Portland Monthly knows how to throw a party, and we’re proving it yet again with the second annual A Picnic for Forest Park, taking over the Pearl District this Sunday, August 12th from noon to 3 pm.

Five of Portland’s top chefs—Sarah Pliner of Aviary, Rob Walls of Double Dragon PDX, Scott Ketterman of Crown Paella, Gavin Ledson of Jamison, and Gregg Abbott of Whiffies Fried Pies—will battle to bring their best concoctions for a BBQ Sauce-Off in hopes of being crowned the People’s Choice Sauce Champion. Each chef will serve up a sauce-powered dish that reflects their unique approach to Portland cuisine, utilizing the best local beef, buffalo, chicken, turkey, pork, or duck (along with some great BBQ sides).

What’s on the menu? Picnic guests will dig into Aviary’s chicken with fermented black bean plum sauce (with a side potato noodle salad and pickled chiles), Double Dragon’s Char Siu Pork Belly Sesame Buns (with Togarashi Elotes), Crown Paella’s Paella Mixta with chicken, chorizo, prawns, clams, mussels, and piquillo peppers (with a saffron string bean salad), Jamison’s Asian barbecue-glazed duck wings with lemongrass, cilantro, and jalapeno (with a side of honey-glazed grilled corn), and Whiffies’ slow smoked brisket with chipotle bbq sauce on a homemade herb roll (with red beans and ham as well as a bit of coconut ice cream).

To wash it all down, wine and beer will be provided by Ponzi, Torii Mor, Wine by Joe, Henry Weinhard’s, and Widmer Brothers Brewing. On the sweet side of things, Petunia’s Pies and Ruby Jewel Ice Cream will be on hand with picnic-worthy desserts, and KINK FM will curate a live-music stage. The family-friendly event will also feature a Windermere Real Estate Kid’s Area complete with a bounce-house, magician, and face painting (kids 5 and under are free).

Tickets to the $25 event ($15 without beer or wine) are available here and will benefit the Forest Park Conservancy, which works to protect and foster the ecological health of Forest Park, maintain and enhance the park’s extensive trail network, and inspire community appreciation and future stewardship of the splendor of this iconic urban wilderness as a gift for generations. If that sounds like a great reason to throw a summertime party, we’ll see you on Sunday.

A Picnic for Forest Park
Sunday, August 12th from noon to 3 pm
NW Couch Street between 11th and 14th Avenues
$25 includes food, beer and wine samples, $15 includes food and non-alcoholic beverages. Kids 5 and under are free.
Tickets on sale here