First Portland Rose Festival parade, SW 6th and Oak, 1907.

The idea for Portland, Oregon’s Rose Festival was presented to the public
in a speech by Mayor Harry Lane (below) at the end of the Lewis and Clark
Centennial Exposition in 1905. The first festival occurred in 1907.

Harry Lane (1855-1917) The 35th Mayor
of Portland, Oregon (1905 – 1909)

Portland Heights float.

1931

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual event presented by the
department store chain Macy’s. The tradition started in 1924. Live animals
were borrowed from the Central Park Zoo to entertain the crowd at that first
parade, but were replaced with the giant balloons in 1927. Pictured above,
an alligator balloon in the 1932 parade.

The three-hour Macy’s parade is held in New York City starting at 9:00 a.m.
EST and has been televised nationally on the NBC-TV network since 1952.

2015

The idea for the Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon was presented to the
public in a speech by Mayor Harry Lane at the end of the Lewis and Clark
Centennial Exposition in 1905. The first festival occurred in 1907.

One of our most popular events during Rose Festival time in Portland is the
Starlight Parade the offers fun for everyone. From traditional marching bands
and flood-lit floats. This years pageant will be celebrating 40 years in the city
of Portland. 

Harry Lane (1855-1917)

Lane was elected mayor of Portland in 1905
and again in 1907. He appointed Lola G.
Baldwin as the first policewoman in the
nation.

Hose company #20 – 1st prize winner in the 1908 Rose Parade.

Electric Float, Portland Rose Festival in 1909.

Charles Lindbergh (left) was honored with a ticker-tape parade in
New York City following his historic solo transatlantic flight.