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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.

Editor's Pick

3 min read

Editor's Pick

When

May 23–June 22, 2025

Days Vary

Where

Various Locations

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.

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Credit: Diego Diaz

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Credit: Diego Diaz

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Credit: Diego Diaz

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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.

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.

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.

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