Rose Festival 2009

Freedom Bird
Originally uploaded by Mary Anne Thygesen.

Rose Festival 2009

Another festival has come and gone. The parades were wonderful. I had a great time going to the parades. The rose gardens have just started blooming. Everything is late this year.

Visit the Washington Park Rose garden 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland , Oregon.

www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=1113&action=ViewPark

Or the Peninsula Park Rose garden 700 N Rosa Parks Way
Portland, OR for beautiful blooms.

www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=507&searchtext=rose

These pretty gardens carry on the tradition of roses in Portland.

courting RosieRose Festival 2008

courting Rosie
Originally uploaded by Mary Anne Thygesen.

I had a great time going to Rose Festival events this year. After a cool spring my roses bloomed just for the festival. I enjoyed watching the Starlight parade. It was fun to see the runners go by in the Starlight run. One of the runners dressed as a ghost from Pac-Man got way ahead of Pac-Man and the rest of the ghosts. There was no way that Pac-Man would catch that ghost. The parade had a large number of bands including the one more time around band and the Last Regiment syncopated drummers. I have loved syncopated cadences ever since I was in drum and bugle corps and marched to the cadences. Pear’s float was the prettiest float. Daimler trucks had the most impressive trucks.
It didn’t rain on the Grand Floral parade. It was just cool and cloudy. I liked George Morlan’s purple elephant taking a bubble bath. Battle Ground’s purple ballerina hippo being held up by groaning frogs brought a smile to my face. To round out the floats there were lots of horses. It looks like every county around has a rodeo. Again the one more time around band stole the show. The Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers led the rose parade walkers. Good cadences to walk to.

Yesterday I went down the waterfront to take pictures of the floats lined up along Naito Parkway. The weather was nice and sunny Sunday after a cool Saturday. I wanted to get a better look at the purple hippo and the purple elephant. Today they are packing everything up. The ships are leaving and the 101 Rose Festival is over for another year. See you next year.

Oaks Park

Oaks park is celebrating its 103 birthday this week end June 7 and 8, 2008 12 to 7 pm. The ride tickets are going to be dirt cheap on those days. Oaks Park is a fun place to visit during Rose festival. It is family friendly and less expensive than the waterfront village. Years ago I had a lot of fun at a children’s day at Oaks Park for the Rose Festival. I dressed up as a clown and helped my Mom who was a profession clown entertain the children.

The skating rink at Oaks Park is a fun happy place. Recently I have been taking my nephew to preschool skate at Oaks Park. The instructor is very good. In addition to showing the children how to skate, she showed them how to stop, fall down and how to get up without stepping on your hands. Until June 11, 2008 10 to 11:30 am $5 admission includes skates. Watch for summer schedule. www.oakspark.com At the foot of the Sellwood bridge, east side.

rose festival 2008

rose festival grand floral parade 2007
Originally uploaded by Mary Anne Thygesen.

Rose Festival 2008
101 years of fun!
Tonight about 9:45pm is fireworks on the waterfront. The WaMu Waterfront village is open May 29 to June 8, 2008 waterfront park. It has Jurassic village with dinosaurs this year. Admission is $5 and free on Tuesdays. Ride prices vary.
The Starlight run is Saturday May 31, 2008 at 8pm. The Starlight parade is downtown at 8:30 pm Saturday May 31, 2008. The junior parade is in the Hollywood district Wednesday June 4, 2008 at 1 pm. The Grand Floral parade is Saturday June 7, 2008 Memorial Coliseum to downtown Portland. For new information on saving your spot on the parade route read: www.portlandonline.com/bds/index.cfm?c=47020 Have fun Romancing the Rose.
www.rosefestival.org
From last year
http://blog.oregonlive.com/rosefest/2007/05/rose_festival_memories.html