I spotted the first sign of the Portland Rose Festival Friday driving to and from work across the Morrison Bridge. On the way into work I saw what I thought may have been some machinery for the bridge and ramp work taking place on the Morrison Bridge. But on my way out of town I clearly saw that it was a ferris wheel. I thought that it was odd to see that the Rose Festival’s Waterfront Village was beginning to appear much earlier than normal.
So I checked the Portland Rose Festival website and looked a the calendar of events.
“The Waterfront Village – Portland’s Place to Play
Recently recognized by the International Festival & Events Association (IFEA) for having the ‘Best Children’s Programming’ in the world, the Rose Festival’s Waterfront Village is the region’s premier family celebration. Celebrating 102 years as our City’s signature event, the Portland Rose Festival brings international attention to Portland each June, and the Waterfront Village is the Rose Festival’s largest community event.
For the first time ever, our village opens on Memorial Day weekend. This new three-weekend format offers a whole extra weekend of fun.”
I guess the thought is that adding almost a week to the event can’t help but to bring more visitors to the city = more tourist $s spent. There are so many different things to do and see during Rose Festival. There is the Starlight Run where people dress up in crazy costumes for a 3 mile run through the city. The Starlight Parade which has been an illuminated parade since 1907. The Dragon Boat races with about 100 teams from all over the country and world competing. I can usually see the crews practicing when I drive over the bridge in the early morning hours. The US and Canadian Navy and Coast Guard ships that come into port with many of the ships open for tours. The big finale is of course the Grand Floral Parade.
The only thing negative that I have to say about the Portland Rose Festival is for me personally it screws up my commute and driving around downtown. I work only four blocks West of the waterfront where the Waterfront Village is set up. There are so many more people driving in that part of town who don’t have a clue where they are going as well as the pedestrians who don’t seem to understand the walk don’t walk signs. It can be nerve wracking some days trying to get out of downtown! The good news is that since 911 there have been far fewer ships coming into port so my commute across the Morrison Bridge isn’t affected by bridge openings for the arrivals and departures of the ships. Or at least that has been true for the last 7 years.
The only other negative thing I have to say is that the Waterfront Village carnival brings out there strangest trashiest people that I never see the rest of the year. I never can figure where they come from but they tend to move toward the area where my office building is located sandwiched between the bus and lite-rail malls.
I hope that this year’s Portland Rose Festival is a huge success and brings a lot of much needed money to the area’s locally owned businesses.
Filed under: Oregon, Portland | Tagged: Oregon, parade, Portland, Portland Rose Festival |
Jackieinpdx's Blog 
I was driving over the Marquam Bridge on my way back from Eastern Oregon yesterday and noticed it. I thought it was kind of early but I guess it isn’t. I’ve blogged about my take on the “Fun Center” (do they still call it that?) a year or two ago, so I won’t comment, but I think we agree about the .. element. But at least we know it’s getting to be summer!
Joyce,
It hasn’t been called the “fun center” in ages. I guess because too many of those people in that element were having way too much of the wrong kind of fun. I think that for the most part the Waterfront Village has become a real family destination with all of the kids activities, music and art events. I will have to read your older post on the subject.
[…] posted earlier about how great it is that the Waterfront VIllage opened a week early and business was booming bringingmuch needed $s to Portland. But on a more global persepctive […]