portland spirit blues cruise

Waterfront Blues Festival

2024 Waterfront Blues Festival

• Gates: 11:00 am
• Start Time: 12:00 pm
• Age Restriction:  All Ages

Waterfront Blues Festival is a cornerstone event of the Pacific Northwest, and one of the most dynamic music events in the world, hosting legendary performers and up-and-coming artists pushing the boundaries of blues, soul, rock, funk, bluegrass, Americana, R&B and beyond. Join us in downtown Portland on the banks of the Willamette River July 4-7, 2024 to celebrate music, blues and our community.

All 4-Day passes will be offered at three ticket price tiers - Early Bird, Tier One and Tier Two - so buy early for the best blues for your buck.

• February 15: All 4-Day passes on sale at Early Bird pricing

• February 29: Last day of Early Bird pricing for 4-Day passes

• March 1: Initial lineup announcement! All 4-Day passes move into Tier One pricing

• June 1: All 4-Day passes move into Tier Two pricing

1-Day tickets will go on sale in May. Blues Cruises and Wellness Classes are on sale now.

Thanks to our partners at Buick GMC of Beaverton, children 12 and under are FREE at the festival (one child per paid accompanying adult).

By purchasing a ticket, the buyer understands that all tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable, and non-tax deductible. All sales are final. The show goes on rain or shine. Artists and lineup subject to change.

Layaway payment plans available.

New this year - no outside food or beverage allowed. Please review the festival's FAQs page for all festival policies, including new bag restrictions.

Ticket Groups

4-day passes 4 ticket classes four days. four stages. all the music..

Sale starts on

Blues Cruises 5 Ticket Classes Cruise the beautiful Willamette River and hear the sweet sounds of the blues on the decks of the Portland Spirit.

Wellness on the waterfront 2 ticket classes in partnership with knot springs, wellness on the waterfront offers two morning wellness classes at the front porch stage., additional tickets, you're now on the waitlist for, add-on to your order.

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About the Event

New this year - no outside food or beverage allowed. Please review the festival's FAQs page for all festival policies, including new bag restrictions.

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Festival Information

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General Event Info

Festival happenings, getting there, festival dates & hours.

11 am – 10:30 pm, July 4-7, 2024

Gates open daily at 11 am, with music starting at 12 pm. Gold & Platinum VIP passes allow for early entry at 10:15 am. GA+ Early Entry passes allow for early entry at 10:30 am. All other passes and tickets can enter at 11 am.

Accessibility

The festival site is a City of Portland public park, with most of the terrain a sloping, grassy hill. The walkways are ADA accessible and there is a designated ADA seating area at the top of the bowl. The main entrance at SW Columbia Street provides the most direct access point to the ADA seating area. Please note that as with all seating in the venue, it is first-come, first-served. There is no reserved festival parking. Attendees can park in public lots and on the street. The closest parking garage is at SW First and Jefferson Street, just a few blocks from the festival site.

If you have specific questions regarding accessibility, please reach out to our team at [email protected].

Festival Amenities

Items to bring.

• Your festival tickets
• Empty reusable water bottles (or factory sealed bottled water)
• New in 2024 – Bring the correct size bag! All bags are subject to size restrictions, and must not exceed 18″ x 6″ x 12″. Clear bags are encouraged, but not required.
• One low-profile lawn chair per attendee. Please note attendees with chair seats more than 12” off the ground will be required to sit in specially designated areas.
• Good vibes!

Items to leave at home

The following items are NOT allowed at the festival:

• New in 2024 – No outside food and beverages, other than factory-sealed or empty water bottles (Please note, exemptions will be made for medically necessary items and severe allergies. Please email [email protected] with questions.)
• New in 2024 – Leave your oversized bags at home. All bags are subject to size restrictions, and must not exceed 18″ x 6 “x 12”. Clear bags are encouraged, but not required.
• Cannabis, drugs, outside alcohol and other controlled substances
• Coolers of any kind
• Smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco
• Umbrellas, tents or canopies
• Oversized blankets — please be courteous to your neighbor and only take up the space that you need (that’s about a regular beach towel-sized space per person)
• Carts or wagons
• Weapons of any kind
• Fireworks, explosives, or accelerants of any kind
• Balloons, beachballs, frisbees, inflatable devices, or outdoor games
• Professional audio or video recording devices and equipment, including cameras with a detachable lens longer than 4″
• Animals, except service animals
• Glass of any kind

All attendees and their belongings are subject to search upon entry. The festival is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items.

