A City Transformed by Music
Over four dynamic days, thirty local buskers performed live sets across 18 downtown and Old Town locations. Musicians transformed sidewalks and plazas into impromptu stages, bringing spontaneity and creative energy to Portland’s urban landscape. Throughout the festival, the downtown area experienced increased activity, with foot traffic up 4% compared to the same period last year.
“These musicians brought joy and music to the streets of Portland over the past four days. We’re thrilled with how the entire festival came together—and deeply moved by the generosity of spirit these performers shared with the city,” said Emily Halvorson, Director of Downtown Activations for Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, and the festival’s lead producer.
Grand Finale: The BUSK-OFF
The festival culminated in a lively BUSK-OFF finale at Director Park on Sunday, April 13. Nine exceptional performers—finalists selected through public voting—took the stage for a high-energy musical showdown, emceed by Portland’s Inanna Miss. A panel of judges from Portland’s music industry evaluated the performances, including Christina Fuller (co-owner of Fuller Events and the Portland Blues Festival), Agyei Marshall (multi-instrumentalist and producer), Tony Ozier (Studio Manager at Halfling Studio & Portland’s Funk Pioneer), Jennifer Carrizo (Senior Talent Buyer for McMenamins), and David Pollack (co-founder of Curbside Serenade).
Finalists included:
- Colescott Rubin
- Jeremy Famà
- Brassless Chaps
- Maeve Stier
- CSET PM Band
- Mathilda Schmidt
- Shannon Wiancko
- Angela Thomas
- Greta Lau
Celebrating Our Winners
Portland’s Favorite Busker 2025: Maeve Stier
Maeve Stier claimed the grand prize of $1,000 and the title of Portland’s Favorite Busker. Her captivating performance blended accordion, opera, mime, and theatrical elements, creating an unforgettable experience that transported audiences to a Parisian street scene.
Rising Star Award: Greta Lau
The $500 Rising Star Award went to Greta Lau, a Pacific Northwest native whose original songs about identity, relationships, and queer joy energized the crowd. Currently studying at PSU, Greta represents the future of Portland’s musical talent.
Community Impact
BUSKATHON was created as a placemaking initiative to support local musicians and re-energize Portland’s downtown core with cultural vibrancy. The festival garnered significant attention, with 32 media mentions and an impressive 46.8 million impressions between March 15 and April 13, 2025. Presented by the Visit Downtown Campaign and produced by Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, with support from Travel Oregon, Travel Portland, Friends of Noise, and the Portland Metro Chamber.
Looking Forward
We’re hopeful the BUSKATHON will return as an annual celebration of street performance and Portland’s vibrant creative community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the talented buskers, supportive businesses, enthusiastic audiences, and dedicated partners who made this event possible.
Event Photos
Thank you to Elle Hygge for capturing photography throughout the festival.
