Portland Rose Festival Free and Cheap Events

“CityFair – Portland Rose Festival” by Jeremy Thompson licensed under CC BY 2.0.

For more than 100 years, the Portland Rose Festival has been a beloved celebration of our beautiful city. It takes place every year from the end of May through June. This citywide celebration is inclusive of everyone with many free and cheap events to enjoy. 

The 2025 Rose Festival is May 23-June 22 with events throughout Portland.

The festival will kick off with a magnificent fireworks show over the river. Below I have listed all the main events of the festival. Plan your visit to this historic annual event.

2025 Free and Cheap Portland Rose Festival Events

May 23

Opening Night Fireworks

This awesome display over the Willamette River marks the official opening night of the CityFair amusement park at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

The CityFair ribbon cutting is 5 p.m. followed by live music playing all night long. The fireworks begin after dark (approx. 9:50 p.m.). The fireworks display is choreographed to its own soundtrack.

Buy CityFair tickets to get right in the action. The fireworks show can be seen outside the fair along Tom McCall Waterfront Park for free. 

May 23-June 8, weekends only and Memorial Day

CityFair

For three consecutive weekends, a carnival takes over waterfront park. Carnival rides, games, live music and entertainment, and all your favorite fair food and beverages are available at CityFair. 

2025 ticket prices are TBA.

CityFair weekends include May 23-26, May 30-June 1 and June 6-8. 

Map courtesy of the Rose Festival

May 31

Starlight Parade 

This is the more casual prelude to the Grand Floral Parade. Before the marching bands and humorous floats go by, cheer on the runners in the Starlight Run, many of whom are in fun costumes. The Starlight Parade has a procession of illuminated floats and marching bands that light up the streets of downtown Portland.

The parade is free to watch from 8-10 p.m. on May 31.

Map courtesy of the Rose Festival

June 4

Junior Parade

It’s the nation’s oldest and largest children’s parade, for and featuring children and bands from elementary and middle schools. Children from across the city dress in costume, transform wagons into floats, decorate bikes with colorful flowers or just join the parade with friends and family.

The parade runs through the Hollywood District in Northeast Portland. It is free to attend and taking place 1-3 p.m. on June 4.

Photo by Zachary S. Eshleman

June 4-8

Fleet Week

The arrival of guest ships from the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy is always a spectacular display, with Portland fireboats spraying red, white and blue water, and private boats escorting the ships to Portland’s seawall. Look for the sailors marching in the Grand Floral Parade.

Ships will be docked from June 4-8 and offering free ship tours June 5-8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a first come, first served basis.

June 5-6

Spring Rose Show

Did you know the Portland Rose Society annual Spring Rose Show is the largest and longest-running rose show in the nation? Take in the beauty and fragrances of this yearly show featuring more than 4,000 blooms. Rose growers from across the Pacific Northwest participate in this event.

The free rose show is Thursday, June 5, from 1-7 p.m. and Friday, June 6, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Lloyd Center, 2201 Lloyd Center.

Photo courtesy of the Portland Rose Festival

June 7

Grand Floral Parade

This is the crown jewel of the Rose Festival. Each year features traditional large all-floral floats as well as mini-floats, bands, equestrian units, marching groups, drill teams, vintage vehicles, dancers, llamas and flags.

This year, the parade returns to its downtown Portland route. You can watch the Grand Floral Parade for free along the parade route.

The Grand Floral Parade is Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Map courtesy of Portland Rose Festival

June 7-8

Dragon Boat Race

Watch from Tom McCall Waterfront Park near the Hawthorne Bridge as more than 60 teams compete in beautifully carved wooden boats from Portland’s sister city in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The races are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 7-8. This event is free to attend.

June 22

Milk Carton Boat Race

Watch kids and adults race their custom, human powered boats made of recycled milk cartons and jugs at the Westmoreland Casting Pond, SE McLoughlin Blvd and Bybee Blvd.

The Milk Carton Boat Race starts at 11 a.m. on June 22 and is free to attend.

For a more detailed list of festival events, check the Portland Rose Festival events calendar.

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