Friendly Reminders

We’re all here to have a good time and we’re all a part of the Blues Fest Community, so please remember:

• Per the City of Portland, all Portland Parks are designated as smoke-free areas
• Be kind to the park — dispose of trash and recycling in designated receptacles
• Be kind to your neighbor — no physical or verbal harassment or abuse will be tolerated
• Keep on moving — please do not block aisles, walkways, esplanade or other public areas
• Be cool — please follow the guidelines and directions of the festival management team and its authorized contractors, as well as all posted signage
• No seriously, be cool — please follow all federal, state and City of Portland laws, ordinances, rules and regulations
• Waterfront Blues Festival staff will close entry to Waterfront Park when the audience reaches capacity, as directed by the City of Portland Fire Marshal
• No video or audio recording of concerts without permission from artist
• No distribution of commercial advertisements, or vending without authorization

Food & Beverage at the Festival

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.

New this year — all outside food and beverages are NOT allowed. However, attendees may enter with factory-sealed water bottles and empty reusable water bottles.

We understand that some patrons may require accommodations (infants/children, diabetics, severe allergies), and we will make exceptions for medically necessary items, including any diabetic needs, infant formula, etc. If you have a medical item or allergy that requires accommodation, please email us with your questions at [email protected].

Water Policy

Attendees may enter with factory-sealed water bottles and empty reusable water bottles. Free refill stations will be on-site and water will also be available for purchase.

Merchandise

The on-site festival merchandise booth is the place to find all of your fun, new Blues Festival gear! In the meanwhile, you can shop online for shirts, swag and more from past festivals.

Become a Vendor

The application for the 2024 Waterfront Blues Festival Vendor program has officially opened! Apply to be a Merchant Vendor here and Food Vendor here . Applications will close on April 26, 2024.

Do you have something else to offer that isn’t food or goods? If you are a business that wants to advertise your business, sign up new customers, collect consumer data, hand out samples (or coupons, fliers or marketing materials) or simply engage with attendees without selling anything directly, you could be a sponsor! Please email [email protected] for more information.

Volunteer at the Festival

Volunteers are the heart and soul of the festival. They help with a little bit of everything, from hydration and hospitality to ticket lines and merch sales. Please fill out our Volunteer Interest Form today to stay in the loop on this year’s exciting volunteer opportunities!

P.S. Volunteering is a great way to earn a free ticket to the festival! Fulfill a shift and you can spend the rest of the day enjoying the vibes.

Looking for even more info about fireworks, dancing, Official Partner Venues, food, vendors and all of the rad musical experiences at the festival? Be sure to check out our  Festival Happenings  page!

Customer Service Contact Info

Afton Tickets is our local ticketing partner. Please contact Afton Tickets at [email protected] or by calling (800) 323-0634 between 8 am – 5 pm PT, Monday through Friday.

Ticket Tiers

All 4-Day passes will be offered at each of the three ticket tiers — Early Bird, Tier One and Tier Two – for a limited amount of time. The earlier you buy, the better the price! Ticket tiers are simply different pricing levels for the same pass, so benefits and access don’t change as the tier pricing changes. Simply put, snag your pass soon at the best price!

Ticket Tiers for all 4-Day passes

• February 15: All 4-Day passes on sale at Early Bird pricing
• February 29: Last day of Early Bird pricing for 4-Day passes
• March 1: Initial lineup announcement! All 4-Day passes move into Tier One pricing. Tier One pricing ends at 11:59 PT on May 31
• June 1: All 4-Day passes move into Tier Two pricing

Families & Children

Thanks to our partners at Buick GMC of Beaverton, children 12 and under are FREE at the festival (one child per paid accompanying adult).

Other Festival Events

From Blues Cruises to Wellness classes to Official Late Night shows, we have something for everyone!

Set sail on one of our five Blues Cruises, or join us at our two Wellness on the Waterfront classes with Knot Springs. To learn more, head our Tickets page . 

We are excited to announce we are partnering with The Jack London Revue and Blue Diamond again for our Official Late Night shows. Lineups will be released soon!

