Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby is probably the most legitimately cool Portland event there is. The premise is simple: The most creative people in town build homemade non-motorized art cars and race them down the twisty-turny mile-long track on Mt. Tabor. Meanwhile, spectators can visit the beer gardens and food carts, check out the incredible creativity of the entries including UFOs, coffins, Winnebagos, pirate ships, and more), and thrill to the sight of these behemoths hauling ass down the mountain. (Plus it’s FREE.) And following the final races of the day there will be a drunken bacchanal of an after-party where trophies will be awarded, beers will be imbibed, and dreams will be hatched for next year’s race.

The PDX Adult Soapbox Derby is practically perfect, and you’d be an idiot to miss it.

~Portland Mercury