And the Winner is... Summertime Souvenir!

January 25, 2010

De Ann Troen (of Happy Valley, Oregon) submitted the winning entry in the 2010 Portland Rose Festival's 'Name the Rose Contest' sponsored by Dennis' Seven Dees Landscaping and Garden Centers. Summertime Souvenir -- now the official name of the signature rose of the 2010 Rose Festival -- was chosen by a panel of judges out of 780 entries from around Oregon and Washington.

"I was bouncing off the walls when they called me. I feel so honored my name was picked," said De Ann Troen. "I used to enter the Festival's 'Name the Theme Contest' and always thought "Summertime Souvenir" would make a great festival theme, so I entered it for the Name The Rose contest." A full-time Mary Kay Team Leader and Charter Member of the One More Time Around Again Marching Band, De Ann has been collecting Rose Festival Pins for 28 years and marched in 25 Starlight Parades, 28 Grand Floral Parades and one Tournament of Roses Parade.

LEARN MORE

The Rose Festival 'Goes Hollywood' with the Youth Silent Film Festival

January 21, 2010

Portland's Hollywood district, home to the nation's best all children's parade is going to get a little more festive this year. The Portland Rose Festival announced today two brand new events for 2010: the Youth Silent Film Festival and the Conchords Chorale concert "Let's Go To The Movies" at the Hollywood Theatre. Joining the Fred Meyer Junior Parade and the special movie screening "From One Rose," the two new events make it an all-Hollywood week June 6 - June 13.

"We're excited to partner with two new events that showcase our values of art and education with such diversity," said Liza McQuade, PRFF Sanctioned Events Program Chair. "The Youth Silent Film Festival is a revival of an old art form that can open a new world of creativity for young filmmakers and their audiences."

According to Marilyn Clint, Rose Festival Associate Executive Director, "The project is fantastic because it fits so well with what the festival did during the 2007 Centennial Celebration with our own Student Film Project." The product of that project -- the feature film "From One Rose" -- is scheduled for screening Saturday, June 12, following a showing of the top three award winning silent films and the announcement of the overall winner.

LEARN MORE

The Portland Rose Festival is Now Official!

January 14, 2010

After 103 years the Portland City Council voted on January 13 to recognize the Portland Rose Festival as the Official Festival of the City of Portland. Commissioner Randy Leonard filed the resolution along with co-sponsors Mayor Adams, Commissioner Fritz and Commissioner Fish as recognition for Portland's oldest and most acclaimed festival.

"The Rose Festival is a unique celebration of what Portland values -- community, culture, fun and a commitment to nurturing the natural environment," said Mayor Sam Adams. "It was time for the City to commit to nurturing our home-grown festival."

The Portland Rose Festival Foundation celebrated the resolution in true festival fashion with clowns, a float on the front steps of City Hall, and musical performances by the One More Time Around Again Marching Band and Conchords Chorale. Additionally, the Royal Rosarians and members of the 2009 Rose Festival Court joined with festival leadership and dignitaries (like Governor Victor Atiyah, 85-year old wartime princess Phyllis Huwa and 6-year-old Aisha Ross) to thank the council for this historic designation.

Read It's Official! at the Rose Festival Blog!

LEARN MORE