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 2026!

Opening Night & Fireworks

MAY 22, 2026 | 5 pm to 10 pm

Imagine Magic, 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). Can't make it in person? Make sure to tune into KATU for a live telecast - NEW THIS YEAR!

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CityFair

MAY 22 to JUNE 7, 2026

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 22 to JUNE 7, 2026

Portland is coming to life with the 3rd annual Bloom Tour, a stunning showcase of floral artistry and creativity! From May 22 to June 7, 2026, 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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88th Annual Royal Rosarian Rose Garden Contest

MAY 22 to JUNE 16, 2026

The 88th 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 22. Judging takes place on May 31 with an awards ceremony on June 16 at the International Rose Test Garden. This cherished community event celebrates the beauty and passion of local rose gardening.

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Starlight Run

June 6, 2026 | 5:30 pm

Get ready to light up the night! The Starlight Run is happening Saturday, June, is Portland’s most spirited 5K, kicking off the evening’s festivities before the iconic CareOregon Grand Floral 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 CareOregon Grand Floral Starlight Parade is a celebration of movement, creativity, and community!

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Fred Meyer Junior Parade

May 30, 2026 | Noon to 2 pm

Fun reigns at the Fred Meyer Junior Parade from the moment the lovable Fred Bear cuts the ribbon to the last float rolling down the street. Children from across Portland take part by dressing in costume, transforming wagons into floats, decorating bikes with colorful flowers, or simply parading alongside friends and family.

Elementary and middle school marching bands fill the Hollywood District with music, while dance teams add energy and color to the celebration. No matter how they participate, the kids of Portland get their moment in the spotlight on KATU’s live, local television coverage.

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Fleet Week

JUNE 03 to JUNE 07, 2026

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 05, 2026 | 11 am

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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CareOregon Grand Floral Starlight Parade

JUNE 06 | 6 pm to 10 pm

The CareOregon Grand Floral Starlight Parade is a bold evolution of two iconic Rose Festival traditions. Debuting in 2026, this combined parade brings together floral pageantry, illuminated spectacle, music, and community pride into one unforgettable celebration—honoring the past while looking to the future of the Rose Festival.

By uniting these two beloved parades, the Rose Festival is creating a more dynamic and inclusive experience for participants and spectators alike. This reimagined format allows for richer storytelling, broader representation, and a renewed focus on what makes the Rose Festival special: creativity, connection, and celebrating Portland together.

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Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races

JUNE 06 & JUNE 07 | 8 am to 4 pm

The Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race, presented by the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association, will take place on June 6 & 7 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 21 | 11:45 am

The 2026 Royal Rosarian Milk Carton Boat Race is set to make a splash on Sunday, June 21, 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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