Drones, dancing, giant cherries are just a few experiences you can enjoy with free rides after 8 p.m.
As the final seconds of 2025 tick away, you can relax and enjoy your New Year’s celebration knowing that TriMet will cover your trip home for free. Every ride on a TriMet bus, MAX or LIFT paratransit vehicle is on us after 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, making transit the safest and most affordable way to celebrate.
With MAX and buses offering regular, extended or late-night service on key lines, riders can reach some of the Portland area’s biggest New Year’s Eve gatherings. Many are also free, giving you even more opportunities to save.
Free celebrations accessible by TriMet include:
New Year’s Eve Drone Show at Pioneer Courthouse Square
Pioneer Courthouse Square
701 SW 6th Ave, Portland
Pioneer Courthouse Square will once again be one of our region’s biggest New Year’s Eve gathering spots, with a free community celebration in the heart of Downtown Portland. This year’s event features a large outdoor dance party and two illuminated drone light shows. An earlier, family-friendly show at 9 p.m. kicks things off, and a dazzling midnight countdown display will welcome in 2026.
During the drone show, MAX Blue and Red Line trains will pause at stations before Pioneer Square and resume service once the show ends.
Getting there: MAX Blue and Red lines stop at the Pioneer Square North and South MAX stations, while MAX Green and Orange lines stop at Pioneer Courthouse/SW 6th Ave and Pioneer Place/SW 5th Ave MAX stations. Multiple bus lines and the Portland Streetcar serve the surrounding blocks, making it simple to arrive and depart without the stress of driving or finding parking.
‘Bing in the New Year’
Milwaukie Farmers Market
Southeast Main and Harrison Street, Milwaukie
Milwaukie’s signature New Year’s Eve celebration brings families and neighbors together for an evening of music, food and festive lights. And it all comes courtesy of a city that counts itself as the birthplace of the Bing cherry.
From 6–9 p.m., the Milwaukie Farmers Market site, at Southeast Main and Harrison streets, comes alive with performances, local vendors and the event’s highlight: the lowering of a giant illuminated Bing cherry at 9 p.m. to mark midnight on the East Coast.
Getting there: MAX Orange Line drops riders at Milwaukie/Main St Station, less than a 10-minute walk from the festivities. Several bus lines also serve Downtown Milwaukie, including lines 33-McLoughlin/King Rd, 34-Linwood/River Rd and 75-Cesar Chavez/Lombard.
New Year Eve’s Sobriety Powwow
Oregon Convention Center
777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland
For a safe and sober New Year’s Eve celebration, consider attending the annual New Year’s Eve Sobriety Powwow hosted by the Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA). This family-friendly event, held at the Oregon Convention Center (Exhibit Halls A-A1), is easily accessible via bus or MAX. Attendees can enjoy youth activities, drumming, dancing and a special sober countdown to welcome the new year. All are encouraged to bring their dancing shoes and join the festivities.
Getting there: Take the MAX Blue, Green or Red Line to the Convention Center MAX Station. Portland Streetcar stops are also nearby. Bus Line 6-Martin Luther King Jr Blvd stops near the Convention Center, while Line 70-12th/NE 33rd stops at Lloyd Center/NE 11th area, within walking distance. Also within walking distance is the Rose Quarter Transit Center, which is served by multiple bus lines and all MAX lines.
What riders need to know: New Year’s Eve & Day
Free rides on New Year’s Eve are made possible through the sponsorship of Oregonians Credit Union.
Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN are also offering free rides on New Year’s Eve.
New Year’s Eve Service:
- Buses: Will follow regular schedules.
- MAX: Will offer extended late-night service on MAX Blue, Green, Orange and Yellow lines, running past midnight, with trains arriving about every 30 minutes until the end of service.
- LIFT Paratransit: Service will also be free after 8 p.m.
New Year’s Day Service:
- Buses and MAX will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- WES Commuter Rail and bus lines that typically do not run on Sundays will not operate.
- TriMet facilities closed: TriMet’s Customer Service, Lost & Found and the Customer Support Center at Pioneer Courthouse Square will be closed.
A safe start to the New Year
As you prepare for a fresh start in 2026, thank you for supporting TriMet throughout 2025. Whether you ride every day or just on special occasions, TriMet is here for you, keeping our region moving and communities connected.
We know plans can change once the night is underway. Visit trimet.org anytime for the latest service information, including real-time bus and MAX locations. If you see disruptive, illegal or inappropriate behavior, call or text non-urgent concerns to 503-238-7433 (RIDE). In an emergency, always dial 911.
As you celebrate, we encourage everyone to make a plan, travel responsibly and look out for one another. Free rides on New Year’s Eve are one small way we’re helping you celebrate safely and start the New Year on the right track.
Learn more at trimet.org/nye.