Portland Combines 2 Rose Festival Parades Into 1 Downtown Event as Diego Chara Leads
Updated
Updated · KATU · Jun 6
Portland Combines 2 Rose Festival Parades Into 1 Downtown Event as Diego Chara Leads
3 articles · Updated · KATU · Jun 6
Summary
Thousands were expected in downtown Portland Saturday for the 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Grand Floral Starlight Parade, a newly merged Rose Festival event running from the waterfront through downtown to Lincoln High School.
The single-parade format marks one of the festival's biggest 2026 changes after organizers cited budget pressure, rising costs and weak sponsorship for the Grand Floral Parade.
TriMet adjusted service for the event: MAX Blue and Red lines were suspended between Providence Park and Rose Quarter, Green Line trains were cut back to Gateway, and shuttle buses covered two stops.
Bridge and street closures added to the disruption, with the Burnside Bridge shut to eastbound traffic and the Morrison Bridge closed westbound during the parade.
Diego Chara served as grand marshal, while Queen Anika Rigby and the Rose Festival Princess Court highlighted the broader celebration around Portland's signature festival weekend.