Have an Epic 4th of July at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland
The Waterfront Blues Festival - the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic Fourth of July celebration - has just announced its full festival lineup! With an incredible lineup, Portland culinary bites, and an epic 4th of July firework display along the Willamette River, the Waterfront Blues Festival is exactly where you’ll want to be! It’s a family-friendly and multigenerational summer celebration that is truly incredible.
The Waterfront Blues Festival in 2024 was incredible and this year will be just as exciting. The 38th annual Waterfront Blues Festival, July 4–5, 2025 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Downtown Portland, Oregon features national talent and local legends for a weekend packed with soul, good vibes, and PNW pride.
The lineup includes: Allen Stone, The Main Squeeze, The REcord Company, The Motet, ZZ Ward, LaRhonda Steele & Ronnie Wright, Tahirah Memory & Arietta Ward, PDX Soul Collective, Tevis Hodge Jr & Johnnie Ward, Lilla, Dan Berkery, The Bayou Boyz, Lloyd Jones & Mark Shark, and Too Loose Cajun Zydeco Band, and more. VIEW THE FULL 2025 LINEUP HERE.
Festival organizers also announced the return of the beloved Blues Cruises. This year, guests can set sail on two rockin' floating concerts on the Willamette River during the festival weekend, including:
Sail on Sister (July 4th, 3–5 PM) – Spend an afternoon on the Willamette celebrating Portland’s women of blues and soul! The Sail on Sister cruise features Sonny Hess’ all-star gathering of Northwest Women Rhythm & Blues, guitar ace Taylor Newville & the Riders, and acoustic blues virtuosos Mary Flower and Lauren Sheehan.
Cruisin’ to Memphis (July 5th, 3–5 PM) – Two bands and two solo acoustic acts will compete in the Journey to Memphis (J2M) Finals, with the winners advancing to the International Blues Challenge next January in Memphis! Meanwhile, this multi-stage, multi-deck venue will showcase award-winning Texas guitar slinger Jonn Del Torro Richardson, J2M Allstars (Ty Curtis, Johnny Wheels, Rae Gordon, Brady Goss and more), Kivett Bednar Band and JT Thomas. All aboard this blues party celebrating the region’s up-and-coming and well established blues and soul artists.
The Waterfront Blues Festival will once again produce Downtown Portland’s only sanctioned July 4th fireworks show – one of the most epic July 4th displays in the country with fireworks launched from a barge on the Willamette River set to a custom choreographed soundtrack.
1-Day Tickets and 2-Day Passes are available in General Admission and VIP options, kids 12 and under will receive free entry. Bringing the crew? The Good Vibes 4-Pack is the deal for you - it provides 10% off when purchasing four GA 1-Day tickets for Friday or Saturday - perfect for groups of friends and family to enjoy a day at the festival.
The Waterfront Blues Festival is Downtown Portland’s largest and longest running music festival, and remains one of the country’s best fully independently-owned and operated music festivals. This cornerstone event of the Pacific Northwest is a celebration of music, culture, and community that continues to evolve, inspire, and bring people together.
