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Volunteers are the Foundation of Parades

Rose Festival Issues Callout for Parade Guides, Float Decorators and Green Team


The Portland Rose Festival needs volunteer help to keep its world-renowned parades marching on. Volunteer opportunities come with responsibility - and rewards - for festival fans, with something for every interest and ability. From helping staff the barricade locations during the three parades — to decorating parade floats — to helping distribute trash bags, it takes a community to celebrate a community! Volunteers are critical in helping the Rose Festival continue its comeback, which is a major part of Portland’s comeback story.

Join the Parade Team


“We still need more volunteers for the June 3 CareOregon Starlight Parade, the June 7 Fred Meyer Junior Parade, and June 10 Grand Floral Parade,“ says Marlo Eckert, Portland Rose Festival Volunteer Committee Chair. “This is a requirement for Rose Festival to receive our parade permits. Your role as a parade guide will involve actively monitoring the closures surrounding the parade route, welcoming attendees to the parade, and guiding community members in wayfinding around the parade area.”

Decorate a Float


The grand tradition of float decorating is one of Portland's most unique and popular volunteer activities. Individuals and groups willing to get their hands a little dirty, will enjoy seeing the amazing results of their efforts: Applying all-natural materials like grass, seeds, fruits, veggies and of course roses to Grand Floral Parade floats!

Keep the Parade Route Clean


Rose Festival parades set an industry standard in clean and green practices thanks to community volunteers. For 25 years that award-winning standard has been copied by parades across America. Volunteers are needed to hand out the traditional pre-parade trash bags, and then gather them back up at parade end. Thanks to the generosity of Heiberg Garbage and Recycling, Junk-N-Joe and Wacker Sanitary, the bags will be hauled away immediately, restoring Portland streets to their pre-parade state.

Win a chance to ride on a float in the Grand Floral Parade Saturday, June 10


All Rose Festival volunteers who successfully complete a volunteer shift by 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, can enter to win a ride for themselves and one guest on the Rose Festival logo float in the Grand Floral Parade on Saturday, June 10. The winner will be drawn at random and announced on June 8.


All Rose Festival volunteers will receive a variety of exclusive perks, including CityFair tickets and reserved indoor seating for the Grand Floral Parade at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The invaluable contribution of Rose Festival volunteers will be recognized during the Grand Floral Parade when the winners of the float ride will stand in the spotlight and receive the gratitude and applause of thousands of enthusiastic spectators.

Volunteer t-shirts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis thanks to the Rose Festival Volunteer Program presenting sponsor Wells Fargo.

In addition, all volunteers will be invited to an exclusive Volunteer Appreciation Party, with a chance to connect with fellow volunteers, share stories, and revel in the satisfaction of giving back to the community.

To volunteer, go to this page (here at this website): https://www.rosefestival.org/p/support/volunteer
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PREMIER SPONSORS
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