Entry & Re-Entry

All 4-Day passes including the GA, GA+ Early Entry, Gold VIP & Platinum VIP passes allow for entry, exit and re-entry to the festival. Festival re-entry is not included for 1-Day GA ticket holders.

Gates open daily at 11 am. Gold VIP & Platinum VIP passes allow for early entry at 10:15 am. GA+ Early Entry passes allow for early entry at 10:30 am. All other passes and tickets can enter at 11 am.

Priority Festival Re-Entry: When the festival is at or near capacity, your 4-Day pass entitles you to enter or re-enter the festival when space is available, with priority over 1-Day GA ticket holders.

Can I share my 4-Day Pass with a friend?

No, all Waterfront Blues Festival passes are non-transferable, meaning the pass is meant for one person for all four festival days. We do offer GA and VIP 1-Day tickets as well, which may be a better option for you! 1-Day tickets will go on sale in May. Please note that 1-Day GA tickets do not receive re-entry.

Oregon Trail Card

Oregon Trail cardholders may attend the festival at no charge by presenting their Oregon Trail Card at the Columbia Gate starting at 11 am daily. Admission is limited to the cardholder plus one member of their immediate family. Kids 12 and under are free of charge. All festival passes are subject to availability and limited quantities are available. Oregon Trail cardholders will receive a 1-Day ticket and must enter the festival upon presentation of their card, and are subject to the same access and restrictions for all 1-Day ticket holders, including no re-entry. Oregon Trail Card tickets are non-transferable.

All sales are final. No refunds. Please contact Afton Tickets with additional questions by email at [email protected] or by calling (800) 323-0634 between 8 am – 5 pm PT, Monday through Friday.

The festival takes place at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, just to the north and south of the Hawthorne Bridge on the west bank of the Willamette River, with the main festival entry located at 1400 SW Naito Parkway, Portland, OR 97201 .

Visitor Info

Haven’t had your fix of food carts, bookstores or breweries? Check out Travel Portland for more info and things to do in the Rose City.  

Wanna explore even more of the beautiful state of Oregon? Visit Travel Oregon for great ideas for the coast, Mount Hood, the Willamette Valley and more.

There is no designated general festival parking, except for 4-Day and 1-Day Gold and Platinum VIP passholders. We encourage our fans to take public transportation or use ride shares whenever possible. Street parking in downtown Portland fills quickly. SmartPark and City Center Parking are great options. You can also park on the east bank of the river and walk across the Hawthorne Bridge or along the East Bank Esplanade.

A few of the nearby parking lots include: SW First and Clay • SW First and Jefferson • SW Naito and Taylor • SW Naito and Harrison • SW Fourth and Yamhill • SW Third and Alder

We will communicate with our 4-Day and 1-Day Gold and Platinum VIP passholders before the festival with instructions on where to park and how to redeem their parking benefit.

Public Transportation

Take a TriMet bus, ride MAX light rail or hop on a Portland Street Car to make your way to the festival. Bonus – no need to worry about parking!

Visit the TriMet website  to plan your ride.

Bicycle Parking

Bicycle parking will be available during event hours at your own risk. The Waterfront Blues Festival, and any associated groups coordinating the bicycle parking, are not responsible for theft or damage. Bicycles left overnight will be considered abandoned.

Are you coming from out of town? Welcome to Portland! Our city offers tons of great hotel options close to the festival. Our Premium Hotel Partners, like The Bidwell Marriott Portland , offer extra perks to our fans. Stay tuned for even more fantastic hotel options!

Festival Dates

Can i share my 4-day pass with a friend.

Visit the TriMet website to plan your ride.

About The Festival

Music for the community since 1988.

The Waterfront Blues Festival is downtown Portland’s largest and longest-running music festival and one of the most renowned celebrations of the blues in the world. Founded in 1988, the festival has welcomed over 2,000 acts including Gregg Allman, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Taj Mahal, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Plant, Mavis Staples and Trombone Shorty, garnering international acclaim and raising over $10 million dollars for local community partners. 

The festival is also an unparalleled showcase for Portland’s local music community and features local legends like Curtis Salgado, Liv Warfield and Norman Sylvester. As the festival heads into its 37th year, we’ll continue to build upon our longstanding legacy and fanbase while also welcoming new artists and audiences, deepening our commitment to Portland and the community, and bringing the most exciting and dynamic blues, soul, funk and R&B artists to the stage for one magical, can’t miss Fourth of July Weekend.

