Part of Portland’s popular culture for more than a century, 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.

Cadets marching in Portland’s Rose Festival parade, 1911.