Signature Events

For more than a century, the Portland Rose Festival has celebrated the best our city has to offer, providing Portland families, visitors, businesses and community groups with opportunities to make lasting memories together. All are welcome! Make plans to join the fun, in May and June of 2025!

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Opening Night & Fireworks

MAY 23, 2025 | 5pm - 10pm

All Together Now, Portland! The live music, vendors, carnival rides, food, drink, and fireworks are ready go! Expect to see the skies light up over downtown Portland with a fireworks display choreographed to its own soundtrack (best seen and heard inside CityFair).

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CityFair

MAY 23 - JUNE 8, 2025

Enjoy live entertainment, food and carnival rides at beautiful Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, in downtown Portland.

At Rose Festival CityFair, you'll find your favorite fair features - carnival rides, fair foods, interactive exhibits, and constant entertainment - all nestled between the urban energy of the city and the natural beauty of the Willamette River, spanning three full weekends.

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Bloom Tour

MAY 23 - JUNE 8, 2025

Portland is coming to life with the 3rd annual Bloom Tour, a stunning showcase of floral artistry and creativity! From May 23 – June 8, 2025, experience breathtaking floral and art installations created by local florists and artists in collaboration with downtown retailers. As you explore the city, you’ll discover vibrant storefront displays, interactive floral creations, and immersive art, all designed to celebrate the beauty of spring and support Portland’s small businesses.

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87th Annual Royal Rosarian Rose Garden Contest

MAY 23 - JUNE 17, 2025

The 87th Annual Royal Rosarian Rose Garden Contest, presented by the Royal Rosarian Foundation and the Portland Rose Festival, invites all rose growers within 20 miles of downtown Portland to participate — no club membership required. Entry is free, and applications are due by May 23. Judging takes place June 1 & 2, with an awards ceremony on June 17 at the International Rose Test Garden. This cherished community event celebrates the beauty and passion of local rose gardening.

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Starry Night Wine Walk

MAY 29, 2025 | 5PM - 8PM

Sip, stroll, and shop under the stars! The Starry Night Wine Walk is a delightful evening adventure through Downtown Portland, featuring wine, spirits, and beer tastings at select local businesses. With 10 tasting tokens, a commemorative glass, and opportunities to meet regional winemakers, you’ll explore new flavors while supporting the Portland Rose Festival Foundation. Additional tokens available at the door. Must be 21+.

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Starlight Run

MAY 31, 2025 | 7pm

Get ready to light up the night! The Starlight Run presented by Windermere Real Estate, happening Saturday, May 31, is Portland’s most spirited 5K, kicking off the evening’s festivities before the iconic Starlight Parade. Starting and finishing at Salmon Springs Fountain on SW Naito Parkway, this high-energy race invites runners of all ages to dress up, have fun, and dash through downtown Portland. With prizes for best costumes, entertainment along the course, and thousands of cheering spectators, the Starlight Run is a celebration of movement, creativity, and community!

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CareOregon Starlight Parade

MAY 31, 2025 | 8pm - 10pm

The CareOregon Starlight Parade is the one of the Rose Festival's most popular events offering electrified funky fun for everyone. From traditional marching bands and flood-lit floats, to glow-in-the-dark umbrellas and unique hand-built entries, you’ll see representation from Portland’s diverse community groups (and the surrounding Pacific Northwest region), creating a vibe like no other on Portland's downtown streets.

Events like the Starlight Parade are essential to a vibrant and healthy community.

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Fred Meyer Junior Parade

JUNE 04, 2025 | 1pm - 3pm

Fun reigns at the Fred Meyer Junior Parade from the moment the lovable Fred Bear cuts the ribbon to the last float that goes down the street. Children from all parts of Portland participate by dressing in costume, transforming wagons into floats, decorating bikes with colorful flowers, or just by parading with 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. Regardless of how you participate in this pint-size parade, the kids of Portland enjoy their moment in the spotlight on Fox 12 Plus live, local television.

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Fleet Week

JUNE 04 - JUNE 08, 2025

Since 1907, visiting ships have made their way to Portland's waterfront. The City of Roses is known to be a favorite port of call for military (and non-military) visitors, as Portland's citizens thank them and make them feel welcome. The Portland Rose Festival is extremely fortunate to be one of a few U.S. Ports of Call for a courtesy visit from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy. Their arrival commemorates a relationship with the Navy that has lasted more than 100 years, and over 80 years of visiting Portland during the Rose Festival. It is a significant commitment by the Navy to make Rose Festival Fleet Week one of the premier Fleet Week events in the country.

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Queen's Coronation

JUNE 06, 2025 | 11am

The Portland Rose Festival Court Program and Queen’s Coronation Ceremony is one of Portland’s most time-honored traditions. The Queen represents Portland and the Rose Festival for one year at appearances throughout the country and abroad. When choosing a Queen, judges consider each Court members’ leadership and scholarship achievement, school activities, civic involvement, volunteer service, communication skills and overall impression.

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Grand Floral Parade

JUNE 07 | 10am - 12pm

A cherished highlight of the Portland Rose Festival, this popular procession is more than just a spectacular floral-filled parade — it’s a beloved annual tradition. For more than 117 years, Portland families, visitors and community groups have been making memories at the Grand Floral Parade. A colorful reflection of local, regional and international communities, the parade draws hundreds of thousands of cheering viewers of every age, along a route that makes its two-mile march along Portland's east-side city streets.

Each year the parade features the traditional large all-floral floats we all love, as well as the popular mini-floats that help make the Grand Floral Parade so unique! With bands, equestrian units, marching groups, drill teams, vintage vehicles, dancers, llamas, flags and so much more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

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Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races

JUNE 07 - JUNE 08 | 8am - 4pm

The Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race, presented by the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association, will take place on June 7–8 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. This event features traditional Taiwanese-style boats, each adorned with ornate dragon heads and tails, competing in 500-meter sprints. Teams from around the world participate, with races culminating in a dramatic flag-catching finish.

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Royal Rosarian Milk Carton Boat Race

JUNE 22 | 11:45am

The 2025 Royal Rosarian Milk Carton Boat Race is set to make a splash on Sunday, June 22, at the Casting Pond in Portland’s Westmoreland Park. This beloved community event, presented by Alpenrose, invites participants of all ages to construct and race boats made entirely from recycled milk cartons. The festivities kick off with an opening ceremony at 11:45 a.m., followed by races starting at noon. Registration is now open, with teams encouraged to submit a single application for their entire crew. Waxed milk cartons can be picked up at designated locations, including the Sellwood Community House and select Les Schwab Tire Centers, while supplies last. Spectators are welcome to join the fun and cheer on the creative vessels as they navigate the pond.

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