Fourth of July 2025 in Portland and Nearby Communities

Fourth of July 2025 is almost here! Also known as Independence Day, the Fourth of July is one of the biggest holidays of the summer, if not the year. And while it’s a major grilling, parade, and fireworks day—and a chance to relax with friends, families, and neighbors—it also commemorates something pretty significant: On this day in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress. 

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence said that the thirteen American colonies were independent from Great Britain. And it included  a list of grievances against King George III, the monarch at the time (here he is portrayed in “Hamilton”). Some of the complaints expressed about King George in the Declaration of Independence: 

• He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
• He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
  • For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world
  • For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury
  • For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

You can read the transcription of the Declaration of Independence on the National Archives website. I recommend it.

Now, on to the parties and barbecues!

Fourth of July 2025: Parties, Festivals, and Barbecues

Bar Crawl Party in Southeast Portland

If you like bar crawls, this one’s for you. They advertise “good drinks, good times, and all-out red, white & blue chaos to celebrate America’s birthday.” It starts at 8pm on Friday, July 4 and ends at 2am the next day. You’ll be crawling through a small corner of SE Portland, with Birdie Time Pub, Rogue Eastside Pub & Pilot Brewery, Loyal Legion, HOME, A Bar, and LULU as participating venues. 

Tickets start at $12 and go up to $23 (plus fees). There are a lot of details for this crawl, which you can find here; purchase your tickets at this link. 

Various locations. Bar crawl website

Botto’s BBQ

They are offering a bunch of things for July 4th, from a $165 whole brisket to a half pound of pork belly burnt ends for $39, to $3 jalapeño poppers. Order here for pre-orders, pickup on July.4 between 11am and 6:30pm.

3120 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland. Bottos BBQ Instagram

Cafe Better Days Cambodian BBQ

Kim Dam’s mom will be grilling outside the cafe, offering a few things: a rice bowl with beer and pickled vegetables, lemongrass beef sticks, grilled coconut corn, and egg rolls. Friday, July 4 from 11am to 3pm.

3551 SE Division Street, Portland. Cafe Better Days Instagram

El Sombrero Tapatio

They’ll be open July 4th but are also offering a special takeout package for your party. It’s $100 and includes

• 30 Tacos: 10 Carnitas, 10 Pollo Asado, 10 Carne Asada
• Rice & beans
• Chips & salsa
• Fried jalapeños, pico de gallo, and lime wedges

Give them a call to place your order, pick up on July 4 from 11am to 3pm. There is limited availability, so first come, first served.

10820 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland. El Sombrero Tapatio website

Metropolitan Tavern 4th of July Party

At the Metropolitan Tavern they are going to have “an evening filled with fun, food, and fireworks!” There will be live music (6:30pm to 10pm), games, and Texas-style barbecue (brisket, smoked Serrano cheese beef sausage, pulled pork with coleslaw, potato salad, cornbread, Ranchero beans, and pickles). They encourage you to wear a combination of red, white, and blue if you are feeling patriotic. Tickets are $55 (plus a $5.54 fee) and you can purchase them through Eventbrite.

1021 Northeast Grand Avenue Portland. Metropolitan Tavern website

Lake Oswego Independence Day Illumination Concert & Laser Light Show

A bit of a change-up from fireworks (and less explosive) is this laser light show, “a spectacular display of lights in the sky,” and concert from Hit Explosion in Lake Oswego’s Foothills Park. It starts at 8pm on Friday, July 4th and goes until 10:45pm. The laser show starts around 10:15pm.

Blankets, pillows and low sand chairs are welcome. The event includes food trucks and fun for all. It’s free and more details are here.

199 Foothills Road, Lake Oswego. Star Spangled Celebrations 2025 website

Oaks Park 4th of July Spectacular

The fireworks during the Fourth of July Spectacular start at 10pm but the day begins at noon on Friday, July 4. It’s $38.50 per person and everyone 3 years and older must have a ticket, including those who do not choose to participate in the rides. Tickets will sell out (you can purchase them here); at the writing of this article a little over 3,000 remain. Gates open at 11am and you can ride the rides until midnight. 

For kids ages 3 to 9 years old, admission also includes a souvenir American flag and two scrip, each valid for one game, cotton candy, or ice cream treat.

7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland. Oaks Park website

Podnah’s Barbecue

“Don’t feel like grilling this 4th of July? Pre order your spread with us!” This celebrated barbecue restaurant offers a take-home pack that feeds 8 to 10 persons. It includes one full rack of pork ribs, one pound of brisket, one pound of pulled pork, three links, and three pints of sides.

You can also order meats by the pound, and full racks of beef ribs are available with one week notice—which means order them by the end of this week. Pick up between noon and 3pm on Friday July 4. They’ll also be open for dine-in.

1625 NE Killingsworth, Portland. Podnah’s Barbecue website

Portland Craft Beer Festival

Enjoy local beer, ciders, food carts, and more at Elizabeth Caruthers Park in Southwest Portland. On Friday, July 4, the festivities start at noon and go until 9pm. It’s Family Day, too, so all ages are welcome. Tickets are $40 with a $6.09 fee. Buy your tickets here.

