Thousands celebrate 72nd annual Pear Blossom Festival with parade, runs and more
Published 7:14 pm Saturday, April 12, 2025
North Medford High School's Marching Band performs during the Pear Blossom Parade Saturday in Medford. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
Seven-year-old Sadie Mastin held by her father Doug waves to the Medford Police Department leading the way of the Pear Blosssom parade Saturday. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
Medford Mayor Michael Zarosinski cruises through downtown Medford Saturday during the Pear Blossom Parade. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
Dogs for Better Lives, the 2025 Pear Blossom Parade grand marshal, leads the Pear Blossom Parade Saturday in Medford. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
Princesses ride on the back of a Jacksonville trolly during the Pear Blossom Parade In downtown Medford Saturday. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
A family enjoys the Pear Blossom Parade after running in the morning during Pear Blossom Festival events in Medford on Saturday. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
Junior athletes from Spartan Boxing Gym ride in a ring during the Pear Blossom Parade Saturday in Medford. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
Dancers with Ballet Folklorico Ritmo Alegre perform during the Pear Blossom Parade Saturday in Medford. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
Crater High School's Marching Band performs during the Pear Blossom Parade Saturday in Medford. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
Parade watchers line up downtown, carrying on a family tradition; floats, bands and more delight a big crowd under near-perfect skies
Southern Oregon’s annual spring festival had the streets of Medford bumping Saturday as decorated floats, classic cars, dancers and more marched along the Pear Blossom Parade route to cheering crowds numbering into the thousands.
With a mostly sunny day and moderately warm temperatures, participants, onlookers and 72nd annual Pear Blossom Festival organizers couldn’t have asked for better weather.
The 49th annual Pear Blossom Runs launched the day with early morning start times. There were events scheduled in 5K, 10-mile and the Mayor’s Cup Fun Run.
Ahead of the parade, attendees began setting up chairs and picking their spots as the parade floats and other participants got set up around the North Central Avenue and Edwards Street intersection.
Parade watchers were lined up along Central Avenue for as far as the eye could see.
“We got here a little early and are set up and ready,” said attendee Russell Miller, joined with his wife, Amy.
The two have been coming to the Pear Blossom Parade and other Pear Blossom Festival activities for years, driving down from Central Point.
“I love it. We always like hearing the bands and all that fun stuff,” Amy Miller said.
“I think we’re going to go to the market at the park after,” Russell Miller said.
Dogs for Better Lives, the 2025 Pear Blossom Parade grand marshal, leads the Pear Blossom Parade Saturday in Medford. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
This year’s Pear Blossom Festival theme is “Pear of Paws,” celebrating the grand marshal and local nonprofit Dogs for Better Lives. The weekend downtown event was scheduled to wrap up Saturday night.
The Medford Police Department’s crew of motorcycle-driving cops led the morning parade through downtown. Following soon after was a fleet of old-timey cars from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as heavy duty rigs from the Medford Fire Department, with blaring sirens and firefighters waving to kids and bystanders.
Leading the floats with an ornately fashioned tree surrounded by statues of dogs and pear baskets was Dogs for Better Lives.
Set up near North Central Avenue and East Fourth Street, Brittany Duncil of Medford brought out the whole family to see the parade.
“I did it when I was a kid, and I’ve been bringing Clementine (Duncil) since she was born,” her mom said.
“Yeah, I’m super excited,” said 5-year-old Clementine.
The Duncil kids were most excited to see and join the dancers, listen to the bands and collect some candy, they said.
Other notable floats in this year’s parade included a metal pear float and people dressed in fruit costumes from Harry & David; Spartan Boxing Gym with a unique boxing ring float on a trailer and kids shadow boxing and hitting the mitts in the ring; a visit from members of the University of Oregon’s band and cheerleaders with The Oregon Duck mascot delighting excitable onlookers; and a stunning terrain float from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
A family enjoys the Pear Blossom Parade after running in the morning during Pear Blossom Festival events in Medford on Saturday. Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times
“The parade is definitely my favorite part of the festival and all of this,” said Mike Green, visiting from out of town. “And this corn dog’s pretty darn good, too.”
On his favorite float he’d seen so far, “It would probably be (Dogs for Better Lives’) one with the tree or seeing the Model T’s,” Green said.
The local marching bands kept the energy going throughout.
The North Medford High School Band led a procession along the parade route, donning its signature red, black and white attire, followed by multiple bands including the Phoenix High School Band, Crater High School Band, Hedrick Middle School Band, South Medford High School Band and more.
The Pear Blossom Festival Cornhole Tournament was scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. at Rogue X, and the last event of the festival is the Tour De Pear bike race on Saturday, April 19.
Inspired by the apple festivals in Washington state, former resident Barbara Roddy and civil groups such as the Fruit Growers League, Medford Chamber of Commerce, Medford American Post Legion and more teamed up to begin the first Pear Blossom Festival in 1954.
The annual festival has grown over the years and is one of the biggest cultural events in the Rogue Valley.
To learn more about the festival, visit pearblossomparade.org.
Reach reporter James Sloan at james.sloan@rv-times.com
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