Here I am, going down the super slide at the Portland Rose Festival’s City Fair along the waterfront.
For the record, my wife and kids had just gone moments before–looks like I came in fourth!
Again.
We went on opening night, which is a Sussman family tradition.
We love checking out the new rides. Like this year’s Vertigo which towers over the Morrison Bridge. In this picture I took with my phone, it seems to reach right into a brilliantly lit cloud.
And our family loves everything from the juggling acts and clowns, to the awesome outdoor concerts like this one put on by Portland’s very popular Hit Machine. They’re a cover band that gets everyone into the act.
I was looking into Portland Rose Festival history. It started in the early 1900s. And here’s why, according to the Rose Festival Association:
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.’
Uh, next time we’re trying to act like the summer capital, I’d go July 5th or later!
But the truth is, we have had hot Starlight Run nights (I’ve run in a few) and the weather for the Grand Floral Parade most years is actually dry.
Good thing it is dry because waiting for the parade is half the fun: kids running everywhere, lots of sidewalk chalk and  toy trumpets sounding almost non-stop. My wife still remembers her family making the trip to downtown at 4am on parade morning to get a decent spot.
What’s your Rose Festival Memory? Would you post it here so we can all reminisce?
And if you’re wondering about the Starlight Run schedule, the Starlight Parade schedule, the Grand Floral Parade schedule or just the general Rose Festival Schedule and calendar you can click on the links.
But watch out. The links may lead to more than another web page, they may lead to a new tradition!
I always go to the Parade. And remember the year Mt.St. Helen’s blew, everybody was so concerned, what to do about the Parade. So the city got out, and swept up as much of the Ash as was possible, and we all bought the Umbrella hats, and went down town, sat on the curb, and watched the whole Parade. It was wonderful .
I remember when the parade would end up at Lloyd Center and as kids we’d walk over where the floats were parked and pick flowers off them. Even the Fun Center was there.