Want to see who else has hit the waterfront? Check out our  Past Lineups  page.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

We’re excited to welcome you to Portland, Oregon! For those of you traveling locally, nationally or internationally- here are some great resources for planning your trip!

TRAVEL PORTLAND

Haven’t had your fix of food carts, bookstores or breweries? Check out Travel Portland for more info and things to do in the Rose City.

TRAVEL OREGON

Want to experience even more of the beautiful state of Oregon? Visit Travel Oregon for great ideas for the coast, Mt. Hood, the Willamette Valley and more.

PREMIUM HOTEL PARTNERS

Need a place to rest your head during the festival? May we suggest one of our Premium Hotel Partners? Premium Hotel Partners offer perks that go above and beyond for our fans. Stay tuned for even more options!

Hilton Portland Downtown

Elevate your festival experience! Get 10% off your room rate and receive a complimentary $25 Lyft Credit for hassle-free transportation to and from the festival from our full-service Hilton Portland Downtown hotel. Book the Hilton now .

The Bidwell Marriott Portland

Experience it all in the heart of it all.  Enjoy a memorable weekend at The Bidwell with upscale accommodations, complimentary Valet Parking, luxury linens to recharge, and music, merriment, and memories. Welcome to Portland’s Doorstep. Book your discounted rate here:  Book The Bidwell now .

HILTON PORTLAND DOWNTOWN

Blues Fest fans can get special perks, including complimentary parking, at Portland’s newest lifestyle luxury hotel. Blues Fest fans can get special perks, including complimentary parking, at Portland’s newest lifestyle luxury hotel. Blues Fest fans

Portland Marriott DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT

More hotel partners.

HOTEL VANCE

Located a few blocks away from the waterfront — book today and you will receive 18% off our best available rate and a $20 USD nightly parking.

Colorful interiors, sleek-yet-stylish rooms and Pacific Northwest themed artwork and decor greet you at the Hotel Rose. Click here for the best deal.

FESTIVAL MAP

A Look Back

The 35th anniversary of The Waterfront Blues Festival was a triumphant and joyous homecoming. With overwhelming support from long-time fans and partners, along with the excitement and energy of first time attendees, new partners and a fresh new look, the festival was an inspiring celebration of our community, the City of Portland and of course — the music. Lineup highlights: Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Grace Potter, The Wood Brothers, Galactic ft. Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph, Lettuce, The War and Treaty, Robert Randolph Band & Cedric Burnside.

Those pandemic blues couldn’t stop us. 2021 saw the festival head “Upriver” to The Lot at Zidell Yards for four days of the Blues along the Willamette River. Come hell, high water, or a pandemic… long live the blues. Lineup highlights: Samantha Fish, Curtis Salgado, Marc Broussard, Ghost-Note, MarchFourth, Jubu Smith, Hillstomp and Curley Taylor & the Zydeco Trouble

In 2020 we hitched up the Blues Fest Bandwagon to bring live music to eight of our amazing fans in neighborhoods, street corners and cul-de-sacs around Portland. We also featured two ways to listen at home, with two full days of crowd favorite sets aired on the radio and a two-hour July 4th TV special celebrating memorable performances, capped off with a fireworks replay. The blues carried on!

Lineup highlights: St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, The Robert Cray Band, Vintage Trouble, The California Honeydrops, Southern Avenue, Cyril Neville & the Uptown Rulers, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe & Shemekia Copeland

Lineup highlights: George Thorogood & the Destroyers, The Mavericks, Larkin Poe, The Motet, The Revivalists, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Dirty Revival, Fantastic Negrito, Beth Hart & Nikki Hill

Lineup highlights: Robert Plant presents the Sensational Space Shifters, Mavis Staples, Taj Mahal Trio, Eric Burdon, John Hiatt & the Combo, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Allen Stone and Too Slim & the Taildraggers

Lineup highlights: Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, Paul deLay & Duffy Bishop, Liv & the Warfield Project, Guitar Shorty with the Texas Horns, Jackie Greene, Roy Tyler & the New Directions and Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen Later that year in response to Hurricane Katrina, the Waterfront Blues Festival team produced "Blues for Katrina," a special fundraiser and concert raising over $100,000 for food banks in the Gulf Coast.

