Metro Service to Back Cove Festival

Greater Portland Metro is providing additional service to the Back Cove Music and Arts Festival on August 2 and 3, 2025! Metro will be providing expanded Route 9B service from 3pm through 11pm on both days of the show. Additionally, a special event service will be provided between the festival and the West End to help concertgoers get back to homes and hotels on Portland’s peninsula after the show.

This page will be updated with more information.

Getting to the Festival

Heading to the Back Cove festival? Metro has you covered! Take route 9B from nearly anywhere in Portland to the stop on Washington Avenue/West Kidder Street for best access to the show. Route 9B will run as scheduled until 3:00pm, and at 15 minute frequency between 3pm and 11pm on both days of the festival. Route 9A and other Metro routes will run according to their normal Saturday and Sunday schedules — plan accordingly.

Route 9B stops are clearly labeled with “9B” on Metro’s standard bus stop sign. To board the bus, make sure you are visible as the bus approaches. As the bus approaches the Washington Avenue at the Ocean Avenue (Cumberland Farms) stop — approximately 10 minutes from downtown Portland — pull the cord along either side of the bus. You may also let the driver know as you board that you are headed to the Back Cove Festival. Cross the street using the crosswalk across Washington Avenue and proceed down Ocean Avenue to access the festival.

Route 9A and Route 9B will operate free of charge from 3pm until the end of service. Those boarding before 3pm will need to pay a fare. See gpmetro.org/fares for more information.

Leaving the Festival

Metro has special event service that will help you get back to downtown Portland after the festival. Event service will pick up within Payson Park itself — just follow signage for buses and shuttles just outside the festival gates on the uphill (north) side of the festival. The event service will run between the festival and Portland’s West End, running along Washington Avenue and Congress Street. Festival patrons staying at downtown hotels, parking at downtown garages, or otherwise have a destination in downtown Portland or Portland’s West End should use the special event service. Buses will stop at all Metro bus stops along this route — approximately every 1/8 mile.

Route 9B service will also be operating through 11pm. Festival patrons with destinations outside of Portland’s peninsula, including Allen Avenue, Morrill’s Corner, Steven’s Avenue, and outer Congress Street, should use Route 9B. Route 9B can be accessed on Washington Avenue by turning right onto Ocean Avenue, which is located just outside the festival gates on the uphill (north) side of Payson Park. Follow Ocean Avenue, then cross Washington Avenue using the crosswalk to wait for Route 9B buses. Buses depart every 15 minutes.