82nd Avenue of Roses Parade to celebrate East Portland life

Saturday event starts at Eastport Plaza; Asian New Year festival follows in the area.

The annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade will be held this Saturday, April 27. This year's theme is "Roses in the Heart of Portland."

The celebration of East Portland life will start at 9:30 a.m. just north of Eastport Plaza Shopping Center, 4000 S.E. 82nd Ave., travel north on 82nd Avenue, turn west onto Yamhill St. and finish at 78th Avenue.

Scheduled participants include the King School Drill Teams, the Orgullo Mobelense Cemiac Dancers, the Beat Goes on Marching Band, the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, the Royal Rosarians, the Clown Prince and the Friesian Horses for the second year.

After the parade, everyone is invited to attend New Year in the Park, a free, family-friendly event that celebrates Cambodian, Lao, Thai and Burmese New Year at Glenhaven Park at Southeast 82nd and Siskiyou from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The parade is a community event. It started in 2007 and has been organized and supported by area businesses, people and organizations,including the 82nd Avenue of Roses Business Association, the Madison South Neighborhood Association, the Eastport Plaza Shopping Center, the Saint Anthony Catholic Church, the Portland Rose Society, Garry Small Saab, and other local groups and businesses.