Lineup highlights: Luther Allison, Bobby Parker Band with Little Jimmy King, Savoy Brown, Norton Buffalo, W.C. Clark, Tinsley Ellis, Bugs Henderson, Big Daddy Kinsey and The Kinsey Report, Little Charlie and The Nightcats, John Mayall, The Paladins, Roy Rogers and The Delta Rhythm Kings, Finis Tasby, The Holmes Brothers and the Subdudes

The countdown to the annual Blues Festival began in 1988 when Oregon Food Share, the predecessor to Oregon Food Bank, became producer and beneficiary. That year, the festival raised $7,500 and 650 pounds of food. Lineup highlights: Jesse Mae Hemphill, Blubinos with Monti Amundson, Norman Sylvester Revue, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Margo Tufo Revue, Johnnie and the Jokers, William Clarke Band, Lloyd Jones Struggle and the Jelly Roll Kings

Want to see who else has hit the waterfront? Check out our Past Lineups page.

Get in Touch

General inquiries, sponsorship.

The application for the 2024 Waterfront Blues Festival Vendor program has officially opened! Apply to be a Merchant Vendor or Food Vendor today. Applications will close on April 26, 2024.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of the festival! Please fill out our Volunteer Interest Form today to stay in the loop on this year’s exciting volunteer opportunities!

Press & Photo

The Waterfront Blues Festival is now accepting Press & Photo applications for the 2024 festival. Applications will close on June 3, 2024.

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FESTIVAL INFORMATION

Past lineups, blues fest cares.

Waterfront Blues Festival

3121 S. Moody Ave., Suite 150 Portland, OR 97239

Copyright © 1988-2024 Waterfront Blues Festival. All rights reserved.

Festival & Event Terms | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Help

Copyright © 1988-2024 Waterfront Blues Festival. All Rights Reserved.

Spend A Day On The Willamette River On The Portland Blues Cruise

What can be better than a day on the Portland Spirit, floating along the Willamette River, dancing and listening to the sounds of some of our region’s finest blues musicians? This October you’ll have the opportunity to experience three decks of gut-crunching, soul-lifting blues and also help raise funds to send the Cascade Blues Association’s Journey To Memphis winners to Tennessee to compete in the International Blues Challenge in late January/early February.

The Portland Spirit will be decked out in a Memphis theme, including food that can be purchased on board. This year’s Portland Blues Cruise will depart on Saturday, October 8, from Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 750 SW Front Avenue, at 3:00 pm. Boarding gates will open at 2:30 pm. Tickets are now on sale through Tickettomato.com for $25.00. Admission will be $30.00 on site, but best to buy in advance as this event will more than likely sell out.

(Please Note: For those folks who are planning on attending the Oregon Music Hall of Fame show that same night, you’ll have time to do both! The Portland Spirit will return and unload at 5:00 pm, giving ample time to head off to the Aladdin Theatre).

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BAYOU BLUES CRUISE

Friday, July 5, 2019

Boards:  2:30 pm Departs:  3 pm Returns: 5 pm

Website:  www.waterfrontbluesfest.com

Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble • The Bayou Boys • Terry Hanck Band • BrassRoots Movement Join Mysti Krewe of Nimbus and Cascade Zydeco Assn ‘Rollin’ on the River’ to the grooves of Louisiana zydeco, R&B, roots rock and funk. Louisiana’s masterful Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble set up the dance grooves on the middle deck. Lafayette, La. expatriate keyboardist Steve Kerin, and the Bayou Boys serve up New Orleans funk and R&B; Blues Award-winning saxophonist Terry Hanck and his seamless band cover everything from Fats Domino to Junior Walker. On the upper deck Portland’s BrassRoots Movement hold court with Crescent City brass band classics. Cruise the beautiful Willamette River and hear the blues in an intimate setting on the Portland Spirit. A no-host hors d'oeuvres buffet and full bar are available on all cruises.

• All Blues Cruises board from the seawall at S.W. Salmon and Naito Parkway, in front of Salmon Street Springs Fountain, just north of the Oregonian Front Porch Stage.
• PLEASE BRING YOUR PHOTO ID. All passengers 18 years of age and older must present photo ID upon boarding. All carry-on bags are subject to inspection, and passengers may be photographed.
• The cruises will head south up the Willamette River to Oregon City, and/or north past the Port of Portland docks.
• Afternoon cruises boards 2:30 pm, returning to dock at 5 pm (all ages).
• Single-Day Ticket holders will be given a pass allowing festival re-entry after the cruise.

