2023 Careoregon Starlight Parade Fans Swell Downtown Streets

Rose Festival Brings Back Float and Band Awards in a New Format

There is no better example of Portland’s comeback story than the CareOregon Starlight Parade fans coming back to downtown Portland en masse. West Burnside Street saw a return to pre-pandemic levels as crowds once again loaded up both sides of the popular narrow four-lane artery. The costume-crazy Toyota Starlight Run once again warmed up fans ahead of the big event. The parade, led by Grand Marshal Poison Waters, the floats, bands, marchers and special guests, delighted the crowd with creative illumination, and uplifting music including line-dancing to polka to the big band sound.

Float and band awards were reintroduced this year in a new format. The band awards format is changed to reflect a standard achievement that the judges determine each band meets. One band is chosen as the overall Sweepstakes winner, and remaining bands ranked in gold, silver and bronze categories. The following list of band awards are in alphabetical order and not reflective of position standing.

2023 STARLIGHT PARADE ENTRY AWARDS

FLOATS

SWEEPSTAKES AWARD - BEST ILLUMINATION

Nob Hill Christmas

THE DARCELLE PORTLANDIA AWARD – NON-COMMERCIAL

Marysville Strawberry Festival

THE DARCELLE PORTLANDIA AWARD – COMMERCIAL

CareOregon

MARCHING GROUPS

DIANE MILLEMANN SPIRIT OF STARLIGHT AWARD

Alaska Airline Drill Team

BANDS

Sweepstakes

Glencoe High School (Hillsboro, OR)

GOLD STANDARD

Cleveland High School (Portland, OR)

David Douglas High School (Portland, OR)

Glencoe High School (Hillsboro, OR)

Lincoln High School (Portland, OR)

Newport High School (Newport, WA)

Parkrose High School (Portland, OR)

Union High School (Camas, WA)

Westview High School (Portland, OR)

SILVER STANDARD

Canby High School (Canby, OR)

Evergreen High School (Vancouver, WA)

Forest Grove High School (Forest Grove, OR)

Henley High School(Klamath Falls, OR)

Hudson's Bay High School (Vancouver, WA)

Ida B. Wells High School (Portland, OR)

Lakeridge & Lake Oswego Combined (Lake Oswego, OR)

Sunset High School (Portland, OR)

BRONZE STANDARD

Newport High School (Newport, OR)

TOYOTA STARLIGHT RUN WINNERS

Top Female: Nicole Kiley, age 24 (Portland, OR)

Top Male: Neftiali Menendez, age 17 (Vancouver, WA)