Nothing feels more like summer than a jam-packed 4th of July with food, fun, and, of course, fireworks! Portland and its surrounding areas have plenty of options for family-friendly celebration – here are our favorites:
Oaks Park 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. Live music, thrill rides (and not-so-thrill rides for the little ones), and games. Pack a picnic and grab a cozy spot to take in a sure-to-impress fireworks display at dusk. Gates open at 10am. oakspark.com
Spend a musical afternoon at the Waterfront Blues Festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The festivities kick off with an off-street processional performance; the fun continues with Dance Kids, which offers dance classes and activities for the whole family in all sorts of dance and musical styles, harmonica and guitar workshops, and Blues Cruises up the Willamette. In the evening, enjoy the largest 4th of July fireworks display in Oregon! waterfrontbluesfest.com
Live across the river? Fort Vancouver hosts its own Independence Day celebration, with historical reenactments, arts and crafts, food and picnic areas, kids’ games, and more. Kids can also march in the Patriotic Parade at 4pm and paint themselves red, white, and blue. Gates open at 8am, fireworks start at 10:05pm. 4th.fortvan.org
Itching to get out of the city? Downtown Corbett, OR, will come alive with Fun Fest – a full day of activities, including a pancake breakfast, field games, inflatables, a talent show, an auction, and live music. Don’t miss the Slug Races (yes, slugs!) and Pie-Eating Contest! Fireworks start at dusk. corbettfunfest.com
Make it a true Americana experience and head out to St. Paul for the annual St. Paul Rodeo. The day starts off with a parade at 10am, and then the carnival opens at 11am for maximum playtime and fun before the rodeo performances (1:30pm and 7:30pm). Stick around for the fireworks after the dust settles! stpaulrodeo.com
Look to your local neighborhoods for more block-party style merriment – Ladd’s Addition, Eastmoreland, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, and other neighborhood associations traditionally host their own parades and firework displays.
Finally, many Oregon coastal towns have street fairs and fireworks if you want to escape for a few days. Coos Bay’s Mingus Park (coosbaydowntown.org) features free swimming, fishing, clowns, and more; Seaside, Manzanita, and Astoria are also worth checking out!
Wherever you decide to go, have a safe and happy 4th!
