Biker and young friend enjoy the Rhododendron Festival parade, 1996 Photo courtesy Siuslaw Pioneer Museum
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Florence Rhododendron Festival
Since 1908, Florence has celebrated spring with
this May festival, when wild rhododendrons bloom in the surrounding
hills and fields, as they have done for hundreds of years. It is
the third-oldest flower festival on the West Coast, just behind the
Portland Rose Festival and the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena,
California.
Since the first rhododendron festival, Florence has
grown from 500 people to about 7,000 residents. The festival, too,
has grown to more than 100 entries, and attracts up to 15,000
visitors. An amusement carnival opens mid-week, and then the
weekend kicks off with live music and dancing on Friday. The
festival includes 5k and 10k runs, floral displays, the Kiwanis
Kids Games, a junior parade, the Queen Rhododendra Pageant and
Coronation, a motorcycle race, a classic car show, a rod and gun
show, an arts and crafts show, and other children's activities. The
festival culminates with its Grand Floral Parade with floats and
marching bands.
Recognizing that Oregon's central coast would benefit
by improving land routes into the area, businessman George Miller
originated the idea for the festival to promote Florence. He
convinced other local leaders of the festival's merits, and the
early spring celebration was developed with the theme, "Watch
Florence Grow." Approximately 1,000 people came to see Laura
Johnson, the first Queen Rhododendra, as she and her maids of honor
sailed down the Siuslaw River to the city dock to be crowned by the
Lord Mayor of Florence, who gave Laura a key to the city carved
from Rhododendron wood.
Documentation includes a project report and historic
photos.
Originally submitted by: Gordon Smith, Senator.
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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.
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