Welcome to the Sparkling Side of the Portland Rose Festival!
The Portland General Electric/SOLVE Starlight Parade offers funky, eclectic fun for the whole family. One of our most popular events, the parade draws more than 250,000 spectators to downtown Portland, and is also broadcast live from 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. on FOX 12.
With the wide variety of entries, we will have something for every Portlander. From traditional marching bands and flood-lit floats, to glow-in-the-dark umbrellas and hand-built entries, you'll see the best of Portland's diverse community groups and entries from the surrounding Northwest region. Keep an eye out for the final entry of the parade -- it'll certainly be worth the wait!
It's your chance to shine! Applications for the 2012 Portland General Electric/SOLVE Starlight Parade are now available. There's no better way to celebrate your company, group, organization or cause than to light up the night! Get started now, and plan to join the Parade. Applications are due March 2, 2012.
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Application
2011 Grand Marshal
The 2011 Starlight Parade Grand Marshal is one of Portland's true icons, Darcelle XV. Walter Cole (AKA Darcelle XV) has had a tremendous 44-year career working as an entertainer. Darcelle will be wearing a custom lighted dress and wig, and will be escorted by Roxy.
2011 Parade Sections
The "Spirit of the West" section (part of the first illuminated Rose Festival parades in the 1900's) returns in 2011, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino and filled with floats representing communities around Oregon and Washington. A new section for 2011 is "Portlandia presented by Voodoo Doughnut." This section will showcase everything unique and funky that Portland has to offer.
Celebrating 'Clean and Green'
Thanks to the efforts of our sponsors, Portland General Electric and SOLVE and many volunteers, you'll find this parade to be one of the cleanest in America. Watch before the parade for volunteers handing out bags to help keep litter and recyclables off our streets. Right after the last parade entry, keep your eyes peeled for our post-parade clean up crew -- filled with volunteers and professionals -- who pick up trash and wash our streets clean!
