Printer-friendly version Email story link

Portland Rose Festival celebrates 100 years

LocalNewsDaily.com, May 30, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

ADVERTISEMENTS

The centennial edition of the Portland Rose Festival, marking its 100th anniversary, kicks off Thursday and runs through June 10. "Yes, it's become a huge event, but it's a labor of love. Ninety eight percent of the staff for this year's festival are volunteers,” says Rich Jarvis, who does public relations for the festival.

According to organizers, the Centennial Grand Floral Parade on June 9 will be bigger than ever, with 5,000 participants and 130 floats, a 15 percent increase over last year. “To commemorate the centennial, we have included huge amounts of historic memorabilia from the 1907 Festival on. Unique to this year is the treasure trove of dresses, scrapbooks, even vintage cars from past festivals,” Jarvis says.

Kicking off the festival on Thursday are the return of the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain from last year. The ships are replicas of large merchant sailing vessels, one of which appeared in the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean (www.rosefestival.org/events/tallships/index.shtml). The ships will sail to Waterfront Park and will be available for dockside tours. At night, the ships will sail up to the Hawthorne Bridge and stage re-enacted 18th century sea battles with some maneuvering and plenty of cannons firing off at each other. Due to the popularity of all things pirate and ship, advance reservations for all daytime ship tours and cruises are recommended (800-200-5239). You can also make reservations online at www.historicalseaport.org.

But the real heart of the festival, according to Executive Director Jeff Curtis, is the WaMu Waterfront Village (www.rosefestival.org/events/waterfrontvillage). Says Curtis, "With over 300 hours of live music and acts, we do not have one hour of dead time. I know it sounds trite, but there really is something for everyone — not just kids — at the Waterfront Village."

Inside the village are pony rides, a petting zoo, jugglers, pirate coves and sea chanteys. New vaudeville makes a splash this year with the whacky antics of The Handsome Little Devils, brothers who will perform dueling unicycles or juggle chainsaws. Parents take note: admission is free during the weekdays, $5 for adults after 5 p.m, and on the weekends. Children under 12 are always free (www.rosefestival.org/events/waterfrontvillage/entertainment.shtml).

If you want free and family, there's the Fred Meyer Junior Parade for kids and middle schoolers at 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 6th. Community and school groups can still register, but the marching bands and baton twirlers have already been selected. While the Junior Parade began in 1936, two thousand children reportedly marched in the 1907 Rose Festival. The parade begins at Northeast 52nd Avenue and Sandy Boulevard in Hollywood. (www.rosefestival.org/events/juniorparade).

Half a million people came last year for the Grand Floral Parade, and more are expected this year, according to Curtis. To ease the expected traffic and parking congestion, Curtis advises, "take public transportation for all or some of the events. If you are from outside Portland, park at the Smart Park garages or park in the Lloyd District and take the MAX train over to the Waterfront." Tri-Met will run extra buses and MAX trains throughout the weekend of June 9th www.trimet.org/news/releases/may4rosefestival.htm. To find a parking garage, www.portlandonline.com/smartpark/index.cfm?c=35506.

– Fufkin Vollmayer

There are over seventy events included in the Rose Festival, but here are some of the highlights:

Tall Sailing Ships tours and cruises

Ships arrive Thursday, May 31st, 6-9 p.m.

Docked through Sunday, June 10th

Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park

800-200-5239

www.historicalseaport.org

WaMu Waterfront Village

Thursday, May 31st, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday, June 1st, through Sunday, June 10th, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Mayor Tom McCall Waterfront Park