Last year, close to 1,100 people enjoyed a casual day at the park—on the Hawthorne Bridge. This Saturday’s Brunch on the Bridge is doubling the size on August 6th—all six spans of the 101-year-old Willamette River crossing will be decked out in fresh green grass (locally grown, naturally). As if spreading out a blanket in the middle of a Portland bridge weren’t enough of a draw, Voodoo Doughnuts will unveil “The World’s Largest Box of Doughnuts”—with plenty of the sweet stuff to go around.

Happening this Saturday starting at 10 a.m., general admission is just $25 (kids 6-11 are $10, 5 and under are free), which includes a sampling of Portland’s fave brunch nibbles. If a few bites of bacon and maple aren’t enough to fill your Saturday-sized appetites, you’ll be able to purchase more food from vendors or bring your own gourmet picnic basket to enjoy surrounded by stilt-walkers, clowns, musicians, and more. Local artists will create one-of-a-kind picnic tables which will be auctioned off to bridge-brunch enthusiasts. A limited number of VIP tickets—which include a reserved picnic area and a customized brunch basket created by local chefs—are available for $75 (with a portion of the proceeds benefiting B-Shares, a local bike delivery program serving hungry populations in need). Guests are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to contribute to the event’s donation barrels.

This is one of the most surreal food events of the year—eating on the Hawthorne bridge is usually limited to that granola bar consumed on the commute home while stopped at the raised drawbridge—and it’s certainly an experience guests wont soon forget. Grab your tickets at the PDX Bridge Festival website and send me some photos (at [email protected]) after the event—I’d love to feature some of your shots here on Eat Beat next week!