A great way bond with family and friends and make some incredible memories, there’s nothing quite like watching your favorite band under the stars.
If you’re looking to check out some live music venues in the fun and lively NorthWest city, here are some of the best outdoor concert venues in Portland, Oregon (in no particular order, they’re all awesome)...
1. McMenamins Edgefield – a much loved venue for events in Portland
Located just outside of Portland in the gorgeous suburb of Troutdale, the Edgefield Hotel is a multipurpose venue owned by McMenamins, the company that runs many of Portland’s best entertainment spots.
The Edgefield is a hotel complete with a gorgeous restaurant and library but also hosts live music.
McMenamins Edgefield hosts a concert series called Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn, usually featuring rock-and-roll bands as well as local stars.
The venue itself is nothing to sneeze at. The Edgefield’s gorgeous historic buildings and gardens enhance any concert experience.
- 2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale, OR 97060
2. The Cuthbert Amphitheater – a seasonal outdoor theater with food and beverage vendors and live musical performances
Located a short drive away in Eugene, Oregon, the Cuthbert Amphitheater is one of Oregon’s favorite venues for enjoying some music under the stars.
The amphitheater is in Eugene’s Alton Baker Park and provides gorgeous views of the Willamette River for an unparalleled visual and auditory experience.
The musical lineup at the Cuthbert is also nothing to sneeze at. The venue hosts important regional festivals and big names on the rock and pop scene, such as Flogging Molly, Louis the Child, and even the Beach Boys.
Although the season only lasts as long as the Oregon summer, the Cuthbert manages to pack a year’s worth of musical extravaganza into those short months.
- 2300 Leo Harris Pkwy, Eugene, OR 97401
3. Oregon Square – for low key outdoor music performances
Oregon Square is an unassuming-looking square in downtown Portland’s Lloyd District. Surrounded by office buildings, it is a pleasant open space for people passing through.
However, Oregon Square turns into a hub of neighborhood activity every week, thanks to the Lloyd Farmers Market held under the gazebo every Tuesday.
Besides fresh produce and food, the farmer’s market also hosts live music from local musicians, ranging from bluegrass to jazz. Oregon Square is a great place to pick up dinner and enjoy some open-air tunes.
- Lloyd District 97232
4. Horning’s Hideout – a private park that hosts outdoor concerts
Horning’s Hideout is a little over half an hour outside of Portland but visiting it will feel like stepping into another world. The gorgeous area is a popular wedding venue as well as a weekend destination for families looking to play disc golf or get into nature.
The private park frequently hosts concerts, during which it is open only for visitors checking out the musical act. The venue often hosts local bluegrass, country, and folk artists and festivals.
The sweet sounds of string music combined with the gorgeous views of the trees and water make this a transporting concert experience unlike any other.
- 21277 NW Brunswick Canyon Rd, North Plains, OR 97133
5. Pioneer Courthouse Square – one of the city’s leading outdoor venues
Pioneer Courthouse Square is nicknamed “Portland’s living room” thanks to its central location, making it a popular destination for citizens to relax on their lunch break, meet up with friends, or stretch their legs after work.
The space also hosts hundreds of events during the year and serves as one of the best outdoor concert venues in Portland.
The Pioneer Courthouse Square hosts artists of all genres, highlighting local favorites. Around the holidays, the venue hosts a series of holiday performances for residents to enjoy.
From jazz to up-and-coming indie performances to marching bands, there’s something for everyone at the square.
- 701 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
6. Gorge Amphitheatre – one of America’s premier outdoor concert venues located near Portland
The Gorge Amphitheatre near Gorge, Washington is several hours drive away from Portland, but this music venue, which was voted one of the best outdoor concert venues in America several times, is well worth the trip.
There are few other places where you can listen to your favorite artists while taking in views of the Columbia River.
The Gorge Amphitheatre played an important role in Northwest musical history by hosting festivals such as Lilith Fair, Warped Tour, the Dave Matthews Band Caravan, and more.
Many of rock and pop’s biggest names perform at festivals here. If you don’t feel like making the drive from Portland for the concert, you can even stay on the on-site campground.
- 754 Silica Road NW Quincy, WA 98848
7. Oaks Park – a popular outdoor amusement park which hosts weekly outdoor concerts
Oaks Amusement Park is a quaint park with rides and vintage fun in downtown Portland. Besides a carousel and carnival games, visitors to Oaks Park can now enjoy live music thanks to Mixtape Revival, the park’s weekly concert series.
Every Friday, Oaks Park hosts local bands in the drive-in theater. To complete the retro experience, most of the featured musical acts perform covers from the 1980s and 1990s.
- 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, OR 97202
8. Tom McCall Waterfront Park – hosts concerts for a wide range of genres
Tom McCall Waterfront Park is one of Portland’s most popular parks.
Located right on the Willamette River in downtown Portland, this park was founded when the highway cutting through the city was removed and the land given back to the citizens to enjoy. Many Portlanders come to this park to walk, bike, and enjoy views of the river.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park hosts frequent events when the weather is nice, including live music. The park hosts important local music festivals such as the Waterfront Blues Festival.
Many of the performances by local favorites such as the Oregon Symphony are free.
- 98 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204
9. Maryhill Winery – best outdoor concert venue near Portland
The countryside surrounding Portland is full of gorgeous wineries that show off the Oregon scenery and make delicious cold-weather vintages.
Maryhill Winery, just over the state border in Washington, is one of the finest venues around. Besides gorgeous wine and scenery, Maryhill Winery has the advantage over the competition in that it regularly hosts live music in its tasting venues.
The Maryhill Winery in Vancouver even has its own amphitheater.
This is no small act featuring unknown musicians or hyperlocal acts; the Maryhill Winery routinely hosts stars of the Northwest indie scenes such as Sister Mercy and Fox and Bones, and national favorites like The Goo Goo Dolls.
There’s no better place to enjoy live music in a sophisticated atmosphere.
- 9774 Highway 14, Goldendale, WA 98620
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Beth was born under a wandering star, with drama in her veins and ink in her pen. After stints studying theatre in Dublin and Utrecht she used her creative streak to see as much of the world as she could on as little money. She toured Italian Schools with a children’s theatre troop, lived as an au-pair in both Rome and Washington DC, explored the British countryside, worked her way through much of Europe, Salsa danced in Cuba and road tripped down America’s west coast where she discovered her spiritual home; Portland, Oregon. In between adventures she resides peacefully with her family, cats and ukulele.