Crowds of 30,000 Expected Downtown for 72nd Annual Pear Blossom Festival

Medford, Oregon- The 72nd annual Pear Blossom Festival returns to downtown Medford from Friday, April 11 through Saturday, April 12, continuing a longstanding Rogue Valley tradition that began in 1954.

Centered around the iconic Pear Blossom Parade, the festival now includes a range of associated events such as the street fair, scholarship pageant, sporting tournaments, and food and beverage offerings. Over the decades, the festival has grown from a small community parade with 20 wagons to a city-wide celebration featuring more than 150 parade entries and over 4,000 participants. Attendance regularly draws crowds between 25,000 and 30,000.

The 2025 parade will take place on Saturday, April 12, starting at 11:00 a.m. The route begins at Beatty Street and Central Avenue, continues south along Central, turns right onto West Main Street, and concludes at Mistletoe Street. Side streets near the route will be available for public parking.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Dogs for Better Lives. The 2025 parade theme is “Pear of Paws.”

The Pear Blossom Street Fair will run from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday in The Commons of Downtown area. Additional festival features include the Smudge Pot Stroll and the Pear a Fare, which showcase local food and beverage vendors.

Scholarships have been a core component of the festival since 1991, with high school senior girls in the region eligible through participation in the Pear Blossom Scholarship Pageant.

A beloved race spring tradition returns to the Rogue Valley as thousands are expected to line the streets of downtown Medford this Saturday for Race Day, coinciding with the Pear Blossom Festival’s iconic parade. The full day of events, held annually on the second Saturday in April, kicks off early with a series of fun runs and community festivities.

Race Day Schedule – Saturday, April 12:

• 7:00 AM – The day begins with the 5K Pear Blossom Run, launching from the intersection of Oakdale Avenue and West 8th Street. Runners of all ages are invited to participate in this energizing early morning event.

• 7:30 AM – The Mayor’s Cup Awards Ceremony will take place on the steps of the Justice Building, honoring outstanding youth and community members for their participation in the Mayor’s Cup events.

• 7:50 AM – The first of the Mayor’s Cup Fun Runs begins, with the 1-Mile Fun Run starting from the same Oakdale & West 8th location.

• 8:00 AM – Just a block away, the YMCA at 522 West Sixth Street opens its doors for a Free Pancake Feed and Open House, welcoming runners, families, and spectators for a warm breakfast and a look inside the facility.

• 8:20 AM – Competitive distance runners take off with the start of the 10-Mile Pear Blossom Run, one of the event’s most anticipated races.

• 8:30 AM – The final group of youth racers begins the 2-Mile Mayor’s Cup Fun Run, rounding out the morning’s athletic competitions.

• 10:00 AM – The pancake breakfast wraps up at the YMCA.

• 11:00 AM – The race course officially closes, making way for the grand spectacle of the Pear Blossom Parade, a centerpiece of the festival that draws families and visitors from across Southern Oregon.

The day combines fitness, fun, and community pride, continuing a local tradition that stretches back decades. Organizers encourage participants and spectators to arrive early and plan for road closures in the downtown area throughout the morning.

Live television coverage of the parade will be available on Saturday, April 12, at 11:00 a.m. on Local Charter Channel 180, Ashland Home Network Channel 9, and Josephine County Charter Channel 183.