October 19: Boating with Bubba with FLOSSIN Media and Soul Business Association District
📍Broughton Beach Park, 4141 NE Marine Dr., Portland, OR 97211
Set sail with Captain John “Big Bubba” Washington, a fleet of Black mariners, the Flossin crew, and the Soul District Business Association for a powerful day on the water honoring York—the first documented Black explorer of the Pacific Northwest. This immersive river tour traces York’s path along the Willamette, blending live storytelling with cultural reflection and outdoor exploration.
On shore, enjoy a community celebration featuring live music, spoken word, a visual timeline of Black history in Oregon, and a collaborative art installation. Youth can join interactive river education and stewardship sessions, gaining the skills, confidence, and cultural connection to navigate and protect our waterways.
Part of the Boating with Bubba series and featured in Flossin Magazine’s Volume 25, this event is a tribute to Black outdoor joy—whether on the water, on the trail, or in community. We’re reclaiming riverways as places of pride, purpose, and belonging.
Join us for a day of history, healing, and outdoor celebration.
About York Fest
This event is part of York Fest, a Portland Monuments Project partner event being presented by the Oregon Black Pioneers.
220 years after an enslaved man named York reached present-day Portland as part of the Lewis and Clark expedition, people from Portland and beyond will gather to celebrate his legacy at York Fest. Nine days. Six events. One community.
Please note that York Fest events will be held in different venues throughout the greater Portland area. York Fest is presented by Oregon Black Pioneers, but each festival event is created and hosted by a different artist or organization.