Royal Rosarians

06/07/2026

From tonight’s parade. Photo credit Karen Adams-Griggs.

06/06/2026

Who will take the best photo?

06/04/2026

Here’s a bit of Rosarian education to answer a question we get asked a lot.

What do the cape colors mean?

Red: Appointed Council (board of directors). There are 3 red capes each year, and the Prime Minister selects 3 Rosarians to be the “red capes”. These Council members are the “rose planting team” and have speaking parts each time we plant a rose (about 35 times a year). They have some other assignments for events that keep them busy all year.

Green: Elected Council. There are 8 green capes and these members are in charge of bigger events and have more involved duties throughout the program year.

Purple: Executive Council. There are 2 purple capes and they have already served a minimum of 2 years as a green cape. The purple cape means they are in line to be Prime Minister, and they are planning events for their year. These are our liaisons to the Portland Rose Festival and the Portland Rose Society.

White: There is only 1 white cape and the person wearing it is our Prime Minister. This is a one-time position, meaning you only serve as PM once, and you don’t serve as a red or green cape anymore.

Fancy gold (with shoulder strap and “jeweled” piping): Royal Regent. There is only one of these capes and it signifies that the person served as Prime Minister the preceding year. It is another one-time position.

Less-fancy gold (no shoulder strap): Duke or Duchess of the Realm of Rosaria. There are around 25 living Dukes and Duchesses of the Realm of Rosaria, a title given after serving as Prime Minister. This cape is worn for the rest of their Rosarian life, and many are still active in the organization, providing advice and guidance to other Council members and Prime Ministers.

06/04/2026

Rose Planting Ceremony is Spokane for the Lilac Festival.

06/03/2026

Greeting at the Portland International Airport this afternoon for Kaohsiung Girl’s Senior High School. They are here to participate in Rose Festival.

06/03/2026

Fleet Week has officially arrived as part of the Portland Rose Festival! Free ship tours are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. U.S. Navy ships will be open for public tours June 4 to 7th. No tickets are required, tours are free of charge.

Ships Visiting Rose Festival Fleet Week
United States Navy
* USS CHAFEE (DDG-90)
United States Coast Guard
* USCGC DAVID DUREN (WPC-1156)
* USCGC BLUEBELL (WLI-313)
* USCGC FLORENCE FINCH (WCP-1157)
Royal Canadian Navy
* HMCS MAX BERNAYS (AOPV-432)
US Army Corps of Engineers
* USACE REDLINGER (WDF-3108)

🗓️ open for tours June 4 to 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 Tom McCall Waterfront Park
‼️ For guests over 18 years old, a REAL ID or U.S. Passport must be presented to tour the ships.
ℹ️ rosefestival.org/events/2026/fleetweek







Traffic Tips
Fleet Week ship arrivals begin on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Commuters should expect bridge lifts and associated delays for the Broadway, Steel, and Burnside Bridges.
6/2/26: 3 ships arrival with lifts between 1pm-5pm
6/4/26: 1 ship arrival with lift between 6pm-8pm
6/6/26: 1 ship arrival with lift between 1pm-3pm
6/8/26: ship departures begin at 7am and continue through 12pm

06/01/2026

On May 31, 2026, the Royal Rosarians performed their 88th annual rose contest judging in Portland Oregon, proving that judging flowers is serious business, not a single petal was ruined by a rogue rainstorm. The event is sponsored by the Royal Rosarian Foundation.

The large contingent of judges had their work cut out for them, judging 92 wonderful rose gardens.

Judging roses sounds peaceful until you realize it is essentially a botanical beauty pageant. The judges spent hours staring down shrubs, looking for the perfect blend of symmetry, color, and "attitude."

• The Drama: Rumor has it a few hybrid teas looked slightly wilted under the intense scrutiny.

• The Verdict: No thorns were thrown, and every rose had its day.

• The Aftermath: The judges left with happy hearts and slightly scratched hands.

Everyone is invited to the 88th Annual Rose Garden Contest Awards!

Stop by and toast Portland’s greenest thumbs (and thorny overachievers).
• When: June 16, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Royal Rosarian Garden, International Rose Test Garden, Washington Park, Portland, Oregon

It’s free, fabulous, and open to all!

06/01/2026

The Portland Parks & Recreation Summer Free For All Program is coming soon. Sellwood Community House's "The Shack at Sellwood Park" will open on June 13th, with games, programs to enjoy - all for free. www.sellwoodcommunityhouse.org/the-shack-at-sellwood-park -calendar
The Royal Rosarians will be putting on the Milk Carton boat race at Westmoreland Park on June 28th, with the races starting at noon. Free registration is open. There are still sealed, empty milk cartons available at the Sellwood Community House and participating Les Schwab dealers for you to build a boat. Spectators are encouraged to join in the fun of this free event. Go to www.royalrosarians.com/page/milk-carton-boat-race for details.

05/30/2026

05/30/2026

Tomorrow is the world famous Fred Meyer Junior Parade!

We'd like to thank .make.it.portable.toilets for providing restrooms along the parade path! We can't wait to see everyone there!

Parade starts at noon, but get there early and join the Rose Festival Street Mile for either a casual or competitive mile along the parade route!