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This year the lovable Fred Bear will make a special appearance as he cuts the ribbon that commences the Fred Meyer Junior Parade! Fred will be joined by other popular mascots, including the Baby Loaf Bus. Brand new to the parade is the Union Pacific Miniature Train, carrying riders from the Tucker Maxon Oral School as it winds its way down the NE Sandy Boulevard route.
This year's Fred Meyer Junior Parade boasts three special sections: Kids on the Go presented by Union Pacific (with bikes, trikes, wagons and unicycles, and the Union Pacific Miniature Train), Kids & Families presented by Sparkling Juicy Juice and Nesquik (featuring neighborhood groups and community clubs) and Kids Learning and Growing presented by The Oregonian (loaded with schools, learning centers and libraries).
30 marching bands from elementary and middle schools in the greater Portland/Vancouver metro area will fill the Hollywood District with music. Voyager Middle School from Everett, Washington, is a featured guest band this year. Dance, drill and baton groups will add even more rhythms to the route.
Bands, school groups, scout troops, children's organizations, youth clubs, dance teams and families join in the parade. For many years, the parade featured members of the Junior Court. Today, children dress in costume, build colorful floats towed on wagons, or ride on bikes decorated with flowers, crepe paper, streamers and balloons—some of them future court members themselves!
The 2010 Junior Parade Grand Marshal is Radio Disney sensation, 17-year-old Savannah Outen. A Portland native, she is gaining what some consider 'star status' with more than 5 million views at YouTube (and more than 214,000 subscribers). At age 12, Savannah found her way to the finals of America's Best New Talent and has been invited to perform the national anthem at numerous national sporting events. Savannah is currently working on her forthcoming debut album.
From the very beginning, the Portland Rose Festival has celebrated our community's children. Portland's very first Rose Festival in 1907 included a children's parade of 2000 boys and girls representing 23 schools! In 1936, the Junior Parade became an official Rose Festival event. Since that time, the parade has become a beloved tradition for many Portland families.
Here's how you can be a part of the oldest and largest children's parade in the nation:
- Be in the parade! Children middle school age and younger (and their chaperones!) are welcome to march in the parade. For parade rules and information, visit Join the Parade.
- Cheer the parade! Find a spot on the sidewalk and enjoy. The parade begins at 1:00 p.m. in the Hollywood District of NE Portland, along Sandy BLVD. Parking can be difficult, so plan ahead or take public transit.
