Festival Etiquette and Essentials

To make the festival enjoyable for everyone!

Festival hours

Thursday, July 3, gates open at 2 p.m. Music begins at 3 p.m. and continues through 10 p.m., followed by a late-night Blues Cruise.
Friday, July 4, noon to 10 p.m., followed by spectacular fireworks over the Willamette River.
Saturday, July 5, noon to 10 p.m., followed by late-night Blues Cruise.
Sunday, July 6, noon to 9 p.m.

Gates open

Bowl area (Miller and Co-Op stages) opens at 2 p.m. on July 3 and at 11 a.m. on July 4, 5 and 6.

Admission

Suggested donation of $10 and two cans of nonperishable food (or more if you are able) per person per day to help fight hunger.

A four-day pass will be available in May.

For every dollar donation, OFB can collect and distribute five pounds of food through its food distribution system.

What to bring

• $10 donation and two cans of nonperishable food per person per day.
• Water
• Sunscreen
• Hat and sunglasses
• LOW “sand” or “beach” style chairs – not more than six-inches off the ground. If your chair is higher, we’ll ask you to sit in back to avoid obstructing view of stage for others.
  
• Rain poncho if it’s sprinkling

Leave at home (not allowed)

You won’t be allowed to enter the festival with
• Sorry, no animals
• Alcoholic beverages. Wine and beer is available for purchase in designated areas onsite
• Glass
• Fireworks
•Weapons
• Beach balls and Frisbees
• Tents and large tarps. Maximum tarp size is 12’ x 16’ for a minimum of four people.
• Sun umbrellas that obstruct seated guests’ view of stages
• Location flags on sticks or poles that block stage view
• Audio or video recording devices

On site

• ATM machine
• First-aid tent
• Bicycle parking
• Lost and found booth (Oregon Food Bank Information Booth)
• A variety of food and beverages for purchase from vendors
• CDs, posters, clothing and other merchandise for purchase
• Pottery bowls for purchase from Oregon Potters Association

Parking

Street parking fills quickly. Here are a few alternatives:
• Park in downtown parking lots and garages
• Park on the east bank of the river and walk across the Hawthorne Bridge.
• Or walk along the East Bank Esplanade.
• Bicycle to the site. Bicycle Transportation Alliance will provide bicycle parking
Ride TriMet, MAX light rail or Portland Street Car

Accessibility

The festival site is a public park. The walkway is wheelchair accessible. But most of the park is a grassy hill. There is no special festival parking. Attendees park in public lots and on the street. The closest parking garage is at S.W. First and Jefferson , just a few blocks from the festival site.

Other common sense policies

General
• No distribution of commercial advertisements.
• Keep passages free.
Don’t block aisles, walkways, esplanade or other public areas.
• Security staff will inspect all bags.
• Waterfront Blues Festival staff will close entry and access to the bowl area of Waterfront Park when the audience reaches the capacity of the area.
• Obey all federal, state and City of Portland laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
• Do not enter nonpublic areas i.e. offices, storage, vendor booths, “performers only” areas.
• Respect property.
• Do not take, deface, degrade, damage or destroy property.
• Don’t disrupt or interfere with festival operations.
• No physical or verbal harassment or abuse allowed.
• Obey directions of festival management team and its authorized contractors.