If you were hoping to dazzle the neighbors with your own fireworks show this Fourth of July, forget it—at least within Portland city limits. For the third year running, the city has banned the personal sale and use of fireworks, including roman candles and sparklers, to reduce wildfire risk (parents of nervous dogs and small children may be feeling heard, too). After watching a firecracker destroy large swaths of the Gorge in 2017, we can’t say we oppose leaving explosives to the pros, who put on plenty of permitted shows. Here are a few spots to get the glow plus one laser light display. Most begin around 10pm, but check event websites for full details.

metro area

Waterfront Blues Festival

Tom McCall waterfront park

The annual Waterfront Blues Festival (running July 4–7 this year) is punctuated by the largest city-center fireworks display in town. Festival attendees get a prime view (not to mention a world-class live soundtrack), but you don’t need tickets to catch the display. Fireworks are visible for free from a number of locations, including outside the festival at Waterfront Park, at the Eastbank Esplanade, on Mount Tabor, or near the International Rose Test Garden.

Oaks Amusement Park

7805 SE Oaks park way

The fireworks show at Portland’s beloved amusement park pops off over the Willamette River, just north of the Sellwood Bridge. The park has an all-day Fourth of July Spectacular ticket package, offering access to a large, riverfront picnic area in addition to rides and mini-golf (the roller rink is unfortunately closed on Independence Day). If that’s not your thing, the show is easily viewed for free outside the park gate from Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge or other spots along the river, such as the Sellwood Riverfront Park and Willamette Park across the river.

Hillsboro

ron tonkin field

If you’re itching for pyrotechnics, or maybe you’re tied up with work or other obligations on the Fourth, catch the fireworks display after the Diamondback-affiliated minor league team faces the Eugene Emeralds at Ron Tonkin Field July 3. Tickets begin at $8 for the 7:05pm game, with fireworks to follow.

Lake Oswego

Foothills park

Head to Foothills Park on the Willamette River in Lake Oswego for a free event with live music from Earth Wind & Fire tribute band Kalimba followed by a laser light display (the city moved away from using real fireworks in 2019, though the Lake Oswego Corporation still does a fireworks show from a floating barge in the middle of the semiprivate Oswego Lake), plus food vendors and activities for all ages. The event runs from 8 to 10:345pm. Check the website for parking information.

Out of Town

Astoria

astoria & warrenton

Thursday night’s fireworks display over the Columbia River closes a weekend of festivities across Astoria and Warrenton, which also include a parade, 5k run, car show, and more. Revelers are encouraged to come back to the waterfront on Friday, July 5, to help with cleanup. Not sated? Just across the Washington border, Ilwaco hosts a fireworks show on Saturday, July 6.

Seaside

1806 Broadway st

A parade kicks off Seaside’s Fourth of July festivities, which culminate in a huge fireworks display over the ocean. Organizers note there are no tents allowed on the beach at Seaside, and that if you park on the oceanside of the Necanicum River, it might take you more than an hour to get back to 101 in the post-show traffic.

Rockaway Beach

S 1st Street

Catch a parade in the morning, watch dachshund races in the afternoon, eat a Pronto Pup or three, buy sparklers for the city fundraiser, and be awed by Rockaway Beach's gigantic sky show.

Lincoln City

Siletz bay

Home to multiple kite festivals, Lincoln City is used to having its skies awash in color. The show over Siletz Bay follows an all-day lineup of live music beginning at noon. A shuttle from the Taft High School parking lot operating 3pm–1am allows for easier mobility as the roadways (especially US 101) around Siletz Bay typically clog up with traffic before and after the show.

Hood River

Hood River Event Site, portway avenue

Claim a spot at the event site (the website has a handy spectator map), post up at Hood River Waterfront Park, or find a view from town of this show in the Columbia River Gorge. An hourlong parade beginning at 10am takes over 12th Street between Pacific Avenue and May Street.

The Dalles

404 W 2nd St

A display over the Columbia River caps a full day of activities that also include a parade, a block party, alfresco yoga, live music, and a cornhole tournament.