BIO:
Named the Best Festival in the World in 2011 by the International Festivals and Events Association (for the second time in five years), the Rose Festival isn't a celebration reserved only for rose-lovers. It's a veritable garden of great events and activities that bloom for weeks in late May and early June.
Part of Portland's popular culture for the past 105 years, the Rose Festival has its roots in tradition while its programming is both contemporary and nostalgic. Foresighted city leaders started the festival during the first decade of the 20th Century in order to put Portland on the map and brand it the 'summer capital of the world.' Little did they know that more than a hundred summers later the Rose Festival would be world famous for its amazing, award-winning events, as well as serving as a community leader for celebrating values like volunteerism, patriotism and environmentalism. In 2010, the Rose Festival was finally acknowledged as Portland's Official Festival by proclamation of the Council.
With dozens of events spotlighting the diverse interests and culture of the community, the Rose Festival makes a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of lives annually, bringing smiles to the faces of both locals and guests. Peruse this website to learn more about the festival's four popular parades, it's three-weekend urban fair packed with great entertainment, good food and fantastic features, and about the iconic Court made up of local high school women making goodwill visits all around the state.
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