The Portland Rose Festival is an annual civic festival held during the month of June in Portland, Oregon. It is organized by the volunteer non-profit Portland Rose Festival Association with the purpose of promoting the Portland region.
The idea for the Rose Festival was presented to the public in a speech by Mayor Harry Lane at the end of the 1905 World's Fair. The first festival occurred in 1907.
The Grand Floral Parade is the centerpiece of the festival and the second largest all-floral parade in the United States. More than 500,000 spectators line the route, making it the largest spectator event in Oregon.
Since 1930 a queen has been selected from a court of high school seniors from each school in the area. A college scholarship is awarded to a 13 member "royalty".
During Fleet Week boats from United States Navy, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and the Royal Canadian Navy dock along the seawall of Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
The festival also hosts a CHAMP Car race at Portland International Speedway , dragonboat races, a fireworks display, carnival rides, among other events.
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