parade, with support from the City of Hillsboro, starting at 10 am.

JOE JACKSON SOLO AND THE MUSIC OF MAX CHAMPION
Following the newly released album by earMUSIC, Mr. Joe Jackson presents: Max Champion in 'What A Racket!' — reviving the songs of enigmatic early 20th-century English Music Hall artist Max Champion — renowned musician and producer Joe Jackson announces “The Two Rounds Of Racket Tour” appearing in 19 cities across the U.S. in summer 2024. The tour promises to be festive, fun, and unlike anything else music fans will see next (or any other) year. The show will be in two parts: a solo set by Joe Jackson of his original songs, and a set based on the album What A Racket! — the first performance in more than 100 years of the songs of forgotten Music Hall genius Max Champion, with Joe and a nine-piece band. 

PORTLAND CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
The Portland Craft Beer Festival brings a huge outdoor party to The Elizabeth Caruthers Park, along with a huge selection of local beers, ciders and wine, originating from Portland, Oregon breweries. Only beers, plus ciders and wine, crafted within the city limits of Portland are featured at the PCBF which makes it unique and different from other beer festivals. PCBF is held annually on the first full weekend in July, helping to kick off Oregon Craft Beer Month.

INAUGURAL GARDEN EXPO
What could be better for a summer afternoon than a stroll through Grand Lodges gardens? Join us in the gardens for a modern-day garden party, with handcrafted beverages, lunch al fresco and self-guided garden tours. Go at your own pace and enjoy a mimosa while you leisurely tour the grounds. Our gardeners will available to answer any burning plant-based questions you may have, and if you're feeling inspired afterwards we're here to help with that too - we'll have estate-grown plants available for purchase. All that, plus presentations from both plant experts and the history department!

HANKOOK PORTLAND E-PRIX
Formula E is heading back to the Portland International Raceway. Last season, there were overtakes aplenty around this high-speed circuit. Expect more hotly contested, wheel-to-wheel action when all-electric racing returns to Portland. 

Alongside all the action on track, you can expect even more excitement in the Allianz Fan Village — Formula E's immersive fan festival at the heart of every E-Prix. It's a full-day's worth of entertainment, exploration and innovation just waiting for you. There's plenty of excitement away from the racing action with entertainment throughout the day. Test your Formula E skills on the simulator, be wowed by thrilling performances and find your groove with live music, alongside much more to keep your race experience fully charged.

MIDSUMMER CELEBRATION AT BROOKS WINERY
Join Brooks Winery for an evening showcasing gastronomic excellence with Michelin-starred chefs, including Maneet Chauhan, D'Andre Carter, Bruce Kalman, Richie Farina, and Donald Young, crafting unforgettable dishes. Guests will enjoy exploring five distinct chef's stations, each offering a duo of meticulously crafted small bites accompanied by a carefully selected wine or a bespoke cocktail pairing.

This event celebrates the 10th anniversary of The Trotter Project, a nonprofit developing the next generation of chefs through mentorships, scholarships, and paid internships, fostering culinary innovation and education.

SWING KIDS w/SWING DANCING LESSONS
Step into the rhythm of the 1930s with an unforgettable evening of dance and cinema. Join Tomorrow Theater for a special screening of the beloved film Swing Kids and arrive early for a special swing dancing lesson before the movie. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a newcomer to swing, the evening will pull you in through the infectious energy of swing culture. Don’t forget your dancing shoes.

BEAVERTON ESCAPE ROOMS
Beaverton Escape Rooms provides a thrilling, interactive adventure where 2-12 participants are locked in a themed room and have 60 minutes to discover hidden objects, gather clues, and solve puzzles to find the key to escape. It’s the perfect addition to a Tualatin Valley itinerary for visitors, team-building retreats and more.

OREGON BIGFOOT FESTIVAL AND BEYOND
Join a celebration of Bigfoot, UFOS and Ghosts in a family-fun atmosphere. Celebrities David Schrader of Discovery + The Holzer Files and Ronny LeBlanc of Expedition Bigfoot along with Sarah Lemos of Ghosts Town Terror will be there.

ENCHANTED FOREST
The Enchanted Forest has been a destination for Oregon children since it opened in 1971. Generations of kids have slid down the creepy witch slide, delighted in the Crooked Man’s house, and ridden on the carousel. The Enchanted Forest is a theme park – there is a section with carnival rides and a haunted house – but what most people remember is the creative world contained in the paths and structures of the park. 

THE OREGON GARDEN
Home to Oregon’s garden city, Silverton is known for its natural beauty and stunning sights. Encompassing that small-town feel and hospitality, locals and visitors can feel right at home in Silverton. Take a stroll through Oregon’s breathtaking botanical garden in the heart of Silverton at The Oregon Garden. You will love visiting this majestic garden with a relaxing, magical escape full of nature’s finest offerings. Offering 80 acres and more than 20 specialty gardens to see and appreciate, there is something for everyone to enjoy of all ages.

OREGON FILM MUSEUM
The Oregon Film Museum celebrates the art and legacy of film and television production in Oregon.

The list of film, television, and other media productions in Oregon is stunningly long and impressive: Animal House, The Shining, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Sometimes a Great Notion, Twilight, Rooster Cogburn, Stand By Me, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Drugstore Cowboy, Maverick, Men of Honor, Paint Your Wagon, Pay It Forward, The Postman, The General, Indian Fighter, Portlandia, Grimm, Leverage, The Librarians, Coraline, and ParaNorman, to name a few. In fact, there are more than 400 major productions that Oregon provided the backdrop for.

STERNWHEELER RIVER TOURS
This once primary mode of transportation has become more of a fun commodity for tourism, as river cruise ships provide visitors a chance to get out on the water and take in the sights of their new surroundings. Oregon joined in on the trend in the early 1980s. Since then, several non-steam-powered sternwheel riverboats have been built and operated on major waterways in the state, primarily on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in Marion County. Each is a fun ride for visitors and locals alike as they seemingly tug along and transport them to yesteryear.

Take your team to the next level: High Life Adventures also offers customized Team Building Programs to challenge your group while bringing them together as a team.

7 WONDERS OF OREGON; SMITH ROCK
If you enjoy scenic views of deep river canyons or rock climbing, Smith Rock State Park is the place for you. There are several thousand climbs in the park. More than a thousand are bolted routes. We also offer miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Along your trip through the canyon, you might see golden eagles, prairie falcons, mule deer, river otter and beaver.

THIS WEEKS HIKE: FOREST PARK
At 5,100 acres (2,064 ha), Forest Park boasts more than 80 miles (129 km) of paths and is one of the largest urban forests in the United States. On any given day, you’ll find trail runners, dog walkers, families and outdoor enthusiasts enjoying every inch of Forest Park. With clearly marked trails and paths in every direction, you can explore this urban oasis from any of its 40 access points.

HIKE - MULTNOMAH FALLS TRAIL
Experience this 2.3-mile out-and-back trail near Bridal Veil, Oregon. Generally considered a moderately challengi...ng route, it takes an average of 1 h 30 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.