Celebrate Independence Portland-Style

Ah, the fireworks, the cocktails, the musical mayhem that marks the birthday of our official launch into country-hood. Party a plenty is available this time of year, and it can be hard to discern which hot spot to hit up. For those of you in Portland, Oregon, here's a rundown:

Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival

This is really the flagship of Portland Americana pride. Turning twenty this year, the blues fest is almost old enough drink to itself! But minors and over the alcohol earmark alike are welcome to celebrate the spirit beginning with a Blues Cruise on the Portland Spirit cruise ship. Nine cruises will take place, hosting blues legends on three stages, and an "after-hours" 21 and over water trip.

The main event is held on Portland's luscious waterfront with four stages and 125 performers - including ex-muddy waters pianist Pinetop Perkins who celebrated his own 94^th birthday on our home stage.

You can drink to your healthy American-ness and celebrate a good cause as proceeds go to the Oregon Food Bank. Entry to the event is 8 bucks plus two cans of food.

Of course, there will be fireworks-a-plenty on THE night, as well as live screenings of the North West Film Center's Reel Blues series, educational events, and blues performances every day beginning at noon.

Oaks Amusement Park Fireworks and Family Fun

If herding through a mass of downtown drama isn't your style, head down to Oaks Park where you can ride like a carnival king from noon to midnight. Fireworks will be on display at the end of the evening, and you can stock up on your cotton candy supply whilst idling away your afternoon on gravity-defying adventure rides.

UFO Anniversary

For the offbeat beatnik (and speaking of gravity-defying), there's always the 60^th Anniversary of Portland's oft-forgotten UFO sighting in 1974. Three police officers, a pilot, and several civilians spotted several disc-like objects in the sky that fateful Fourth of July, spurring debates around town on the existence of the Green Man. After the fireworks dissipated, however, so did the story. So come to Beautiful Pizza on SE Belmont street in remembrance of the strange and unusual!

Be a Beaver-Believer

At 7:05 pm at PGE Park, the Portland Beavers will celebrate independence against the Tacoma Rainiers. Cheer on Portland's baseball team in what's sure to be beautiful weather and stick around for special after-the-game fireworks.

Celebrate Portland's Little Sister

Vancouver-ites often cringe at the correlation as the "baby kid bro (or sis)" of more Popular P-town, but they have bragging rights to the biggest fireworks display west of the Mississippi (or so they claim). Live performances begin at 11am and culminate in a six-figure fireworks presentation. A $4 donation is recommended, and you can bring your beach mat and buy yourself some good old-fashioned American hotdogs while relaxing on the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. It's like getting two National histories in one big spectacular site!