Portland Rose Festival

   What is the Portland Rose Festival?While Portland is known as 'the City of Roses' due to the large number of bushes planted in and around the city, the Rose Festival is about much more than just flowers. Started in 1907, the festival is one of the biggest events on the city calendar and takes place at the end of May through mid-June, just as the roses are coming into full bloom. The Festival includes three parades, art shows, a fleet week, fireworks, concerts, dragon boat races and more. The festival is a genuine community event that celebrates volunteerism, patriotism and environmentalism. Need to KnowMost events are free to attend, but check the full program for details. Did You Know?Portland is home to the International Rose Test Garden, which houses over 10,000 individual rose bushes and 610 different rose varieties. The best time to visit the garden is between May and October when the roses are in bloom.