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Starlight Parade

CareOregon Starlight Parade

Date: May 31, 2025

Time: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

DETAILS

Location(s):

Portland, OR

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2025 CareOregon Starlight Parade Application

CareOregon Starlight Parade

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May 31, 2025 | 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

A Twinkling, Summer Night Downtown

The CareOregon Starlight Parade is the one of the Rose Festival's most popular events offering electrified funky fun for everyone. From traditional marching bands and flood-lit floats, to glow-in-the-dark umbrellas and unique hand-built entries, you’ll see representation from Portland’s diverse community groups (and the surrounding Pacific Northwest region), creating a vibe like no other on Portland's downtown streets. Events like the Starlight Parade are essential to a vibrant and healthy community.

The Starlight Parade continues a longtime festival tradition from the early 1900s, when illuminated floats built on electric trolley cars made their way through the city on trolley tracks. Today, participants light up the night with approximately 100 illuminated entries drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators to downtown Portland. Don’t miss the fun of one of the Rose Festival’s best and brightest traditions!

2024 Parade Entry Award Winners

FOR FLOATS:

Sweepstakes Award - Best Illumination

Sikh Community

The Darcelle Portlandia Award - Non-Commercial

Oregon Falun Dafa Association

The Darcelle Portlandia Award - Commercial

CareOregon

FOR MARCHING GROUPS:

Diane Millemann Spirit of Starlight Award

Mysti Krewe of Nimbus

2024 Parade Band Awards

Sweepstakes Award - Best Embodiment of Theme

Shorecrest High School (Shoreline, WA)

Gold Standard

Shorecrest High School (Shoreline, WA)

Mountain View High School (Vancouver, WA)

Hockinson High School (Brush Prairie, WA)

Century High (Hillsboro, OR)

Heritage High School (Vancouver, WA)

David Douglas High School (Portland, OR)

Westview High School (Portland, OR)

Skyview High School (Vancouver, WA)

Interlake High School (Bellevue, WA)

Ways to Watch

From the Street

Get in on the in-person illuminated action for free with a city street spot! The Starlight Parade travels through downtown Portland and ends at Lincoln High School. View the Route Map below and find your favorite spot!
PRO TIP: VIsit CityFair, then step out to Naito Parkway to watch the parade, right where it starts!

From Your Couch

A special thank to our partners and friends at KPTV FOX 12 Oregon for broadcasting the Starlight Parade live - check back in Spring, 2025 for broadcast time & details.

PARKING SUGGESTIONS

We highly encourage arrival by TriMet! If you are planning to drive downtown, here are a few suggested locations for parking nearby different parts of the Starlight Parade route:

-Smart Park - SW 1st & Jefferson, SW 4th & Yamhill (arrive early - 4th Ave closes by 4:30pm through the duration of the parade), SW 10th & Yamhill
-World Trade Center Parking Garage - 56 SW Taylor St (arrive very early - Naito Parkway will be closed by 1:30pm through the duration of the parade)
-Public Parking - SW Alder and 4th (arrive early - 4th Ave closes by 4:30pm through the duration of the parade.)
-ABM Parking Services - 121 SW 4th Ave. (arrive early - 4th Ave closes by 4:30pm through the duration of the parade), and US Bankcorp Tower Parking (111 SW 5th Ave)
-Old Town Chevron - 4th and Burnside (arrive early - 4th Ave and Burnside will close by 4:30pm through the duration of the parade.)

ALL SUGGESTED PARKING LOTS & FACILITIES ARE OWNED AND OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION.

Parade Route Map