The Portland Rose Festival is a multi-week annual celebration in Portland, OR as one of the city’s biggest events of the year. Established in 1907, the festival was created to promote the region and brand Portland as the "summer capital of the world". It features parades, a waterfront fair, floral shows, and competitive sporting events, attracting over 2 million attendees annually.
Parades: Historically known for hosting three separate parades (Grand Floral, Starlight, and Junior), the festival is making a major change in 2026 by combing the Grand Floral and Starlight parades into a single "Grand Floral Starlight Parade".
CityFair: An urban fair on the Portland waterfront featuring carnival rides, fair food, fireworks, and live entertainment.
Rose Show: The festival's founding event, currently the largest and longest-running rose show in the United States, featuring over 4,000 blooms.
Rose Festival Court: Each year, a princess is selected from the senior class of Portland-area high schools, with one eventually crowned as the Rose Queen.
Sporting Events: Activities include dragon boat races on the Willamette River, the Rose Cup Races (amateur auto racing), and the Starlight Run (a 5k fun run).
Fleet Week: A tradition since 1907 where U.S. Navy and other military ships dock in Portland for public tours.