5 Great Family Activities At The Portland Rose Festival

1. CityFair

CityFair is located in downtown Portland along the Willamette River at the Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park. CityFair is a weekend only event for three consecutive weekends (May 27 – 30, June 2 – 5, and June 9 – 12, 2016). Thrilling rides, tasty food, a variety of music, and a fun party atmosphere greet visitors to this area attraction.

Events kick-off on May 27, 2016 at 5 PM (Memorial Day weekend) with opening night entertainment and fireworks. Michelle DeCorcy, a Portland based musician, and the Rocktarts will provide a free energetic and lively concert before the fireworks. A spectacular fireworks show to synchronized music and a dance party in the RoZone are highlights of this kick-off. The RoZone is a premier outdoor concert venue attracting national and local musicians for special performances during the Rose Festival. Ticket prices vary depending upon the show with information and tickets available online.

The second weekend of CityFair is filled with entertainment as well. The Kids Zone will feature A Walk on the Wild Side exotic animals as well as arts and crafts, while the Rose Festival Museum will feature cool artifacts from past events. Both are free with CityFair admission. Local brews, including one designed specifically for the annual Rose Festival, will be available in the Eastside Distilling Lounge area of CityFair.

The final weekend of CityFair starts on Thursday with the arrival of the fleet of military ships. Fleet Week is a local favorite and highlight of the final weekend.

Cost: The best way to attend this event is with a special season pass (the 2016 Rose Festival Souvenir Pin). The pin is available at local Fred Meyer stores while supplies last. The pin is 10 USD and, when worn, gets you in any day CityFair is open. Regular gate admission is 8 USD however advanced online tickets can be purchased for 5 USD. Ride ticket packages are also available online with special values, or available at the event for full price.

2. Starlight Parade

The Starlight Parade is a favorite event amongst Portlanders. This event offers funky and eclectic fun for everyone.

The parade is preceded by the Starlight Run, which features many runners in costume running along the parade route. People line the route to cheer the runners, celebrate the community, and embrace the Portland spirit. The crowd generally exceeds 300,000 spectators with about 100 participating entries. It is also broadcast live on local television.

At dusk, twinkling lights adorn floats of all shapes and sizes to travel the parade route through downtown Portland. Marching bands mingle with handbuilt entries and community groups adorned with glow in the dark attire along a 2.25 mile route.

The Starlight Parade gets its roots from a longtime festival tradition from the early 1900’s when illuminated floats built on electric trolley cars made their way through the city on trolley tracks.

The Starlight Parade is free, but you should arrive early for best viewing.

3. Junior Parade

Children from all over the Portland area join the lovable Fred Bear (mascot for the Fred Meyer grocery chain) in the Fred Meyer Junior Parade.

Dressed in costumes, transforming bikes and wagons into colorful entries, or just parading with pets and parents, this parade ensures fun. Elementary and middle school bands and dance teams join in the fun as well providing plenty of live music and swirls of color.

The parade is broadcast live on local television so children also get a chance to see themselves on television in replays. It is a moment in the spotlight for the younger members of the community. The parade is the nation’s oldest and largest junior parade.

The Fred Meyer Junior Parade is also free to attend.

4. Fleet Week

A tradition since 1907, ships from the US Navy, US Coast Guard, and Canadian Maritime Forces join Portlanders in celebrating the Rose Festival event.

People line the banks on both sides of the Willamette to watch the bridges rising to allow passage of these beauties – both for their arrival and departure. The ships, big and small, sail up the Columbia and Willamette Rivers to anchor along the waterfront sea wall during the final weekend of the annual event.

The ship crews have reported this journey to be a favorite port of call as they get to enjoy time ashore while visiting the Rose City and visitors are invited to tour the insides of these great vessels while anchored.

It is just one way Portland celebrates our military forces and says “thank you” to both active and reserve military personnel and veterans.

This activity is also free.

5. Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade

The award-winning centerpiece and finale of the festival is the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade. Portland families have gathered for many years to make memories along the parade route. Many families camp out overnight before the parade to stake out their annual spot.

Prior to the parade, the Royal Court, comprised of up to 15 outstanding young women from local high schools, selects the Rose Festival Queen. The crowning occurs inside the Memorial Coliseum; the Queen then debuts on the Court Float for the town to celebrate.

The grand finale event features a colorful collection of floats, marching bands, local and regional groups, and international communities, drawing thousands of cheering viewers every year to a 4.2 mile (~6.76 km) route winding through the city streets and across the Willamette River. The parade itself is preceded by a fundraising walk for those wanting an early morning workout.

This year’s parade includes 14 floats, 17 marching bands, 19 equestrian units, and a multitude of other special entries including vintage vehicles, flag bearing marching groups, and colorful dancers. Clown Corp volunteers disperse themselves among the entries to entertain the crowd if gaps occur in the procession.

Each float is sketched, built, and decorated by a massive team of volunteers in the weeks preceding the parade. A mad rush occurs in the days before the parade as the final touches are added – each float must be covered in natural materials such as seeds, flowers, mosses, grasses, and grains. There are enough flowers used on the floats every year to send your mother a dozen roses every day for 30 years!

After the parade, the float creations are on display on Naito Parkway Saturday afternoon and Sunday for up-close viewing.

Viewing the parade along its route is free; Coliseum seating starts at 30 USD.