As Portland's Official Festival, The Rose Festival is a time to celebrate our wonderful city and community through volunteerism, environmentalism and fun events. As a non-profit organization, the Rose Festival Foundation, with the help of hundreds of volunteers each year, organize dozens of events around the city. From the three amazing parades to the annual rose show, marathons to fleet week, there are activities that everyone can enjoy, and 1.2 million people do just that every year. The Grand Floral Parade is a major highlight of the whole festival, and since the first one in 1907, it has grown to became the second-largest all-floral parade in the nation with over hall a million people in attendance. The Grand Floral Parade is a culmination of beautiful floats, marching bands, rodeo queens, llamas, and many more entries including the Rose Festival Court.
The Rose Festival has not been without royalty. Beginning in 1908, there has a been a selected monarch to be the face of the Festival for the course of the year and then in 1930 the Rose Festival Court was introduced. One woman from each of the local high schools is chosen to represent their school and community as well as the Festival in general. Out of all the women, one is chosen who best embodies what the festival stands for as the Queen of the Festival. Today the court consists of 15 women for the PPS high schools as well as a Metro East and Metro West high school. It is an honor to be chosen to represent your school, community and city as a Rose Festival Princess. Starting in May the court travels around Oregon full-time for five weeks visiting senior living centers, hospitals, youth organizations, community events and much more all while spreading Rose Festival cheer and happiness.
~Shani Plunkett, 2013 Princess