Rose Festival Inspired To Evolve Tradition With Virtual Presentations

Originally scheduled to kick off this Friday, the festival will instead hold a virtual opening night concert and fireworks. Then Saturday, May 23 and Saturday, May 30, the festival's Porch Parade, presented by Pacific Power, celebrates stay-at-home fans who are parading in place, with a convoy of Rose Festival dignitaries driving past participating homes in Portland-area neighborhoods. The second element of parading in place -- the Grand Petite Parade -- is asking fans of all ages to create shoe box-sized floats, and submit images to the festival.

VIRTUAL OPENING NIGHT presented by Xfinity

The tradition continues, as the Rose Festival goes all-virtual for an opening night concert and fireworks presented by Xfinity on Friday, May 22. Hear a message of hope from the 2020 Rose Festival Court and festival leaders; watch an exclusive concert performance by Hit Machine, followed by a virtual fireworks show provided by Western Display Fireworks. The festival thanks Beaverton Honda for their support of this event. Watch for free on the Rose Festival's Facebook and Instagram on Friday, May 22 starting at 7:00 p.m.

THE PORCH PARADE presented by Pacific Power

This spring the festival asked members of the community to celebrate Rose Festival season and inspire hope by decorating their front porches, windows or sidewalks. Residents with rose gardens visible from the street or sidewalks were also encouraged to register. Porch Parade decorations are to remain on display May 16 through May 31 and 150 registered locations are marked with a Porch Parade or Roses for Hope lawn sign.

A virtual map of registered locations is available at www.paradinginplace.com, identifying great places to plan a walk or drive-around neighborhoods, and enjoy the celebration. Saturday, May 23, and Saturday, May 30, a Rose Festival VIP Procession will drive-through select Porch Parade neighborhoods to thank creative fans for their participation. View the map here.

THE GRAND PETITE PARADE

This virtual parade will feature shoe box-size floats created by community members, a celebration of marching bands, equestrian units, and other Rose Festival parade favorites. Just like the early Rose Festival parades that used Portlanders’ own roses to decorate the floats, participants were invited to use materials from home to build shoe box parade floats and submit a photograph or video to the festival by June 1, for a June 6 video streaming presentation.

Watch for free on the Rose Festival's Facebook and Instagram on Saturday, June 6 starting at 2:00 p.m.

For more information, visit www.paradinginplace.com/grand-petite-parade.

The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves families and individuals with programs and events that promote the arts, education and volunteerism. We value environmental responsibility, diversity, patriotism and our historic & floral heritage.

For more information visit www.RoseFestival.org.