Washington Park Summer Festival

Photo courtesy of Portland Parks and Recreation

The beloved Washington Park Summer Festival returns, featuring world-class performances in an inspiring outdoor setting.

The event takes place at the Rose Garden Amphitheater in Washington Park, the keeper of Portland’s best attractions. The park features the International Rose Test Garden, Oregon Zoo, Hoyt Arboretum, and more dazzling sights are all housed within the 410-acre property. Best of all, you can see them aboard the free shuttle.

The amphitheater sits in a beautiful bowl right next to the International Rose Test Garden. This special Portland setting makes for a unique summer festival.

Here are the details about the upcoming festival:

Washington Park Summer Festival

The Washington Park Summer Festival is August 11-13, 2023. The three-day event is free to attend.

Performances and entertainment start at 6 p.m. each night. You’ll enjoy singers, musicians and dancers.

Festival Schedule

Here’s the lineup for the 2023 festival:

• Friday, August 11: Dance at the park! Enjoy new performances by NW Dance Project and Mexican folk dance troupe Ballet Papalotl with a live mariachi band. There’s also an interactive dance class led by Dance Church.
• Saturday, August 12: Portland Cello Project presents Purple Reign: The Music of Prince. The Pacific Northwest’s premiere alt-classical ensemble is going purple, blending a unique harmonic landscape joined by musicians who worked with Prince.
• Sunday, August 13: Opera in the Park presents Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” featuring baritone Luis Ledesma and soprano Aubry Ballaro with Maestro Keith Clark conducting a chorus and orchestra.

Parking and Shuttle

Parking is limited at the park. You may want to take public transit. Take the TriMet MAX to the Washington Park stop, or park in the lots near the Oregon Zoo. Once you’re at the park, there is a free shuttle that takes you right to the rose garden. It’s running until 9:30 p.m. during the event.

The event takes place at the Rose Garden Amphitheater, 410 SE Kingston Ave. in Portland. For more information about the upcoming event, visit Portland Parks and Recreation’s website.

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