There are certain Oregon events that feel like they belong on the family calendar every year. The kind where you pack the kids into the car, promise yourself you definitely remembered the sunscreen, forget the sunscreen anyway, and then make memories that somehow become part of your family’s story.
The Florence Rhododendron Festival is one of those events.
Held each May in Florence, the festival, also known as Rhody Days, is one of Oregon’s classic spring celebrations. The 119th annual festival takes place May 14-17, and yes, 119 years is not a typo. That is a lot of flowers, parades, carnival rides, funnel cakes, and parents saying, “OK, one more ride, then we’re done,” only to immediately lose that negotiation.
But that’s part of the charm.
The Florence Rhododendron Festival is more than a flower festival. It is a coastal weekend, a small-town celebration, a family outing, and a reminder that Oregon really does know how to throw a spring party. And if your kids are anything like mine, the words “festival” and “carnival” will get their attention much faster than “beautiful native flowers.” But don’t worry, the flowers are there too, quietly doing the heavy lifting.
Florence is a wonderful place for families any time of year. You have Historic Old Town, the Siuslaw River, nearby beaches, the Oregon Dunes, seafood spots, shops, and enough coastal charm to make you wonder why you don’t visit more often. During Rhody Days, the whole town comes alive.
One of the big family draws is the Davis Shows Carnival, which opens Thursday, May 14. For kids, this is usually the main event. Rides, games, lights, sounds, treats, and the special kind of chaos that makes childhood magical and parents slightly nervous. There are rides for younger kids, bigger rides for braver kids, and plenty of chances for someone in your family to spend $12 trying to win a stuffed animal that is somehow both tiny and enormous at the same time.
Then there are the parades, and this is where Rhody Days really shines.
The Junior Parade takes place Saturday, May 16, with staging at 11 a.m. and the parade at noon at Miller Park. This is exactly the kind of event families should love. It is not just kids watching something happen. It is kids being part of the fun. Afterward, the Kiwanis Kids Games follow at the Siuslaw High School athletic fields, giving families another reason to stick around and let the kids burn off some energy.
And then, on Sunday, May 17, comes the Grand Floral Parade at noon. This is the big one. The kind of parade where families line the route, kids crane their necks to see what is coming next, and everyone gets that classic small-town festival feeling. Floats, community groups, music, flowers, and plenty of local pride roll through Florence in a celebration that has been going strong for generations.
That history matters. In a world where so much feels new, digital, rushed, or designed to disappear after 12 seconds, there is something special about taking your kids to an event that has been part of Oregon life for more than a century. You are not just filling a weekend. You are stepping into a tradition.
Of course, the festival’s namesake flowers deserve their moment too. Rhododendrons are a signature part of the Oregon Coast, and Florence celebrates them beautifully. The Rhododendron Show & Sale, hosted by the American Rhododendron Society’s Siuslaw Chapter, takes place at the Florence Events Center on Saturday and Sunday. Families can see the blooms up close, learn a little, and maybe even take one home if your family is the kind that can keep plants alive. Mine is more of a “we tried, and the basil deserved better” household, but hope springs eternal.
For families who want something a little calmer, the Rhody Days Arts Festival is also at the Florence Events Center during the weekend. It features local and coastal artists and artisans, including handmade items and one-of-a-kind pieces. Admission is free, which is always a beautiful phrase when you have children. You can browse, support local artists, and maybe find something that is not plastic, sticky, or already broken by the time you get back to the car.
There is also the Maple Street Old Town Vendor Fair, which runs throughout the weekend in Historic Old Town. This is a great chance to wander, snack, shop, and enjoy Florence without needing a rigid schedule. Sometimes the best part of these family trips is not the official thing you came for. It is the random cookie, the weird little shop, the musician on the corner, or the kid who suddenly decides this is the best day ever because they found a rock shaped like a potato.
Families with older kids, runners, or parents trying to prove they still have it can check out the 47th Annual Rhody Run on Saturday morning. There is a 5K or 10K run/walk, with registration at 8 a.m. and the race at 9 a.m. Starting a festival day with a run might sound ambitious, but it also gives you full permission to eat festival food later. That is science. Probably.
Car lovers will also find plenty to enjoy with the Rhody Cruisers Car Show & Shine on Saturday, followed by the Coast Radio Car Cruise through Old Town in the evening. Even kids who do not know much about classic cars can appreciate shiny paint, loud engines, and adults pointing at vehicles while saying things like, “Now that’s a beauty.”
The best part about Rhody Days may be how flexible it is for families. You can go big and build your whole weekend around it, or you can pick a few highlights and keep things simple. Come for the carnival. Come for the parade. Come for the flowers. Come for the art. Come because your kids need to get out of the house, and you are dangerously close to hearing “I’m bored” for the 700th time.
And since it is Florence, you can turn the festival into a full coastal getaway. Visit the dunes. Walk through Old Town. Grab seafood. Explore the riverfront. Find a beach. Take a drive. Let the kids get sandy enough that you briefly question every life choice that led to owning a car with cloth seats.
That is the Oregon Coast experience.
The Florence Rhododendron Festival is fun because it is not trying too hard to be trendy. It does not need to. It has flowers, parades, rides, art, food, cars, community, and the Oregon Coast as its backdrop. That is a pretty strong lineup.
For families looking for a spring weekend trip, Rhody Days is an easy recommendation. It gives kids plenty to do, gives parents plenty to enjoy, and gives everyone a reason to slow down and celebrate a piece of Oregon tradition.
Just don’t forget the sunscreen.
Or the snacks.
Actually, forget the sunscreen before you forget the snacks. The kids will remind you which one matters more.
Tiffany Wilson is a 42-year-old stay-at-home mom from Tigard, Oregon, raising three kids—Sophie, Noah, and Riley. She’s a warm, hands-on parent who mixes daily routines with creative fun, whether it’s a backyard scavenger hunt or building a blanket fort in the living room.