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youth drum line of marching band in red costumes and hats walk along bridge in parade youth drum line of marching band in red costumes and hats walk along bridge in parade
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Oregon City High School was one of the marching bands that earned a spot in the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade.
Credit: Diego Diaz

Portland Rose Festival

The city's biggest festival features parades, fireworks, races, a carnival and more.

3 min read
Editor's Pick
When
May 30–June 22, 2025
Days vary
Where
Various Locations
Portland
OR USA

Every year for more than a century, the City of Roses has celebrated excellence with the Portland Rose Festival. Declared Portland’s official festival in 2010, the celebration includes more than 60 events, including parades, fleet week ships, carnival rides, art shows, fun runs and more, starting in late May and ending in mid-June.

While the festival’s website has a full list of events and activities, we have developed this guide to help you hit the highlights. The schedule is eventful and full of good times; just make sure you take a moment or two to smell the roses.

Grand Floral Parade

The festival’s hallmark event and grandest of the three Rose Festival parades, the Grand Floral Parade has delighted crowds for over 115 years with all-floral floats, marching bands and equestrian units — in addition to vintage vehicles, colorful dancers, llamas, and so much more.

For a closer look at the impressive floats (which are meticulously decorated with natural materials like seeds and coconut flakes in addition to flowers), check out the Grand Floral Float Showcase (adjacent to the CityFair) for two days following the parade.

native american woman on colorfully decorated horse waves in parade
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A Native American woman on horseback in colorful regalia waves to the crowd along the parade route.
Credit: Diego Diaz
three people in grape costumes walk alongside a parade float with thousands of flowers and a sign that says “Our Brilliant Wine Country”
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Floats glide across town and cross the Burnside Bridge during the Portland Rose Festival.
Credit: Diego Diaz
rose festival 2017 rose queen in pink cape with pink roses smiles and waves
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The Rose Queen waves during the Grand Floral Parade.
Credit: Diego Diaz
woman in hat and chaps ride a rose decorated horse in a parade with Portland's white stag sign in the background
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A cowgirl and her horse, bespoke with matching rose attire, ride past the White Stag Sign in Downtown Portland for the annual Rose Parade.
Credit: Diego Diaz

Starlight Parade & Run

Like the opening act at a rock concert, costumed racers dressed up for the 5 km (3.1 mile) Starlight Run get the parade route crowds hyped up for the popular evening Starlight Parade, which lights up the city with illuminated floats, syncopated drummers, roller derby teams and more.

Opening Ceremony Fireworks & CityFair

Portland Rose Festival kicks off with a spectacular Opening Night Fireworks Show on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend. For a great view, grab a seat on the Ferris wheel at CityFair, a celebration spanning three weekends at downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park. CityFair features carnival rides, food and beer, live music, and a headlining performer who’s a guaranteed party starter.

pink tower with colorful flags holding groups of two suspended in swings above the ground
The Rose Festival’s CityFair delivers amusement each year with carnival-style rides, games, food and entertainment.

Credit: Nick Mendez, nickmendez.com

Boat Races

The Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races shift the party to the Willamette River as 60 local, national and international teams compete in ornate boats provided by the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association.

dragon boat with rowers in Wilamette River
The annual Rose Festival features Dragon Boat Races on the Willamette River.

Portland locals have also been showing off their ingenuity and creativity each year at the Royal Rosarians Milk Carton Boat Race, dating back to 1973. These innovative mariners compete in different categories while racing human-powered boats made out of recycled milk cartons and jugs.

Fleet Week, Roses and the Queen’s Coronation

A stroll along the Willamette River waterfront during the Rose Festival will yield a view seen just once a year, as gigantic naval ships line the shore, giving visitors an up-close view of our nation’s seafaring military vessels and a chance to meet sailors, take on-board tours and learn about the U.S. Navy firsthand during Fleet Week.

Get to the fragrant source at the Portland Rose Society Annual Spring Rose Show, the nation’s largest and longest-running rose show, which brings more than 4,000 blooms to Lloyd Center in Northeast Portland.

Comprised of 15 Portland-area high school students, the Rose Festival Court represents leadership, community involvement and scholarly ambition. A new reigning Queen is selected from this worthy group during the Rose Festival Queen’s Coronation, and goes on to receive a college scholarship and the opportunity to represent Portland and the Rose Festival for a full year at national and international appearances.

4 To Try

Summer Blooms

Enjoy rose gardens around the Rose City.

  • Portland International Rose Test Garden

    Founded in 1917, the oldest official continuously operated public rose test garden in the U.S. features over 10,000 rose bushes and views of downtown. Free guided tours are offered in the summer.

  • Ladd Circle Park & Rose Gardens

    Ladd’s Addition, Portland’s oldest planned residential development known for its diagonal street pattern, is anchored by a central garden with camellias, and over 3,000 roses in the four diamonds, creating a stunning stained glass effect.

  • Peninsula Park Rose Garden

    Opened in 1909, this formal French garden was the city’s first public rose garden. The verdant park is home to an iconic fountain, a gazebo, sports fields and a public pool.

  • Pittock Mansion

    At this historic former home of rose-loving Georgiana Burton Pittock find a few rose gardens that dot the grounds around the estate, coming alive with blooms of pink, red, white and orange between late May and late June.

Summer in Portland

Portland comes to life every summer with live music, festivals and family-friendly events.

person selling products under a tent at an outdoor market

Summer in Portland

In the summertime, Portland pulls out all the stops, with festivals celebrating craft beer, music, contemporary art and the city’s culinary scene.

a person sitting at a drum kit in front of a crowd

Summer Concert Round-Up

Portland brings the heat with a packed outdoor concert schedule that makes the most of summer’s long days and warm nights.

three children holding hands in a pool

Summer Free for All

Portland Parks & Recreation offers over 400 free events including free movie screenings, concerts and rock climbing.

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