Festival Etiquette and Essentials

To make the festival enjoyable for everyone!

Festival hours

Thursday, July 2, gates open at 2 p.m., music plays from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. followed by DME Hoodoo Moon Blues Cruise, Marriott Afterhours Allstars, and Festival Afterhours at University Place Hotel and Hotel Fifty.

Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, gates open at 11 a.m., music plays from noon to 10 p.m., followed by DME Rock the Boat Blues Cruise, Wildhorse Resort and Casino Super Jam at Marriott Hotel, and Festival Afterhours at University Place Hotel and Hotel Fifty.

Entry

Suggested donation of $10 PLUS two cans of nonperishable food (or more if you are able) per person per day to help fight hunger.

Five levels of special passes are also available for your convenience.

Your donation helps fight hunger in Oregon and Clark County, Wash.

What to bring

• $10 donation and two cans of nonperishable food per person per day.
• Water.
• Sunscreen.
• Hat and sunglasses.
• LOW “sand” or “beach” style chairs – not more than six-inches off the ground. If your chair is higher, we’ll ask you to sit in back to avoid obstructing view of stage for others.
  
• Rain poncho if it’s sprinkling.
• LOW "sand" or "beach" style chairs -- not more than six-inches off the ground.
• Higher cahirs must sit in back to avoid obstructing the view for others.
• For two people, limite blanket size to 6' x 8'.
• For four people, limit blanket size to 8' x 12'.

Leave at home (not allowed)

You won’t be allowed to enter the festival with
• Sorry, no animals.
• Alcoholic beverages. Wine and beer is available for purchase in designated areas onsite.
• Glass.
• Fireworks.
•Weapons.
• Beach balls and Frisbees.
• NO large tarps allowed into the bowl.
• Sun umbrellas that obstruct seated guests’ view of stages.
• Tents.
• Signs.
• Location flags on sticks or poles that block stage view.
• Audio or video recording devices.

On site

• ATM machine
• First-aid tent
• Bicycle parking
• Lost and found booth (Oregon Food Bank Information Booth)
• A variety of food and beverages for purchase from vendors
• CDs, posters, clothing and other merchandise for purchase
• Pottery for purchase from Oregon Potters Association

Parking

Street parking fills quickly. Here are a few alternatives:
• Park in downtown parking lots and garages. We recommend SmartPark Garages.
• Park on the east bank of the river and walk across the Hawthorne Bridge.
• Or walk along the East Bank Esplanade.
• Bicycle to the site. The festival will provide two areas for parking: one on Naito near the main entrance and one at the north end of the festival near the Hawthorne Bridge entry.
* Ride TriMet, MAX light rail or Portland Street Car.

Accessibility

The festival site is a public park. The walkway is wheelchair accessible. But most of the park is a grassy hill. There is no special festival parking. Attendees park in public lots and on the street. The closest parking garage is at S.W. First and Jefferson , just a few blocks from the festival site.

Other common sense policies

General
• No distribution of commercial advertisements.
• Keep passages free. Don’t block aisles, walkways, esplanade or other public areas.
• Security staff will inspect all bags.
• Waterfront Blues Festival staff will close entry and access to the bowl area of Waterfront Park when the audience reaches the capacity of the area.
• Obey all federal, state and City of Portland laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
• Do not enter nonpublic areas i.e. offices, storage, vendor booths, “performers only” areas.
• Respect property.
Do not take, deface, degrade, damage or destroy property.
• Don’t disrupt or interfere with festival operations.
• No physical or verbal harassment or abuse allowed.
• Obey directions of festival management team and its authorized contractors.
• Need a smoke? Multnomah County Health Department suggests that you step outside of the audience-bowl area to keep the festival a family-friendly place.