Gateway Parade

Fun-O-Rama Info Release #2 05 10 02

Gateway Parade Back after seven years

Here comes the parade! Back after a seven year absence, the Gateway Fun-O-Rama Parade kicks off at 10:30 Saturday morning, May 18, from the corner of NE Halsey Street and 125th Avenue.

The neighborhood parade, with 37 entrants at latest count, is the key event of Fun-O-Rama Days, a community tradition in the Gateway Area since 1950. Produced and presented by the Gateway Area Business Association (GABA) , Fun-O-Rama Days also includes a community fair and a four day carnival.

“The parade used to bring a sense of community identity to the Gateway Area and we want to re-activate that” said Fred Sanchez, local Realtor and President of GABA.

Parade goers can expect an array of high school bands, Boy and Girl Scouts, unicycle teams, floats from local businesses, clowns and antique cars along the route that goes west on NE Halsey from NE 125 Avenue to NE 102 Avenue, where it turns south ending at NE Pacific at Gateway Fred Meyer.

The theme of Gateway Fun-O-Rama Days is 'United We Stand,' which is a "salute to our police and fire departments", said Holly Sherwood, GABA Parade Chair. One participant in the parade is Tribute to Honor, a national effort organized by Portland police volunteers to honor our nation's emergency and rescue workers in the wake of September 11, 2001. Emergency vehicles are slated to participate in the parade as well as the community fair later in the day.

Grand Marshall for the Parade is Heidi Rickey, Miss Oregon 2002. Serving as master of ceremonies is Eric Schmidt, news anchor at KPDX-TV.

Saturday morning street closures for the parade include NE Halsey between 125 and 102 Avenues, and 102 Avenue between Halsey and Glisan; these will be barricaded to cross traffic from approximately 10 AM to noon. Tri-met will re-direct a number of bus routes to and from the Gateway Transit Center. Over 1500 Gateway area businesses and residents in the area south of Halsey between NE 122 and 102 Avenue have received letters from GABA President Fred Sanchez notifying them of all three Fun-O-Rama events and possible inconvenience on Saturday morning due to the parade.

After the parade on Saturday morning, Gateway residents are welcomed to the Gateway Community Fair, starting at 1 PM with free admission at 111th Square and NE Halsey. Offering a fun line-up of live entertainment, interactive displays by neighborhood groups, and raffle prizes, the community fair ends at 4:00 PM. Food and drinks are available

A Community Fair highlight is the annual Bike helmet program, sponsored by the Portland Police East Precinct and Emmanuel Hospital. A donation of $5 per helmet is requested and includes personal fitting by the Portland Police and Cadets.

Adding to the Fun-O-Rama Days festivities is an old-fashioned carnival running Thursday, May 16, through Sunday, May 19th. Located at NE Halsey and NE 104 Avenue, next to North's Buffet, the carnival features 12 rides, midway games, pony rides and petting zoo. Pre-sale unlimited ride tickets are available at Gateway area businesses for $10. After May 14, tickets may be purchased for $15.

Major business sponsors of the Gateway Fun-O-Rama Days include Fred Meyer, PacifiCorp, Postal Annex, Realty Brokers, and Washington Mutual. The GABA board of directors has made available funds to purchase a limited number of carnival tickets for distribution to low income families.


Gateway Fun-O-Rama features a web site at neighborhoodlink.com/org/gatewayparade

History of Gateway Fun-O-Rama Days 1950-2002

The May 2002 edition of the Mid-County Memo, a monthly newspaper oriented to community news and events in and around Gateway and adjacent neighborhoods, features a comprehensive article on the origins and history of Gateway Fun-O-Rama Days.

Written by Mid-County Memo Publisher Tim Curran, the article traces Fun-O-Rama's past and present, with archive photographs of prior parades and community fairs.

Curran is currently vice president of GABA and in line for taking over the group's leadership in 2003 from Fred Sanchez. He is also serving as chair of the Carnival Committee for Fun-O-Rama.

The Mid-County's Memo's web site is www.midcountymemo.com