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Rose Festival Plans a Return to Normal with Rose City Reunion

Respecting current conditions, the Princesses families, and Rose Festival and Rosarian members had plenty of space in the arena to safely participate in the open-air ceremonies.

Portland, OR. After two years of virtual and porch-side events, the Rose Festival will be returning to in-person events for 2022. The Portland Rose Festival has announced that many of the signature events, including CityFair, the Grand Floral Parade, and the Starlight Parade, will return in 2022. Portland Rose Festival CEO Jeff Curtis explained. “The Rose Festival is happy to be part of Portland’s comeback story, featuring all three of our parades starting with the CareOregon Starlight Parade.” (Above is the 2021 Queen’s Coronation Washington Park Amphitheater and the crowning of Queen Lily.)

For Rose Festival 2020, people made their own front yard floats.

Now the Grand Floral Parade will be back as is the crown jewel of the annual Rose Festival.

Gearing up now, the 2022 Rose Festival Court presented by Unitus Community Credit Union is taking shape. Community Interviews took place via Zoom on February 5, 2022. Individual students were assigned break-out rooms with a panel of community volunteers conducting the interviews. Portland Public Schools will offer their student body a chance to cast their votes which count as 50% toward the final tally.

Students who successfully completed the interviews and are now eligible for Court, include 15 juniors and 25 seniors, vying for the 15 princess positions and the crown of Queen of Rosaria. The selected Rose Festival Princesses will be announced on weekdays beginning February 28.

Junior and senior girls from class 4A to 6A schools in the tri-county area who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and 20 hours of verifiable community service are eligible. Candidates represent the 13 Portland Public Schools as well as Metro East, including Clackamas and East Multnomah counties and Metro West, representing Washington County schools.

Each selected Princess of the 2022 Rose Festival Court receives a $3,500 scholarship generously provided by The Randall Group.

The 2022 Portland Rose Festival Queen will be crowned at the Queen’s Coronation presented by Unitus Community Credit Union June 10, 2022

2022 Rose Festival Court Finalists & Announcement Dates

Metro East and West (February 28)

East

Sofia Corso, Lakeridge High School (SR)

Isabella Ellsworth, Nelson High School (JR)

Taylor Hayes, Oregon City High School (SR)

Mia Kritzer, La Salle Catholic College Prep (SR)

West

Jessa Brame, Tigard High School (SR)

Jenny Duan, Jesuit High School (SR)

Paige Hayward, Beaverton High School (ISB) (SR)

Nina Takahashi, Southridge High School (SR)

Benson Polytechnic High School (March 1)

Reba Booze (JR)

Addison “Addie” Stiles (JR)

Franklin High School (March 2)

Megan Bathurst (SR)

Meleiana “Mel” Kaplan (SR)

Sophia Rosenberger (SR)

Serafina “Fina” Sabatini (JR)

Parkrose High School (March 3)

Kiaralynn “Kiara” Hatton (SR)

Kennedy Phillips (JR)

Draia Shelton (JR)

Amyah Warren (SR)

Lincoln High School (March 7)

Bailey Armstrong (JR)

Veronica “Roni” Wilkerson (SR)

Leodis V. McDaniel High School (March 8)

Stella Jackson (JR)

Central Catholic High School (March 9)

Piper Easton (SR)

Rachelle Hanna (SR)

Kailee Koplan (SR)

St. Mary’s Academy (March 10)

Sonja Cutts (SR)

Paige Kehrli (SR)

Alexandria “Lexi” Leonard-Graham (SR)

David Douglas High School (March 11)

Sophia Day (SR)

Awek De Piok (SR)

Than Truc “Truc” Nhan (SR)

Roosevelt High School (March 14)

O’Lisia Banks (JR)

Maria Mizee (SR)

Jefferson High School (March 15)

Erika Cetina-Huchin (JR)

Jayilee Sloan (SR)

Cleveland (March 16)

Eliana Leone (JR)

Zinnia Sirokman (JR)

Claire Yeates (JR)

Ida B. Wells High School (March 17)

Senya “Isata” Scott (SR)

Grant (March 18)

Naima Smith (JR)

Ay’Mehir “Meir” Tucker (JR)

RichJ@RoseFestival.org

For more information www.RoseFestival.org

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Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.