Don’t miss the boat! Purchase your ticket before the festival begins. These popular Blues Cruises sell out quickly.

Blues Fest Cares The Waterfront Blues Festival is committed to providing a world-class event to the community of Portland and beyond that presents diverse musical arts, culture, and entertainment. The festival has been committed to using its broad platform to create awareness and support of hunger relief efforts. We have been supporting organizations that focus on music and fighting hunger insecurity since 1988.

All tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable, and non-tax deductible. 

Date / time Fri, July 5, 2019 Doors open: 2:30 pm Event begins: 3:00 pm Buy Tickets

Venue info Waterfront Blues Festival 1301 SW Naito Pkwy Portland, OR, 97201 Visit Venue

Online tickets-sales for this show are closed.

The Portland Spirit Turns 30 Years Old

The iconic vessel will celebrate three decades by floating the willamette with a ’90s-themed cruise..

The first thing to know about taking a lunch cruise on the Portland Spirit is that the commemorative photo is not optional.

“It’s mandatory—joke’s on you,” said the staffer, as he snapped the photo required by U.S. Coast Guard regulations. (It’s not all official business—the souvenir photo was later available for purchase for $15.)

Once aboard the cruise last Friday, about two dozen passengers sat at window seats on the Willamette deck as a live pianist with impeccable posture played a crowd-pleasing and occasionally surprising set list. Is that “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden? The other passengers who had ponied up $67 for the two-hour ride were celebrating birthdays and college reunions and entertaining friends from out of town. One couple had won tickets through an Instagram contest for Travel Portland; another was on vacation from Florida.

The Portland Spirit has been sailing up and down the Willamette River entertaining tourists and locals alike since May 1994. She is showing her age in places—peeling paint here, drab flooring there—despite major renovations every few years.

But what she lacks in radiance she makes up for in nostalgia. Some people might remember taking a Cinnamon Bear cruise at Christmas time, or attending a floating corporate retreat. Others may recall boarding the Portland Spirit around 3 am after high school graduation, singing some Britney Spears karaoke then falling asleep on the shoulder of an ex-boyfriend as the sun rose. You know, hypothetically.

On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the staff of the 150-foot yacht is hosting two $30 “Best of Portland Anniversary Cruises” on May 9 and 23. Nineties attire is encouraged. Local food and drink vendors will offer samples, including Blue Star and Voodoo doughnuts, Creo Chocolate, Rogue Ales & Spirits, and more.

Characters such as the Unipiper, Una the Mermaid, Korny the Chicken and the Portland Pickles mascot Dillon will be on board. But how will the unipiping work on a moving vessel?

“He absolutely cannot have fire on the boat,” says Mandy Morgan, the Portland Spirit ’s director of sales and marketing who came up with the idea for the cruise. “I made that very clear with him.” (For those already worried—the leisurely 8-knot pace of the Spirit likely won’t throw the Unipiper off his unicycle.)

When Dan Yates and his uncle Wayne Kingsley bought the boat in 1995, Portland was the last major seaport in the country that did not have a dinner cruise—a nightlife tourism trend that swept the rest of the country in the mid-’80s. A U.S. Navy man from upstate New York, Yates is also known in town for his involvement in organizations such as the Central Eastside Industrial Council, the Broadway Rose Theatre Company and the Human Access Project, which advocates for swimming in the Willamette. In 2019, he made news for writing an earnest letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler suggesting he buy a 370-foot ship and convert it into a floating homeless shelter.

Back in the mid-’90s, it was considered revolutionary to prep, cook and plate fresh food on board for passengers, let alone offer four entrée choices. On the lunch cruise last week, diners chose from mushroom ravioli, Parmesan-crusted chicken, baked Columbia River steelhead and herb-marinated beef shoulder.

The fare hasn’t impressed Portland foodies, based on a borderline-vicious Reddit thread on the topic where diners compared it to conference food. But consumed while passing under the Tilikum Crossing Bridge, sunlight glinting off the Old Spaghetti Factory’s iconic purple roof up ahead, with a strawberry lemonade zinger ($13) in hand? There are worse ways to spend an afternoon.

