3 Oregon festivals voted among best flower, music and specialty food festivals in US
Ginnie SandovalThree Oregon festivals made USA Today's 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for festivals across the United States that display the best in travel, food, drink and lifestyle.
Categories for the 10-Best Readers' Choice Awards included Best Art Festival, Best City Food Festival, Best Cultural Festival, Best Film Festival, Best Flower Festival, Best Music Festival and Best Specialty Food Festival.
Oregon had three different festivals in two cities recognized in some of the categories.
Here's who made the lists and what to know about the festivals from Oregon that were chosen.
Portland's Rose Festival
The Portland Rose Festival placed ninth in the top 10 Best Flower Festivals in the U.S. list.
"With a history spanning over a century, the Portland Rose Festival is a beloved tradition celebrating the city’s namesake flower," said USA Today. "Attendees can marvel at the stunning rose displays at the Annual Spring Rose Show, the largest and longest-running rose show in the nation, and enjoy the iconic Grand Floral Parade featuring spectacular all-floral floats. The festival also features the city fair, live music, food vendors, and a variety of family-friendly activities."
This year, the festival takes place May 23 - June 7.
Here is the full list of the 2025 top 10 Best Flower Festivals.
- Daffodil Festival at Gibbs Gardens (Ball Ground, Georgia)
- Zoo Blooms at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Cincinnati, Ohio)
- Mackinac Island Lilac Festival (Mackinac Island, Michigan)
- Rochester Lilac Festival (Rochester, New York)
- Tulip Time (Holland, Michigan)
- International Cherry Blossom Festival (Macon, Georgia)
- Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (Mount Vernon, Washington)
- PHS Philadelphia Flower Show (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Portland Rose Festival (Portland, Oregon)
- Thomasville Rose Show and Festival (Thomasville, Georgia)
The Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland
The Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland placed third in the top 10 Best Music Festivals in the U.S. list.
"Portland, Oregon's premier music event, the Waterfront Blues Festival, features four days of blues, soul, funk, and roots music," said USA Today. "Held on the scenic banks of the Willamette River, the festival features an exceptional lineup of renowned artists and emerging talent performing on multiple stages. Attendees can enjoy local food vendors, craft beverages, and unique merchandise in addition to special events like riverboat cruises with live music."
This year, the festival takes place July 4-5.
Here is the full list of the 2025 top 10 Best Music Festivals.
- Mile 0 Fest (Key West, Florida)
- Joshua Tree Music Festival (Joshua Tree, California)
- Waterfront Blues Festival (Portland, Oregon)
- Telluride Bluegrass Festival (Telluride, Colorado)
- Festival Napa Valley (Napa, California)
- Movement Music Festival (Detroit, Michigan)
- Hangout Music Festival (Gulf Shores, Alabama)
- Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia)
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Austin City Limits Music Festival (Austin, Texas)
Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival
The Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival placed eighth in the top 10 Best Specialty Foods Festivals in the U.S. list.
The festival celebrates the bounty of the Pacific Ocean, according to the festival's website. The event takes place annually during the last weekend of April at the Clatsop County Fair & Expo Center and hosts approximately 150 vendors specializing in arts, crafts, seafood, and local beers and wines.
This year, the festival takes place April 25-27.
Here is the full list of the 2025 top 10 Best Specialty Food Festivals.
- Picklesburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Delta Hot Tamale Festival (Greenville, Mississippi)
- National Buffalo Wing Festival (Buffalo, New York)
- Cheese Curd Festival (Ellsworth, Wisconsin)
- National Shrimp Festival (Gulf Shores, Alabama)
- Kennett Square Mushroom Festival (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania)
- Sebring Soda Festival (Sebring, Florida)
- Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival (Astoria, Oregon)
- Georgia Peach Festival (Byron and Fort Valley, Georgia)
- Rhode Island Seafood Festival (Providence, Rhode Island)
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at@GinnieSandoval.