More than 200,000 people are expected to show up in downtown Portland Saturday for several big events. Organizers have urged people to plan ahead and take public transit if possible.
The Rose Festival’s City Fair and Starry Nights small business event will be happening throughout the day. Pedalpalooza’s Bike Summer Kickoff Ride will start in the North Park Blocks at 5 p.m., with people encouraged to gather at 3 p.m.
Then the Starlight Run will begin at 6:30 p.m. The Portland Timbers host the Houston Dynamo FC at Providence Park at 7:30 p.m. And the Starlight Parade will start around 8 p.m.
Nick Brodnicki, the Rose Festival’s chief operating officer, said a normal spring Saturday can bring 100,000 people to downtown Portland.
The events listed above and several others — plus dry conditions in the forecast — could more than double that number.
Many of the streets in and around downtown will be closed for the parade, starting in the early afternoon.
Brodnicki said people should take public transit if possible, and anyone who is driving should plan to arrive several hours early.
