15 Fun Things To Do At This Year’s Rose Festival
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Saturday, May 16, 2015
Robby Davis, GolocalPDX Contributor
The Portland Rose Festival is quickly approaching. This event has consistently been one of the biggest festivals in the Portland area since the early 20th century. All of Portland's best attributes will undoubtedly be on full display. There's no doubt that this will be one of the biggest celebrations of the year. Let's just hope it doesn't rain!
See Slides Below for GoLocalPDX's 15 Fun Things To Do At This Year’s Rose Festival
Related Slideshow: 15 Fun Things To Do At This Year’s Rose Festival
With the Portland Rose Festival just around the corner you can expect that there will be plenty to see and do. Here are GoLocalPDX's top 15 things to do.
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A Walk On The Wild Side
This live animal exhibit will bring in a diverse array of exotic mammals, birds, reptiles, and spiders to this year's festival. If you're an animal lover this exhibit is for you. Money raised from this exhibit will also help fund an animal rescue program.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 Naito Parkway., May 22nd-25th, May 28th-May 31st and June 3rd - 7th. Tickets $7.
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The Big Sling
This human catapult launches riders nearly 25 stories high with over 3 Gs of gravitational force. This is the highest flying ride in the Pacific Northwest. If you're looking for a thrill, go no further.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 Naito Parkway., May 22nd-25th, May 28th-May 31st and June 3rd-7th. Tickets $7.
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Opening Night Fireworks
A grand firework show will be held over the Willamette River in order to officially kick off the Rose Festival. The fireworks will be choregraphed to music that will be provided by 101.9 KINK FM. This will be one of Oregon's largest firework displays of the year, so don't miss out!
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 Naito Parkway., 9:45pm Fri. May 22nd. Included with regular admission.
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Rock Of The Eighties
Three iconic bands from the 80s will be performing at this year's Rose Festival. Rock Of The Eighties will feature performances by Berlin, The Smihtereens and The Tubes. These three bands represent over 25 million sold records and 25 hit songs.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 Naito Parkway., 7:30pm-11pm Fri. May 29th. Tickets in advance $25, the day of $30.
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Starlight After-Party
This first-ever after-party will take place in the Rose Festival RoZone on the Beaverton Honda stage. It will feature Sir Mix-A-Lot, plus special guests Crazy 8s and Nu Shooz. All those who attend should be ready to dance the night away.
Downtown Portland., 8:30pm-11pm Sat. May 30th. This is a free event for the public.
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Starlight Parade
One of the Rose Festivals most popular events will be returning this year. The Starlight parade will feature marching bands and illuminated floats. There are currently around 100 entries that will travel along this 2.25 mile route. If you want to be a part of one of the Rose Festival's most well-known traditions, then go no further.
Begins at NW Burnside and 9th AVE and ends at Lincoln High School., 8:30pm-11pm Sat. May 30th. This is a free event for the public.
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CountryFest
This year the Portland Rose Festival will be teaming up with 98.7 The Bull to celebrate CountryFest. This concert series will include performances by Big & Rich and Thompson Square.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 Naito Parkway., 4:30pm Sun. May 31st. Tickets in advance $32, the day of $35.
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Fleet Week
Guests will have the opportunity to visit and tour vessels from the United States Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Maritime Forces. The Portland Rose Festival is extremely lucky to be one of the few U.S. Ports of Call that will have this unique opportunity. Thanks to the committment from the Navy, the Rose Festival's Fleet Week will remain one of the premier Fleet Weeks in the country.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 Naito Parkway-North End., 9:30am-3:30pm on June 3rd-7th. This event is free for the public.
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Queen's Coronation
One of the most prestigious events at the Rose Festival has always been the Queen's Coronation. At this event the Queen will be crowned based on leadership and scholastic achievement, school activities, civic involvement, volunteer projects, communication skills, and overall impression. The Queen will then represent Portland for the next year at various events throughout the country.
Memorial Coliseum, 300 N Winning Way, Portland., 8:30am-9:30am Sat. June 6th. Tickets $30.
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Grand Floral Parade
This traditional parade will include colorful floats, marching bands, dancers, equestrian groups and more! This event has been a proud annual tradition of the Rose Festival for 100 years.
Memorial Coliseum to Downtown Portland., 10am-2pm Sat. June 6th. Tickets $15-$30.
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Dragon Boat Race
The Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race will once again be held this year along the Willamette River. This race will feature over 80 teams —local, national and international. The boats have been provided by the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 Naito Parkway-South End., 8am-4pm Sat and Sun. June 6th-7th. This is a free event for the public.
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KINK On The Waterfront
This year KINK On The Waterfront will feature, Walk Off The Earth. Their 5-people-playing-one-guitar interpretation of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” has garnered plenty of attention over the past few years on Youtube. The Rose Festival will be lucky to have them perform!
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 Naito Parkway., 5:30pm-11pm Sat. June 6th. Tickets in advance $25, the day of $30.
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Grand Floral Walk
If you're looking for a workout in the middle of all the festivities the Grand Floral Walk is just for you. This 4.2 mile will take place along the Grand Floral Parade route. Gather your friends, neighbors and co-workers and attend this event together.
Memorial Coliseum to Downtown Portland., 9:30am-11am Sat. June 6th. Tickets per adult $20, per child $10.
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Grand Floral Showcase
Be sure to check out the Grand Floral Float Showcase that takes place along SW Naito Parkway. This is a great opportunity to see some of these floats up close.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, 1020 Naito Parkway., 3pm-10pm Sat. June 6th. 11am-4pm Sun. June 7th.
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Rose Cup Races
The Rose Festival's Rose Cup Races will once again be taking place at the Portland International Speedway. This annual race is the oldest road-racing events West of the Mississippi River. They also just celebrated 50 years of racing back in 2010.
Portland International Speedway., 8am-6pm Fri-Sun. June 12th-14th. Tickets in advance $20, the day of $25.
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