3508 S Moody Avenue, Portland. Portland Craft Beer Festival website

Salona PDX 4th of July BBQ

Good times will be had at “the best damn Roman BBQ in 1500 years!” Enjoy goat ribs, steak, chicken wings, as well as live music and snow cones. The fun is on Friday, July 4 at Mayfly from 1pm to 5pm. Tickets are $45.00 + a $3.39 fee. 

8350 N Fenwick, Portland. Mayfly website

Street Disco x Briel’s BBQ

Street Disco and Briel’s BBQ⁣ ⁣are teaming up “to knock out some big takeaway platters for 4th of July.⁣” ⁣These platters cost $90 (small, feeds 2 to 3 persons) and $190 (large, feeds 4 to 6 persons) and include “fun proteins and sides.” They are taking pre-orders only, and you can order these platters on their website. Orders close 48 hours before pickup, which is on July 4 between 11am and 3pm.

4144a SE 60th Avenue, Portland. Briel’s BBQ website

Tigard 4th of July

This year the city of Tigard is producing an event called “Tigard Through the Decades.” In their words, “Get ready for music, memories, and a one-of-a-kind light show in the sky.” This will be a drone show on Friday, July 4 at 10pm; other activities precede it at 6pm. Both are at Cook Family Park.

You can bring lawn chairs, field activities, and outside food and drinks, but there will also be other food options on site: tacos, shave ice, sweets, and more. Along with that will be face painting, balloon artists, and special guest characters, DJ Fever Deacon, games, a dance contest, and more. They say best viewing of the drone show will be there at Cook Family Park in Fields 4 and 5, to the east of SW 92nd Avenue.

Park free at Tigard High School nearby.

17005 SW 92nd Avenue, Tigard. Event website

Waterfront Blues Festival

This is one of Portland’s biggest events of the year and it happens on Independence Day weekend. Along with all the music and good vibes, there’s food: “There will be a variety of tasty food and snack options available for purchase including gluten-free and vegetarian options. There will be beer, wine, spirits and nonalcoholic beverages available for purchase. A valid, acceptable ID is required for all alcohol purchases.”

It’s a great place to watch the fireworks Friday night, set to a soundtrack of classic blues, soul, and funk music.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park, just south of the Hawthorne Bridge. Waterfront Blues Festival website

Fourth of July 2025: Baseball

Hillsboro Hops vs. Eugene Emeralds

This is their annual Fourth of July celebration where you can “kick off America’s birthday the right way” with baseball, a block party, and fireworks. They’ll be playing the Eugene Emeralds this time. Tickets start at $10 and you can buy them on the Hillsboro Hops website.

4460 NE Century Blvd, Hillsboro. Hillsboro Hops website

Pickles All-Stars vs. Portland Rosebuds

The Portland Pickles are doing their 4th of July game, “a night of patriotic pickle-powered excitement,” right there in the Lents neighborhood. Along with the main event there will be additional games on the side: Dizzy Bat, Hopscotch Pickle Juice Chug, Dave’s Hot Chicken Race, and Launch-A-Ball. Sign up for a Pickles tattoo by Anatomy Tattoo, here. 

Tickets start at $14 and you can buy them on the Pickles website. Armed Service members get in free—but be sure to reserve this promotional ticket online rather than at the door.

4727 SE 92nd Avenue, Portland. Portland Pickles website

Fourth of July 2025: Parades

Eastmoreland July 4th Parade

From 11am to 1pm on Friday, July 4, spend time in Eastmoreland for the 31st Annual July 4th Parade. At 11am there will be a group sing of the national anthem, and then the walk down the length of Reed College Place starts. The Portland Fire Engine escort, music by the Portland Power Pep Band, and antique cars from the Milwaukie Mustang Club are all going to be part of the festivities.

Enjoy food and drink at the end of the parade; free water and port-a-potties will be available, too. 

They expect more than 1,000 people to walk, pedal, and drive vintage cars in the parade. Additionally, the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association has arranged for an art fair that will highlight up to nine artists working in a variety of areas, selling their work.

7700 SE Reed College Place, Portland. Event website

Hillsboro 4th of July Parade

“Since 1926 the Hillsboro Rotary Club has produced the annual 4th of July Parade in downtown Hillsboro. The Parade will be held on July 4th and will kick-off promptly at 10am.” Look for floats, horse groups, bands, and more. Here’s the route.

Starts at 3rd and Grant, Hillsboro. Hillsboro 4th of July Parade website 

Lake Oswego Star Spangled Parade & Celebration

On Friday, July 4 at 10am, the annual Star Spangled Parade starts off this celebration in Lake O. There will be floats, musical entertainment, classic vehicles, and dogs in costumes, all marching down A Avenue to Millennium Plaza Park. There will be a party at the plaza, including a Presentation of Colors, singing of the national anthem, music, face painting, food trucks, and more. 

There will also be a pie eating contest. Contestants must be 18 years or older to enter.

A Avenue to Millennium Plaza Park, Lake Oswego. Event website

Maywood Park Parade and BBQ

Each year this “city within a city” does a 4th of July celebration, and this year is no different. The parade starts at 11am on Friday, July 4 (here’s a map of the route). There will be a BBQ and Potluck at The Commons from 1pm to 3pm. More information may be posted to  this link, but you can refer to their Facebook post, too.

Updated June 30, 2025.