This popular Portland mascot will be the grand marshal of the Rose Festival Starlight Parade

It’s parade season in Portland, which can only mean one thing: grand marshal announcements.

Last week, the Portland Rose Festival and Oregon Zoo announced that baby elephant Tula-Tu would be

the grand marshal of the Grand Floral Parade

.

Tula-Tu will not be attending the parade herself, but will be honored with a float.

The Grand Floral Parade will

take to the streets of downtown

on Saturday, June 7.

On Tuesday, the festival announced the grand marshal of the Starlight Parade, another downtown parade, which takes place on Saturday, May 31.

This time, the grand marshal will probably get to go to the parade, because it’s one of Portland’s favorite mascots.

Yes, it’s true that Portland is a city teeming with great mascots. We have Blaze and Douglas Fur and we were recently introduced to

Saucy T. Sausage

(who may have followed us home and wormed his way into our nightmares).

However, none of them will be this year’s Starlight Parade grand marshal. That honor falls to Dillon T. Pickle.

“Dillon has always been more than just a mascot; he’s a symbol of community and joy,” said Ross Campbell, vice president of business development for the Portland Pickles in a press release. “Being named Grand Marshal of the CareOregon Starlight Parade is a testament to his impact on Portland’s cultural landscape.”

Will he be tossing out gherkins to the crowd? You’ll have to head to the Starlight Parade, which begins at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, to find out.

–


Lizzy Acker


covers life and culture and writes


the advice column Why Tho?


Reach her at 503-221-8052,


lacker@oregonian.com


.

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