Specialty events like the upcoming Best of Portland Anniversary Cruises are a bit of a financial gamble, according to Portland Spirit general manager Dennis Corwin. On one hand there is the somewhat improbable success of the family-friendly Cinnamon Bear Christmas cruise, given that it is based on a plush character from a 1937 radio program. (December is now the Spirit ’s second-busiest month, after July.) But there have been flops, too, like the mid-2000s cabaret series that Corwin calls “artistically successful but financially horrible.”

Up next: booze cruises, though staff resists calling them that.

“We’ve had that term used.…We have largely taken a lot of those off the schedule because we don’t necessarily care for the clientele it attracts,” Corwin says diplomatically.

The Portland Spirit is rolling the dice anyway and debuting a new happy-hour cruise this summer: a 3:30–to–5 pm cruise for only $29. (The short duration and cash bar should, theoretically, keep the clientele behavior classy.) Related: The boat has never had a genuine “man overboard” situation, but at least one college kid has jumped to be funny. It’s actually illegal, and subject to a possible $25,000 fine, Corwin says.

Corwin joined the staff of the Portland Spirit at age 23 as a singing waiter. Three decades later, he is now part owner of the company and has leaned into the maritime field, as evidenced by his abundant use of nautical lingo. Aboard his workplace are heads, not restrooms. Ladders, not stairs. Galleys, not kitchens.

“I do love the theatrics of what we do,” Corwin says. “It’s not a standard restaurant. We are entertaining people.”

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Portland Spirit Cruises & Events

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Portland Spirit Cruises & Events - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Portland Spirit Cruises & Events

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Portland Spirit Cruises & Events - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Waterfront Blues Festival

2023 waterfront blues fest: by the numbers, top waterfront blues festival headlines, curtis salgado shares how the blues fest began, wsu study finds most cannabis users ditch sleep aids, ecliptic brewing sells off rare beer archive, behind the scenes for the waterfront blues festival fireworks …, or beach town revealed as popular family vacay spot, gary houston: the artist behind waterfront blues fest …, more waterfront blues festival, when art and luthiering meet, jeremy wilson foundation at waterfront blues fest, new hillsboro food cart pod features global fare, nico’s ice cream at waterfront blues fest, meals on wheels people at waterfront blues fest, smoke & brine brings bbq to the waterfront blues …, without clay fuller, ‘blues fest wouldn’t be here’, entertainment, kevin bacon dances back to ‘footloose’ high school, conductor andrew davis, who headed lyric opera of …, 15 people injured when tram collides with guardrail …, ‘civil war’ continues box-office campaign at no. …, kevin bacon goes to school where ‘footloose’ was …, recently arrested morgan wallen says he’s “not proud” …, record store day celebrates indie retail music sellers …, director romeo castellucci drops out of brussels …, see the sustainable homes of tomorrow, today, nuances of the current housing market, one motorcycle show rides into portland for 15th …, or ranks among worst states for youth mental health, the disappearance of te’ani kaila’ in tukwila, wa, stumptown opens new downtown location, northwest grown, how the grateful dead saved the springfield creamery, springfield creamery’s ‘good origin story’ in eugene, restaurateur develops natural skin care products, worried about food safety so is stephanie brown, taste testers needed for osu’s food innovation center, hood river pastry chef a hit at fancy food show, everyday northwest, a peek at the home of tomorrow today tour, staying warm just got cooler, thanks to devo customs, somehow, brunch just got better- with black girls …, eat your heart out, korean mama, bees are friends, too, tacos & tequila, israeli strikes on southern gaza city of rafah kill …, ukrainian and western leaders laud us aid package …, iran’s supreme leader tacitly acknowledges that tehran …, grants pass homeless case at scotus ‘not complicated’, terry anderson, ap reporter abducted in lebanon and …, death valley had a lake this winter: how big it got, early season oregon brush fires grab attention, historic timberline lodge reopens days after fire, fire damages portland expensive car repair shop, jamie mcleod-skinner on congress campaign relaunch, clackco chair tootie smith on re-election campaign, flower to flower, oregon festivals spring up, city council faces big decision about keller auditorium, man, 23, accused of trying to kill oregon city cop, machete, fire, then standoff ends in ne portland, timberline lodge, ‘jewel of the northwest,’ reopens, trending stories, customers seek refunds after mt. hood center closure, jury lays groundwork for oswego lake public access, washington square mall marks 50th anniversary.