If you haven’t heard — on May 28, 2026, the Burnside Bridge turns 100! As the Burnside Bridge turns 100, let’s recognize and celebrate its longstanding history and deep connection the community has to the Burnside Bridge.
WHEN: Saturday, May 30, 2026
A few days after the Burnside Bridge’s official centennial birthday, Multnomah County, in partnership with multiple agencies and organizations, will host the Burnside Bridge Centennial Celebration — a once-in-a-lifetime community celebration honoring the history of the Burnside Bridge.
WHERE: On top of the Burnside Bridge
TIME: 12 - 5:00 p.m.
HISTORICAL EXHIBIT:
The celebration will feature a walking historical exhibit that features key moments related to the Burnside Bridge – from its opening in 1926 to major maintenance projects and social/political markers. The bridge will be split into three time periods:
- West side: 1926-1960
- Middle: 1960-1990
- East side: 1990-2026
ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS: Interspersed between those historical moments will be programming – everything from a stage with live musical performances to community booths AND interactive kid-friendly activities.
LIVE MUSIC!
Oregon Symphony Brass Quintet
Brass musicians of the Oregon Symphony bring their festive flair and jubilant jams to help celebrate the Burnside Bridge!
Jeff Work, Trumpet
Dave Bamonte, Trumpet
Jeff Garza, French Horn
Casey Jones, Trombone
JáTtik Clark, Tuba
To learn more about the Oregon Symphony, visit: Instagram / Facebook.
DJ Aspen
DJ Aspen is a Portland-based DJ and producer known for high-energy sets rooted in hip-hop, R&B, and Southern influences. To learn more visit: DJ Aspen’s Instagram.
Noah Simpson with Hailey Niswanger, Charlie Brown & Friends
Noah Simpson is a trumpet player, composer, and producer currently based in the Pacific Northwest.
To learn more about Noah Simpson, visit his Instagram.
Ural Thomas and the Pain
Ural Thomas is, and forever will be, Portland’s pillar of soul.
To learn more about Ural Thomas and the Pain, visit his: Instagram / Facebook.
For a full look at all of the artists’ bios, visit the event’s party page.
INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING SNEAK PEEK
- Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO) – On May 30, the Japanese American Museum of Oregon will host a special, interactive booth featuring its cherry blossom tricycle and a sampling of the full museum experience.
- Portland Saturday Market – On May 30, you can visit a mini-market on top of the bridge as well as the full market experience along the waterfront. Learn more about the history of Saturday Market during two tours of their new museum, as well as a booth on the bridge. Plus, you can craft your own creation during the “crafternoon.” It will be a day of crafts and music!
- Art Car – In keeping ‘Portland Weird’ fashion, Brad Carlile’s art car will be on display. Carlile's 1977 BMW is one of more than a dozen of art cars Tom Cramer hand-painted in the 1990s.
- LEGO Bridges – Join Bricks & MiniFigs, as well as Lego Artist Erik Mattson, to see a Lego replica of the bridge operator towers and a portion of the Burnside Bridge. Kids can build their own mini-bridges that they can take home, plus learn about the science behind bridge engineering.
- Portland State University, Civil Engineering Department – Students and professors are excited to showcase the details of what makes a safe, functional and attractive bridge. See award-winning student-designed bridge models. Professors will be on hand to answer questions and share how bridge design has changed over the last 100 years.
- Picnic on the bridge – Bring a blanket and enjoy the tunes in the middle of the Burnside Bridge! This section of the bridge will be open for people to picnic, eat lunch or to get up and dance!
- Tweed Bike Ride – Join the Portland Tweed ride in your finest vintage outfit on an unofficial tweed ride. Dust off the dancing shoes and picnic baskets before hopping on your bike and joining the group as they ride to the Burnside Bridge for the birthday party of a century! Bring a teacup, snacks, and a blanket.
- Burnside Skatepark and Push Movement – The Burnside Skatepark and Push Movement are teaming up to showcase a very special activity – stay tuned for more details!
- Portland Fire – Join the Women's National Basketball Association Portland Fire as they celebrate the Burnside's birthday with a mini-kids camp and Ignite Society Ambassadors for the Portland Fire (former player) appearances. Plus they will be raffling off three unique skateboards with the Fire logo to raise funds for the iconic Burnside Skatepark.
- Portland Rescue Mission – The Portland Rescue Mission has been working to support community members experiencing homelessness and other trauma since 1949. On May 30, the longstanding non-profit will celebrate the strength of our community and the bridge by sharing its amazing work. The Portland Rescue Mission’s mobile clinic van will be on site for the community to see all of the organization’s important work and ways you can give back to your community.
- City Club of Portland – Established in 1916, City Club is dedicated to promoting civic education, community service and leadership development. On May 30, stop by the City Club booth to learn more about its public programs, research and committees that support our vibrant city.
- Check out some historic cars – The Classic Car Club of America Oregon Region, Packards of Oregon, Ford Beaver Chapter Model A Club and others will be bringing historic cars from the bridge's early years.
- Portland Fire & Rescue – Watch the Portland Fire and Rescue fire boat as it kicks off the party on May 30 with a water display on the Willamette River. Then watch as fire crews conduct technical rope rescue training from the side of the bridge! Fire crews will be on hand to answer questions and give the community a play-by-play tutorial of the training in real time.
- Prosper Portland – Prosper Portland’s Office of Small Business will feature 20 local vendors on the bridge as part of its work to create an equitable, supportive and connected community.
- Shaky Grounds Cafe – Recognized as one of the top escape games in the world, the Shaky Grounds Cafe by Side Quest Escape Games is a mobile escape room that is more than just fun – it teaches real-world preparedness skills that could actually save your life. No reservations are needed! It’s appropriate for ages 12 & up and kids under 12 are welcome with adult supervision.
- Join our transportation and engineering sponsors – Join our transportation and engineering event sponsors to learn about how we keep our bridges safe, functional and have fun while you do it.
- Food Vendors – Enjoy some tasty eats from these local vendors:
GET INVOLVED
The community is invited to be a part of the Burnside Bridge Centennial Celebration! To participate as a food vendor, artisan vendor or volunteer, please complete the forms below by May 15, 2026.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Platinum Presenting Sponsor
Burnside Bridge Partners
Gold Bridge Sponsor
Silver Pillar Sponsor
David Evans and Associates Inc.
Silver Span Sponsors
Thank you to our partners!
Beaver Chapter - Model A Ford Club
Brad Carlile Fine Art Photography
Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO)
Multnomah County Animal Services
Multnomah County Transportation Planning
Oregon Region Classic Car Club / Packards of Oregon
Pacific Standard at KEX Portland
Portland Bureau of Emergency Management
Portland State University Civil Engineering Department
Thank you to these businesses for donations:
Want to join the party? Visit the Burnside Bridge Centennial Celebration website.
Multnomah County maintains five Willamette River bridges: the Sellwood, Hawthorne, Morrison, Burnside and Broadway Bridges as well as the Wapato Bridge over the Multnomah Channel. For information, visit https://www.multco.us/bridges.