TriMet bus, MAX are great ways to get to Downtown Portland’s biggest music festival, as well as July 4 fireworks!
Congestion, gridlock and parking fees are enough to have any driver singing the blues on a busy day in Downtown Portland.
Leave the blues to the musicians — skip the hassle, save money and take TriMet to the Waterfront Blues Festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park! This festival is Portland’s biggest annual music event. It will be held Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5.
TriMet buses and Portland Streetcar will operate on Sunday schedules for the July 4 holiday. Meanwhile, MAX will arrive more frequently in the evening — and it will continue running until after midnight — to help people get to and from the Blues Festival and Fourth of July fireworks display. Fireworks begin at Waterfront Park around 10 p.m.
Go by transit
If you’re heading to the Blues Festival or the Fourth of July fireworks show, TriMet is the best way to go!
TriMet Park & Rides have free parking for transit users — so you can avoid the dreaded drive into Downtown Portland, leave your car at a Park & Ride, and take the bus or MAX to the Blues Festival instead.
Park & Rides are located all over the Portland metro area. Find a complete list at trimet.org/parkandride.
Bus
The closest weekday bus stop to the Blues Festival entrance is at Southwest Columbia Street and 1st Avenue, just a block away. Several more bus lines stop within a few blocks, including many that run along the Transit Mall.
Visit trimet.org and use our Trip Planner to find the best way to get to the Blues Festival by bus! The entrance is at 1400 SW Naito Parkway. Make sure to set your travel date so your trip is the right one for whenever you’re going, as Friday and Saturday schedules are different.
Some bus lines will use alternate river crossings on Friday evening, as the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges will be closed for the July 4 fireworks show. Plan extra time for travel.
MAX
Multiple MAX stations are a few minutes’ stroll from the Blues Festival entrance. The closest are:
- City Hall/SW 5th & Jefferson and SW 6th & Madison (MAX Green, Orange and Yellow lines)
- Yamhill District and Morrison/SW 3rd Ave (MAX Blue and Red lines)
Additionally, PSU Urban Center is a transfer point between MAX and Portland Streetcar, about a 10-minute stroll from the Blues Festival entrance.
Waterfront Park is just a few blocks east of the Transit Mall. That means it’s super-easy to get there by MAX! Many bus lines also stop along the Transit Mall. Our Trip Planner at trimet.org can show you the best options for getting there.
July 4 special service
On July 4, MAX will run every 15 minutes until later in the evening, giving people a ride to and from the fireworks show. Trains may arrive less frequently late at night.
For the holiday, the latest departure times for trains on each line:
- MAX Blue Line: 12:03 a.m. westbound from Rose Quarter Transit Center, 12:07 a.m. eastbound from Pioneer Square South
- MAX Green Line: 11:48 p.m. eastbound from Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave (ending at Clackamas Town Center), 1:30 a.m. eastbound from Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave (ending at Gateway Transit Center)
- MAX Orange Line: 12:01 a.m. southbound from Pioneer Place/SW 5th Ave
- MAX Red Line: 1:25 a.m. westbound from Rose Quarter Transit Center, 11:44 p.m. eastbound from Pioneer Square South
- MAX Yellow Line: 12:26 a.m. northbound from Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave
Summer fun and Fourth of July fireworks
Music fans have been riding TriMet to the Waterfront Blues Festival since 1988! That’s when the festival was founded in Downtown Portland — just two years after MAX light rail began serving riders in 1986. Festival hours are 1 to 10:30 p.m. July 4-5. The first night finishes with the famous Fourth of July fireworks show over the Willamette River.
Tilikum Crossing is also a great viewing spot for the fireworks display! Please be sure to stay on the pedestrian walkway, not in the bus lane or on the tracks, for your safety and so we can continue to move people safely across the bridge.
Tips for first-time riders
New to riding TriMet? No problem!
Plan your trip
First, visit trimet.org. You’ll be greeted by a big interactive map, along with a Trip Planner you can use to plan your trip!
Enter your destination, your starting location, and your time and date of travel. Then hit “Plan Trip” to see the best options for you!
If you like, you can even choose more travel options, such as your mode of transit, how far you want to walk or roll, the closest Park & Ride, and more.
Pay your fare
Our fare system is Hop Fastpass®, which we share with the Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN. You can purchase a Hop card at any transit fare card machine at our MAX stations, or pay with cash when you board a bus.
But you don’t need a Hop card or ticket to ride! Just tap your contactless debit or credit card at one of our green Hop readers, either before you get on MAX or when you get on the bus. You can also pay with your digital wallet, using common apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
If you’re asked for proof of fare, simply present the card or device you used for payment.
You can ride for up to 2½ hours on a standard fare. If you tap to pay again after that, you’ll earn a Day Pass.
Enjoy the ride!
All of our MAX stations — and many bus stops — have digital displays with upcoming arrivals, updated in real time. Plus, you can track your TriMet bus or train on our website at trimet.org!
Please be courteous to your fellow riders and TriMet employees, and respect our Rules for Riding. Report any unwanted behavior to TriMet by calling or texting 503-238-7433 (RIDE), any time of day.Check out trimet.org/howtoride for more info, and have a great ride!