Rose Festival Kicks Off a New Century

The Portland Rose Festival enters its second century this week, maintaining its legacy as one of the world’s greatest civic festivals. The main event of course is Saturday’s Grand Floral Parade, which is the second largest all-floral parade in North America and Oregon’s greatest spectator event. More than 500,000 people line the parade route to watch the floats and get a glimpse of the Rose Festival Queen, selected each year from a court of Portland high school seniors.

Last night the festival officially kicked off with the Starlight Parade, the first of many events and festivities to take place around the city this week. Wednesday marks the beginning of Fleet Week, where ships from the United States Navy, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Royal Canadian Navy, dock along Waterfront Park. Then on Friday is the annual marching band extravaganza, Concert at the Park, held once again at Portland’s PGE Park. Below is a calender of events for the 2008 Rose Festival, whose theme is Romancing the Rose.

June 4
Fred Meyer Junior Parade

June 4 - 8
Fleet Week

June 5 - 6
Lloyd Center/Portland Rose Society 120th Annual Spring Rose Show

June 6
Concert At The Park

June 7
Queen’s Coronation Presented By Pacific Power

June 7
Regence Grand Floral Walk

June 7
KeyBank Grand Floral Parade

June 7
“From One Rose” Motion Picture Screening

June 7 - 8
Grand Floral Parade Float Viewing

June 7 - 8
Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race

June - TBD
History & Roses Tour presented by Windermere