Look, the United States is a hot mess, but at least we get a three-day weekend out of its birthday. Make the most of it at events from the Waterfront Fireworks to the Portland Mercury’s Summer of Slushies. For more suggestions, check out our top event picks of the week and our July events guide.
FRIDAY
COMEDY
Kickstand Comedy in The Park 2025
Kickstand Comedy intentionally scheduled its Comedy in the Park Pride event on the Fourth of July as a “bold, joyful act of resistance in a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack across the country.” They invite folks to join them in “reclaim[ing] ‘freedom’ with laughter, love, and community,” so grab your pals with a sense of humor and drop your blankets early—the free stand-up show has been known to draw crowds of 4,000 or more. A lineup of much-loved funnybones will head to the stage after local laughers Rachelle Cochran and Julia Corral get the crowd going. LINDSAY COSTELLO
(Laurelhurst Park, Laurelhurst, free)
