‘A year to remember’: Grand Floral Parade returns to downtown route

Published 12:28 pm Tuesday, February 25, 2025

It’s a year to remember, at least according to Portland Rose Festival officials, as the Grand Floral Parade is set to return to its Downtown Portland route.

Announced Tuesday, Feb. 25, the beloved tradition is coming back after several years on the east side, traveling from the Veterans Memorial Coliseum through the Lloyd District.

“The Grand Floral Parade has always been a celebration of Portland’s spirit, and the move this year allows us to showcase that energy right in the heart of downtown,” Portland Rose Festival Foundation President Jeremy Emerson said in a news release announcing the route.

The new route will start on Southwest Naito Parkway and finish at Southwest 14th Avenue and Taylor Street — a pathway similar to the CareOregon Starlight Parade.

All of the iconic parade elements will remain, organizers said, including floral floats, marching bands, equestrian units and community organizations.

“We’re excited to embrace this change, providing an incredible experience for paradegoers while also supporting the continued revitalization of our city. Whether you’ve been attending for decades or you’re experiencing the parade for the first time, 2025 is going to be a year to remember,” Emerson said.

Signature events will continue on the east side, including The Spring Rose Show, The Royal Rosarian Knighting Ceremony and The Queen’s Coronation.

The 2025 Rose Festival theme is “All Together Now,” and the Grand Floral Parade will take place on Saturday, June 7.

The Starlight Parade is slated for Saturday, May 31, and the Junior Parade is scheduled on Wednesday, June 4.

“In the spirit of this year’s festival theme ‘All Together Now,’ we invite the entire community to join us in 2025 as we celebrate the return of the Grand Floral Parade to downtown,” Emerson said in a release. “This is an exciting opportunity to honor our traditions while embracing the energy and future of our city.”

For more information, visit rosefestival.org.

For more information, visit rosefestival.org.

“The Grand Floral Parade has always been a celebration of Portland’s spirit, and the move this year allows us to showcase that energy right in the heart of downtown.”

Jeremy Emerson, president, Portland Rose Festival Foundation