For one hundred years, the Portland Rose Festival has served families and individuals from Oregon and beyond with events and programs that spotlight the riches of our Pacific Northwest heritage and environment while offering colorful examples of many international cultures. Attended by more than two million people, the festival is annually one of the top three most highly decorated events by the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) and in 2007 was named Best Festival in the World. Among the festival's most popular events are the Grand Floral Parade, one of the nation's top two all-floral parades, and the WaMu Waterfront Village, which features the Best Children's Programming in the World, according to the IFEA.
On the heels of the successful Lewis & Clark Exhibition of 1905, Mayor Harry Lane decided the city should have a festival of roses. In those early years, horse-drawn floats, aquatic events, and fireworks highlighted the Festival. Following the 1907 event, a group of 10 businessmen formally organized the Portland Rose Festival as a nonprofit organization (now called the Portland Rose Festival Foundation) to plan and finance the annual event. In 2007, the Rose Festival featured a Century of Celebration in its most elaborate incarnation ever.
See Highlights of the 2007 Centennial Celebration!