Best time to go to Portland

Portland Rose Festival 2023

The second largest floral parade in the USA and the largest single-day event in Oregon

Dates: May 26–June 11, 2023

Portland Rose Festival
Portland Rose Festival
Portland Rose Festival
Portland Rose Festival

The Portland Rose Festival is held annually in Portland, Oregon, every late May or early June. It features three flower parades and some other activities. The greatest highlight of the festival is the Grand Floral Parade. It has been a beloved annual tradition for over 100 years. About 500,000 people line up along a 4-mi (6.4-km) route that winds through Portland's downtown and over the river.

The Grand Floral Parade begins at 10:00 a.m. with lots of visual entertainment and live music. There is a reserved indoor and outdoor seating at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum for those who want to watch the beginning of the great event with comfort. Every year, the parade features over a dozen full-size floral floats, a dozen floral mini-floats, marching bands, equestrian performances and much more. From Coliseum, the parade proceeds downtown to be welcomed by hundreds of thousands.

The Rose Festival took place for the first time in 1907 to promote Portland and attract visitors to the area. In addition to a flower parade, there was also an "electric parade" featuring illuminated floats. This part of the festival has evolved into Starlight Parade—a major fireworks display, and carnival rides taking place by Portland waterfront. A Junior Rose Festival, with a focus on children, started in 1921. It now attracts about 10,000 children, making the world's largest children parade. The event is held in the Hollywood District.

The Portland Rose Festival has also included a Fleet Week and an airshow. The Dragonboat show has become an annual part of the festival.

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin