Willamette Week is in the middle of our most important annual fundraiser. As a local independent news outlet, we need your help.

Give today. Hold power to account.

Support
Culture

On the Night of the Starlight Parade, Portland’s Downtown Was Again Filled With Families

From the floats to the marching bands, every participant was illuminated for the evening event.

By Andi Prewitt and Chris Nesseth
Starlight Parade (Chris Nesseth)

The Starlight Parade, long one of the Portland Rose Festival’s most popular events, lit up the streets of downtown—both figuratively and literally—on Saturday, June 3. From the floats to the marching bands, every participant was illuminated for the evening event.

But the most electrifying scenes played out before the procession even started: people playing in a frequently empty city core, including on the sidewalk along Washington Center, the commercial property that for much of the year has hosted a fentanyl den.

Once the parade got underway, led by Grand Marshal and Darcelle XV Showplace headliner Poison Waters, spectators took a seat on the curb or watched and waved from downtown’s parking garages.

0 of 23

Andi Prewitt

Andi Prewitt

Andi Prewitt is WW's arts and culture editor. She writes about Oregon’s trifecta of fun: craft beer, food and the outdoors. A native Oregonian, Andi’s claim to fame was being named Princess of Newberg. It’s all been downhill from there.