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Junior Parade

Fred Meyer Junior Parade

Date: June 07, 2023

Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

DETAILS

Location(s):

Hollywood District

Parade Route Map

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From the moment the lovable Fred Bear cuts the ribbon to kick off the Fred Meyer Junior Parade, fun reigns. Children come from all parts of the city to join in: dressing in costume, transforming wagons into floats, decorating their bikes with colorful flowers, or just parading with their friends and family. Elementary and Middle School marching bands fill the Hollywood District with song, and dance teams add swirls of color to the celebration. No matter how they participate in this pint-size parade, the kids enjoy their moment in the spotlight on Fox 12 Plus live, local television.

Early in the Portland Rose Festival's history there were celebrations of our community’s children. In 1918, a group of six kids in the Hollywood District were sorely disappointed that their beloved Rose Festival had to be cancelled due to World War I. So, they decided to hold their own parade - with a procession of two bicycles, a tricycle and an express wagon carrying their own Queen traveling down NE 44th Street. Having been an official Rose Festival event since 1936, the Junior Parade is the nation’s oldest and largest children’s parade.

Ways to Participate

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Let's Get Creative!

Kids (and their adult chaperones) are encouraged to plan their costumes/attire and prepare a home-made entry in advance!

NEW - FAMILY FUN FLOAT AWARD

Honoring generations of fun, we invite all families to plan ahead and compete for the NEW Family Fun Float Award! Use the home-made kid-sized floats pictured here for inspiration. Start early, get creative, and make your own themed human-powered parade float for a chance to win a wagonload of prizes, including a Fred Meyer Gift Card!

Or, show up on parade day (give yourself plenty of time, arrive at least an hour before the 1pm parade start time) at NE 52nd & Sandy Blvd to visit the Decoration Station presented by Visit Seaside Oregon to get FREE materials to decorate your bike, wagon, scooter, umbrella, or yourself! You'll then be directed to the proper place in the formation area, and will get to join the line of march.

Let's Get Moving!

Dance/Drill/Baton Teams are highly encouraged to plan their appearance in advance so we can include you in the line-up and telecast script!

Let's Get Playing!

Elementary, Middle, and Junior High School Marching Bands can find more information about parade participation on our Bands Program page.

Ways to Watch

From the Street

The Junior Parade begins at Sandy Blvd and NE 52nd Ave at 1:00 p.m. It then travels down the one-mile parade route - Sandy Blvd, turns onto NE 40th Ave, then NE Tillamook, and ends at Grant High School.

From Your Couch

If you can't get to the Hollywood District on parade day, you can still join in the fun from home, thanks to our partners and friends at Fox 12 Plus (KPDX), who broadcast the parade live.

Junior Parade Sections

Each year the Junior Parade features unique themed sections celebrating elements of Portland’s community and parts of every kid’s life. Everyone gets time to shine in the Junior Parade! Past sections have been themed to showcase important elements of Portland’s community.

Our 2023 Parade Sections are:

Empowering Kids presented by Pacific Power ~ shines a spotlight on kids and their accomplishments! As the electric utility serving northeast Portland, Pacific Power is proud to have the Junior Parade in the heart of their service area. Pacific Power partners with STEM, OMSI, the Scouts and Junior Achievement around the state to empower children's discoveries today through the sciences, arts and citizenship to inspire our leaders for tomorrow.

Fun For Absolutely Everyone presented by CareOregon ~ enabling kids and their families to get out and enjoy events - like the Junior Parade – together! For 29 years, CareOregon has worked to make healthcare work for absolutely everyone. CareOregon is proud to sponsor the “Fun for Absolutely Everyone” section of the Junior Parade because it knows that good health is about more than doctors’ appointments, it's about our communities too, and CareOregon believes that having fun and having fun together is essential to good health!

Inspiring Kids ~ giving a cheer for things that inspire kids to achieve their dreams!

2023 Junior Parade Grand Marshals

Hold onto your hats and prepare for a parade of epic proportions! The Fred Meyer Junior Parade proudly announces this year's grand marshals: two iconic plumbers whose names rhyme with barrio and Fiji. Dressed in their signature red and green outfits, these pixelated legends will lead the procession with a spring in their step and a mischievous twinkle in their eyes, and will captivate the crowd with their gravity-defying jumps and unmistakable mustaches.