Family travelers to Portland, Oregon, for the 4th of July can now take advantage of expanded family programming and more at the Waterfront Blues Festival. In its 36th year, the festival brings the waterfront to life with soul, rock ‘n roll, funk, R&B and blues. More than 100 acts perform on four stages with highlights including Buddy Guy, The Mavericks, Cory Wong, Los Lonely Boys, Shemekia Copeland, Neal Francis and Celisse.
One of this year’s new areas is a dedicated family-friendly gathering place and activities area known as The Playin’ Ground, featuring characters, family music lessons, art and more. The festival offers free entry for kids 12 and younger to create a fun, safe space for a diverse, multigenerational crowd that benefits the local community.
The second new area includes a partnership with Knot Springs to offer Wellness on the Waterfront with programming like daily morning wellness classes for both attendees and performers.
“Live events are essential to Portland’s success,” said Ness Zolan, events navigator, Portland Events and Film Office. “They highlight the community’s creative work, bring people together, support small businesses and tourism, and bring hope and joy to the city. Portland Events and Film is proud to sponsor the Waterfront Blues Festival as one of Portland’s signature events.”
To hype the community for the festival, several pre-July 4th weekend events include Free Community Concerts, June 7 and 21 at Oregon Contemporary; Blues Night at The Portland Pickles on June 25 at Walker Stadium; and more events still to be announced.
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Sep 3, 2026Fall is Prime Time for a Family Vacation with These 3 Brands
According to new research from Club Wyndham, 80 percent of parents wish they had taken more family vacations with their children. Don’t let the chance to make memories escape you this fall, whether a Caribbean getaway packed with family-friendly entertainment, an expedition through the Galápagos where kids become explorers-in-training or an easy domestic escape. Fall is the perfect time for family travel and these three brands offer excellent options for where to go.
Sponsored Content
Celebrating 25 Years of The Peninsula Chicago
June marked The Peninsula Chicago’s 25th anniversary, commemorating a quarter century for the hotel as a pillar of luxury on North Michigan Avenue.
Hotels
Sep 3, 20263 Caribbean, Latin American Marriott Hotels for Multigen Trips
Multigenerational travel continues to grow in popularity, with family travelers moving away from traditional getaways for meaningful trips with family members of all ages. The Caribbean and Latin America are growing destinations of interest for this type of travel, and three Marriott properties offer opportunities for multigen families to create lifelong memories.
Travel Tips
Sep 1, 2026TikTok Revolutionizes Travel Planning and Inspiration
With an estimated 1.9 billion users worldwide, TikTok influences nearly every part of our lives, from food to fashion. The app so profoundly changed the way we travel, it now describes itself as a “modern-day travel agency, itinerary planner, and travel blog rolled into one.” Using TikTok to plan travel is so popular, the app recently launched TikTok Go to make booking even easier.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Hotels
Sep 1, 2026Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa to Welcome Return of Elf on the Shelf This Holiday Season
The magic of Christmas quickly approaches as summer comes to a close, and families can experience the holiday season in a unique way this year.
ShareThis