Rose Festival
Rose Festival
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
Roosevelt High School's2023 Rose Festival Princess
MaryMer Kansou
Mary is a senior and plans to attend Oregon State University to study marine biology and physical therapy.
She plans to become a marine biologist to better help her island home lands and our oceans.
She moved to Oregon from Hawaii in 2018 and has attended Roosevelt all four years of her high school career.
Mary has been a part of Roosevelt High School’s Pacific Islander Club all four years. From her freshman year to her junior
year she also played on the girls basketball team and volleyball team. While playing basketball and volleyball she was
awarded the “Most Inspirational” award from both teams. "If I could lift my team up I will."
Mary's favorite place to visit in Portland is the whole St. Johns area. She says, "There’s no way I could pick just one
place to call my favorite. I keep these places in my heart because these were the first places I went to after moving to
Portland in 2018."
When asked what she is most proud of during her high school career, Mary talked about her junior year. During volleyball
season she tore her ACL and had to have surgery in November 2021. Due to sacrificing large amounts of her time to physical
therapy she fell behind with my studies and athletics. Catching back up with her studies and athletics gave her a new sense
of strength. She then had the opportunity to assist in planning Roosevelt’s Unity Fest as a representative from the Pacific
Islander Club. "All the happiness from everyone made all the work I put into Unity Fest worth it and that’s what makes me
the proudest."
Queen Lucy Lee Thomas
1923
Queen Sally Swift
1965
Queen Kristi Lee
1971