On April 26th, marchers held the 19th annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade from Eastport Plaza Shopping Center to SE Clinton Street. The precession featured community groups, businesses, elected officials, dancing horses, youth performers, and the diverse cultural flavors that fill 82nd Avenue and East Portland.
The shorter parade drew significant crowds along its one-mile route, closing the busy roadway for a few hours on Saturday morning. Overcast skies kept the temperatures cool, but the streets remained dry for the event, which organizers say has never been rained out in its nearly two-decade run.
With the 2025 parade completed, the 82 Roses Community Enrichment Coalition members will start working on next year’s event, which they expect will feature more participants and heightened production elements during the 20-year celebration.
On April 27th, the 18th Annual 82nd Avenue Parade entrants marched down SE 82nd Avenue. Elected officials, community groups, and organizations started the precession from Eastport Plaza Shopping Center, heading north towards SE Yamhill Street. Hundreds of community members lined the streets to watch the 90-minute event, cheering and clapping. Portland Police and event organizers cleared barricades by 11 a.m., reopening the busy street to cars. However, attendees lingered on the sidewalk for a while longer, filling the pedestrian realm on 82nd Avenue to a degree not seen since last year’s parade.
Event organizer Nancy Chapin remarked that it has never rained on this parade. Drops only started to fall after the precession moved off 82nd Avenue, securing another dry year of community celebration. Organizers hope to increase parade fundraising efforts to bring back the event’s live stream for those unable to make it in person.
List of registered parade participants (in order of appearance)
City of Portland Police Bureau – East Precinct – Commander Jake Jensen
Parade Banner presenters
Troop 24 (BSA boy troop) and 5024 (BSA girls troop)
Grand Marshals
The Royal Rosarians
Portland Rose Society
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757
Portland Rose Festival Foundation
Ascension Catholic Church
TenBridge Partners/ The BlackPearl Friesian Dance Troupe
Montavilla Farmers Market
56th Army Band
Mysti Krewe of Nimbus
Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio
PageantsNW Miss Oregon USA | Miss Oregon Teen USA
Past Queen & Princess
Saint Anthony Catholic Church
Beneficial State Bank
White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance
Portland Commissioner Mingus Mapps
Portland Winterhawks Booster Club
Madison South NA
SEI King SUN School Drill Team
Chelsea McManus with MORE Realty and Aidan Keller with Guild Mortgage
East Portland Rotary Clubs
Portland Raging Grannies
Rip City Scooter Collective
Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers
Portland Skyliners Tall club
Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez
KC Cars Inc.
Military Vehicle Collectors Club of Oregon
PCC Gateway to College & Yes to College
Kim’s Taekwon-Do
Squares of Warmth
SEI Kalros PDX Sun School Drill Team
State Representative Thuy Tran and Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards
On April 29th, the 17th Annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade returned to the streets with participants embarking from Eastport Plaza at Bush Street. The colorful and raucous group headed north on 82nd Avenue towards Yamhill Street. Spectators lined the entire path to observe the various groups walking, dancing, and cruising down the road.
What had started as a small parade in 2007 grew into a significant community event over the years, taking a break during the pandemic. After three years off, it returned with many familiar faces and some new participants. All four Portland Commissioners participated this year alongside the businesses and community groups. Portlands’s ABC affiliate KATU live-streamed this year’s event. A recording of the stream is available on the KATU website.
The 82 Roses Community Enrichment Coalition organizes this East Portland parade. Today’s celebration is the first event on the roadway since the City of Portland took control over 82nd Avenue from the Oregon Department of Transportation. The success of today’s event offers an optimistic view of 82nd Avenue’s future and a gradual return to normalcy.
By
Jacob Loeb
Commissioner Rene GonzalezCommissioner Mingus MappsCommissioner Carmen RubioCommissioner Dan Ryan
The 17th Annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade returns on Saturday, April 29th. Festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. with participants embarking from Eastport Plaza at Bush Street, heading north on 82nd Avenue towards Yamhill Street. Spectators will line the streets to watch the various groups walk, dance, or drive down the road. Those looking to participate can register to walk with a group or volunteer as a traffic monitor.
What had started as a small parade in 2007 grew into a significant community event over the years, taking a break during the pandemic. After a few years off, it is back with KPTV’s Joe Vithayathil (Joe V) as the Grand Marshal. Some featured participants include The Lee’s Association Dragon and Lion Dance, Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, and The Beat Goes On. The Royal Rosarians are joined by The Friesian Horses from Washington heading north on 82nd Avenue. Not all cars are moving in the parade. Collectors from the Classic Car Club will display their best vehicles at the Cruise-In hosted by Gary Small SAAB, 1940 SE 82nd Avenue.
Event organizers explained that working on the parade is how they show their appreciation of community art, music, and dance by celebrating the diverse population that defines 82nd Avenue. People looking for a front-row seat can volunteer as parade traffic monitors. One or two volunteers control every crossing along the 82nd Avenue route, and staff coordinators still need many intersections covered. Interested people can signup online at https://bit.ly/82Roses or by emailing 82RosesParadeVolunteer@gmail.com, and the 82 Roses Community Enrichment Coalition invites everyone to view the parade on April 29th.
Image courtesy of the 82nd Avenue Business Association
By
Jacob Loeb
Neighborhood news site focused on buildings and changing businesses
