(Portland Rose Festival)

A colorful float in the 2005 Grand Floral Parade.

In 2007, the Portland Rose Festival expects to draw visitors from around the world eager as it celebrates its 100th anniversary with colorful parades, fireworks, amusement park rides, Dragonboat racing and the many other special events that make the festival famous.

Featured Rose Festival Events:

May 31-June 10: Waterfront Village

Entire families enjoy the carnival rides that are a repeat-attraction along the Willamette River at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The WaMu Waterfront Village offers more than 400 hours of classic family-oriented entertainment, a variety of food menus, and thrilling rides for the kid in everyone. More...

June 1: Fireworks Spectacular

The Rose Festival kicks off with a bang during the WaMu Fireworks Spectacular over the WaMu Waterfront Village, beginning at nightfall on Friday, June 1st. More...

June 2: Starlight Parade

The next big event of the week is the Starlight Parade, which will light up the night sky on Saturday, June 2nd, starting at 8:30 p.m. in downtown Portland.

The Starlight Parade is the second-largest illuminated parade in the country and includes about 100 entries, with high school marching bands, floats, local businesses and the One More Time Around Again Marching Band, a particular fan favorite, adding color and excitement to the annual festivities. More...

June 6: Junior Parade

The Junior Parade is much smaller, but still a strong fan favorite. Thousands of children will fill the streets of Northeast Portland, many decked out in costumes or with their pets, on Wednesday, June 6th at 1 p.m. The largest children's parade in the nation, the Fred Meyer Junior Parade usually draws more than 10,000 young stars who are cheered on by crowds of spectators as they wind through Portland's Hollywood District. More...

June 6-10: Fleet Week

Fleet week is another popular tradition during the Rose Festival. The ships have been chugging into Portland for nearly 70 years. The ships will arrive in Portland on Wednesday, June 6 and depart on Sunday, June 10. Public tours will be offered as well for people who want to get a closer look at and inside the ships. More...

June 8-10: PIR Champ Car Races

One of the largest auto racing events in the Pacific Northwest is returning to the Portland International Raceway for its 24th year during the Rose Festival. The races will continue through Sunday, June 10. More...

June 9: Rose Queen's Coronation

A new Rose Festival queen will be crowned on the morning of June 9th, just before the start of the Grand Floral Parade. You can watch also video from the Coronation during KGW's Saturday morning newscast from between 9 and 10 a.m. on KGW Northwest Newschannel 8. The Queen and the Rose Court will then be featured later that morning in the Grand Floral Parade. More...

June 9: Grand Floral Parade

And the excitement doesn’t end there. The famous Grand Floral Parade will bring the smell of roses to Portland on Saturday, June 9th. Captivating generations since 1907, this internationally distinguished parade has been recognized by the International Festival & Events Association and USA Today as one of the top five parades in the nation. More...

June 9-10: Dragon Boat Races

For the 18th year, the Rose Festival is proud to host the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association Dragon Boat Races. The colorful boats are adorned with bright dragon scales and large heads that flag-catchers climb onto in the final moments leading up to the exciting finishes. The boats were made in Portland's Kaohsiung sister city, especially for this traditional Rose Festival event. More...

Event organizers say the Rose Festival generates more than $80 million each year for the region's economy.

Attended by over two million people in recent years, the festival is one of the top three most highly decorated events by the International Festivals & Events Association.

On the heels of the successful Lewis & Clark Exhibition of 1905, then-Mayor Harry Lane decided the city should have a festival of roses, which is where the idea for the Rose Festival was born. In those early years, horse-drawn floats, aquatic events, and fireworks highlighted the Festival.

Following the 1907 event, a group of 10 businessmen formally organized the Portland Rose Festival as a non-profit civic enterprise to plan and finance the annual city celebration.