What to know about the Portland Rose Festival kickoff this week

What to know about the Portland Rose Festival kickoff this week

Published 5:00 am Thursday, May 21, 2026

The Portland Rose Festival is about to take over the city with fireworks, waterfront celebrations, parades, Fleet Week festivities and several new events making their debut this year.

The annual tradition officially begins Friday, May 22, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park and continues through early June with activities happening across downtown Portland, the Hollywood District and the Lloyd District.

Here’s what to know about the first week of the festival fun:

Opening night brings fireworks to the waterfront

The Rose Festival kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday, May 22, with the opening of CityFair at Waterfront Park. The evening begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony before rides, carnival games, food vendors and live entertainment fill the waterfront.

The night will end with the Opening Night Fireworks show over the Willamette River.

Festival organizers said CityFair will feature more than 50 live performances throughout the run, along with local food vendors, carnival rides, an arcade, kids activities, beer and wine gardens.

CityFair runs on select days through June 7.

New Rose Festival Street Mile debuts in Northeast Portland

One of the biggest additions to this year’s lineup is the inaugural Rose Festival Street Mile and Family Fun Run on Saturday, May 30, in the Hollywood District.

The event will feature competitive mile heats along with a family-friendly fun run using the same route as the longtime Fred Meyer Junior Parade.

Junior Parade returns to the Hollywood District

The Fred Meyer Junior Parade returns at noon on May 30 with the festival’s signature “by kids, for kids” celebration.

The parade is expected to once again fill Northeast Portland with decorated bikes, wagons, costumes and youth performers.

New America 250 fireworks show planned downtown

A second fireworks show is also being added to the Rose Festival calendar this year.

The new America 250 Fireworks celebration, presented by IBEW Local 48, is scheduled for 10 p.m. May 30 at Waterfront Park. Organizers said the display will be choreographed to patriotic music as part of nationwide celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.

Large crowds are expected downtown for the event.

Fleet Week returns to Portland

Fleet Week Portland returns June 3 through June 7, bringing active U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships to downtown Portland.

The annual tradition is one of the Rose Festival’s most popular attractions, allowing visitors to tour military vessels docked along the waterfront.

A new Flag Raising and Colors Ceremony presented by Boeing will also debut at 8 a.m. June 3 at Waterfront Park. The public ceremony will include a presentation of the colors by the U.S. Navy and the raising of a new American flag on the park’s restored historic flagpole.

Queen’s Coronation and Starlight Parade close out the weeks

The Rose Festival Court Queen will be crowned June 5 during the annual Queen’s Coronation at Oregon Square in the Lloyd District. Scholarship presentations and community recognition are also planned during the event, with remarks expected from Portland Mayor Keith Wilson.

The following evening, downtown Portland will host two major Rose Festival events.

The Starlight Run begins at 5:30 p.m. June 6, followed by the inaugural CareOregon Grand Floral Starlight Parade at 6:30 p.m.

The new combined parade merges the longtime Grand Floral and Starlight parade traditions into one evening event featuring illuminated and floral floats, marching bands, performers and community groups. Diego Chara will serve as grand marshal.

More information about festival events and schedules is available at the Portland Rose Festival website.