GRAND FLORAL PARADE FLOAT

I certainly won’t ask local farmers to donate their product! We want them to be successful. To afford float florals we have to get creative, so here goes. For you and friend(s), here we have bulk buckets of blue delphinium for purchase to then help style the float. Do it for yourself, your community, your love for Portland, content, education, entertainment, all of it. Select from our two bulk options then plan on styling ‘A River That Runs Through Us’ on June 5th between 8a and 8p within Montgomery Park. Details including our specific production location will be emailed. You’ll also see an opportunity to donate to Fieldwork’s production team - thank you for your consideration! Between float production and Polly Floral for nonprofits, we appreciate all the support to keep growing. 

About the Float by Michael Walker @ VDA

Fieldwork Flowers, in partnership with the Vancouver’s Downtown Association (VDA), Menashe Properties, Tieton Homes, and City of Vancouver, will once again represent Vancouver in Portland’s 118th Grand Floral Parade with a newly designed float titled “A River Runs Through Us.” Following the success of last year’s entry—Vancouver’s first float in over 30 years and recipient of the Rose Festival Directors’ Award – Best Depiction of Volunteerism—this year’s float builds on that momentum with a design that pays tribute to the Columbia River and the connections it fosters between communities.

Foam-free and floral-forward, the float features stylized waves, salmon silhouettes, native plant materials, and garden-grown blooms. Many of the florals are sourced locally, including delphinium, berries, and backyard greenery, echoing the natural abundance of the Columbia River.

“The Columbia is a living thread that connects our cities, cultures, and economies,” said Michael Walker, Executive Director of the Vancouver Downtown Association. “This float is a reflection of that connection and a celebration of the shared region we call home.” Megan Arambul, founder of Fieldwork Flowers and lead designer of the float, emphasized the intention behind the design: “Every element of this float was designed to capture the natural beauty of the Columbia River. The blooms, from berries to flowers grown right here, are a tribute to the landscape around us. It’s a visual representation of how deeply the river connects us to our environment and each other.” The design reflects both natural beauty and civic pride, with the river acting as a symbolic and physical link between Vancouver and Portland. Through collaborative design and local sourcing, the float captures the spirit of community, sustainability, and shared place.