Every year on the second Saturday of May for the last 90 years, Oroville hosts the Oroville May Festival & Grande Parade. This year’s festival and parade will take place on Saturday May 11, 2024. Visitors and community members will line Oroville’s Main Street at 10:00AM for the Grande Parade. Following the parade, the May Day festivities move to Osoyoos Lake Veteran’s Memorial Park with other activities taking place around town.
The 2024 theme is “Turning Back Time” 90 years of May Festival and this year’s royalty, Queen Anna Hernandez, Princess Jayden Glover and Princess Sierra Buckmiller, are inviting all former royalty from near and far for a special 90th year celebration.
Visitors can typically look forward to family friendly activities at the park, including the Maypole dancers, music, games, dunk tank, duck races, food vendors and a car show. Other events and musical performances take place around town throughout the whole weekend.
Friday May 10th, May Festival kicks off with "Shine On Oroville" a fun night of musical performances raising money for the May Festival Committee. See performances from prior years. Event is at Brickhouse and tickets are $10. Buy tickets here.
While the Oroville May Festival seemingly culminates on this one day, there are many events leading up to and after May Festival that May Day Royalty actively participate in, representing our community around the state..
Starting in January, the May Day committee extends the invitation to high school juniors to apply for a May Day Royalty position. All applicants prepare speeches and practice pageantry to prepare for the judging on Selection Night. On Selection Night the Queen and Princesses are announced but the Queen and her court are not formally crowned until Coronation.
After the crowning, the Oroville May Royalty travel to represent Oroville in parades and events around Washington. A beautiful float is prepared by talented community members and is transported to several scheduled parades including: the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Parade, Oroville May Festival Parade, Spokane Lilac Festival Parade, Tonasket Founders Day Rodeo & Parade, Chesaw Rodeo & Parade & the Omak Stampede & Parade. Additionally, the Leavenworth Winter Festival Parade may be attended.
For local events and appearances, Oroville May Royalty participates in the Oroville Scholarship Foundation fundraiser, a luncheon at the Oroville Senior Center, the Queen’s Tea at the Oroville United Fellowship church and the Oroville Christmas Tree Lighting. The Royal Court also host their own fundraising events including a spaghetti dinner and auction and Shine On Oroville.