On April 25th, marchers held the 20th annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade from Eastport Plaza Shopping Center to SE Clinton Street. Former U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 3rd congressional district, Earl Blumenauer, and Nancy Chapin were the 2026 Grand Marshals. The procession featured community groups, businesses, elected officials, dancing horses, youth performers, and the diverse cultural flavors that fill 82nd Avenue and East Portland.

The parade drew significant crowds along its one-mile route, closing the busy roadway for a few hours on Saturday morning. Sunny skies warmed the morning air, but temperatures remained moderate for the marchers and fans lining the street. Organizers say it has never rained on the parade in its two-decade run.

With the 2026 parade completed, the 82 Roses Community Enrichment Coalition members will begin work on next year’s event, which they expect will continue to grow for another 20 years and feature more participants and enhanced production elements.

82nd Avenue is one of the most important city streets. I’m excited for the activity here to reconfigure it, to make it safer, to make it more efficient, and to help revitalize this important street, this is the number one transit street in the entire city. And the work that’s being done here is going to transform 82nd. It used to be kind of the dividing line. I think 82nd Avenue is going to bring the city together. I’m really excited about what’s happening here. This parade is an expression of that. – Earl Blumenauer