Today, on Thursday, May 28, 2026, the Burnside Bridge is officially 100 years old! To commemorate this milestone, the community is invited to the Burnside Bridge Centennial Celebration – a family-friendly event featuring kid-focused activities, interactive exhibits and storytelling that highlights key moments — from the opening of the bridge in 1926 to the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Project.
WHEN: Saturday, May 30, 2026
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 – Swing by the Burnside Skatepark and Push Movement booths to learn more about the Portland skating scene.
- 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.
- 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:
BIRTHDAY DISCOUNTS & ACTIVITIES
Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30 - Willamette Light Brigade
On Friday, May 29 and Saturday May 30, the Willamette Light Brigade will light the Morrison Bridge in special colors to honor the Burnside Bridge’s 100th birthday. The Morrison Bridge will be lit in teal and burnt orange, a nod to the Burnside bridge’s iconic bridge operator towers.
Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30 – Oregon Convention Center
On Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30, the Oregon Convention Center will light its iconic spires and crescent in special colors to honor the Burnside Bridge’s 100th birthday. The towers will be lit in teal and burnt orange in honor of Burnside Bridge’s iconic bridge operator towers, helping surround the Burnside Bridge with a warm glow of celebration.
Saturday, May 30, Rose Festival - Plan your Portland Day on May 30
Spend a full day experiencing the best of Portland and the Rose Festival on May 30. Start your morning in the Hollywood District, where the Rose Festival Street Mile & Family Fun Run take place along the same route as the Fred Meyer Junior Parade. Runners take to the streets first, followed by a parade by kids, for kids — filled with decorated bikes, wagons, and creativity around every corner. Just steps away, the Hollywood Farmers Market offers a perfect stop to enjoy local flavors and community spirit.
From there, hop on TriMet MAX and head downtown, connecting two vibrant parts of the city in one seamless experience. Celebrate the Burnside Bridge Centennial, honoring one of Portland’s most iconic connections, then make your way to the waterfront for CityFair. Enjoy rides, food, and live entertainment before settling in for the evening’s grand finale — the America 250 Fireworks lighting up the Portland skyline.
Two neighborhoods. One unforgettable Portland day.
Saturday May 30, 1:00pm - Tweed Ride to Burnside Bridge Centennial Party!
Meet at Elizabeth Caruthers Park 3508 S Moody Ave, Portland, OR 97239
Meet at 1:00pm at the plaza at the NE corner of the park. Ride at 1:30pm. The total length will be 3-4 miles, and will be a social, leisurely pace. We will arrive at the east side of the Burnside Bridge at about 2:00pm for a picnic on the bridge while enjoying the festivities!
For questions, please contact: tweedpdx@gmail.com
PARTNER SPECIALS
Pacific Standard at KEX Portland
100 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
Pacific Standard is serving its house classic Stone Fruit Sour all month long in celebration of the Burnside Bridge's 100th birthday. Made with Basil Hayden, apricot liqueur, lemon, and egg whites, it's a bright, silky spring cocktail that's the perfect pre and post sip for a walk across Burnside Bridge to catch one of our city's best views. Available 7 days a week 3pm-Midnight for the month of May.
Centennial Event Raffle: Pacific Standard will be shucking fresh PNW oysters for $2 each and serving house-made zero proof beverages at the Burnside Bridge Centennial Celebration. Each oyster you purchase enters you for a chance to win a one-night stay at KEX and a dinner for 2 at Pacific Standard.
Kimpton Vintage Hotel
422 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205
From Thursday, May 28 to Monday, June 1, cross the bridge into more celebration at the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland! Enjoy 15% off our published rate as Portland celebrates 100 years of the Burnside Bridge and 10% off specialty cocktails at Bacchus Bar.
L'Atelier Yaffe
111 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
Enjoy these two celebratory beverages from L'Atelier Yaffe, available Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 from 12 - 3pm!
- Rose City 100 Latte: A floral-forward latte inspired by Portland's Rose City. Espresso with rose-infused milk, topped with lavender cold foam and lemon zest for a soft, balanced finish.
- Rose City Spritz: A light and refreshing gin spritz featuring rose, fresh lemon and sparkling soda - inspired by Portland in bloom and specially crafted for the Burnside Bridge Centennial celebration.
Grendel's Coffee House
729 E Burnside St # 107, Portland, OR 97214
Celebrate the Burnside Bridge’s 100th birthday with a “B’s Knees” syrup at Grendel's Coffee House—a honey, lemon and ginger blend inspired by a popular 1920s cocktail. Add it to lattes, matcha or iced tea (note: does not contain alcohol).
Thank you to our sponsors!
Platinum Presenting Sponsors
Burnside Bridge Partners
Gold Bridge Sponsors
Silver Pillar Sponsors
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.