Maywood Park celebrates Independence Day with annual parade

INCLUDES COMMUNITY EVENT VIDEO | It’s certainly not the largest or loudest 4th of July event in outer East Portland — but see why this independent city, nestled inside Portland, keeps this tradition going …

City of Maywood Park Independence Day Parade’s official photographer, and event organizer, Patrick Smith, starts lining up people for the parade.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

When it comes to the July 4th Holiday, residents in the City of Maywood Park are always up for a celebration within the city limits of their 0.17-square-mile incorporated “town” – with an annual Independence Day Parade and Community Barbecue.

This tiny city, bounded by Interstate 205, the Banfield Freeway, and surrounded by the Parkrose neighborhood on two sides, became an independently incorporated town in 1967 – and their residents are proud not to be annexed into the City of Portland.

City of Maywood Park Mayor Michelle Montross is ready for the annual Fourth of July Parade and barbecue.

“We think is important to have these 4th of July events, because it brings our community together,” City of Maywood Park Mayor Michelle Montross told East Portland News as the parade was forming at the southern end of their city along NE Maywood Place.

Watch this fun community parade as participants get ready, then step off on their parade route:

“Holding celebrations like these is something that many small communities of gotten away from these days,” observed Montross. “During the COVID pandemic, we didn’t hold it – but we’ve come back with a bang!

Everyone lines up for a formal photo, just before the City of Maywood Park Independence Day Parade steps off.

Leading the City of Maywood Park Independence Day Parade is their Color Guard, from Parkrose Boy Scouts of America Troops 606 and 5606.

Heading north along NE Maywood Place, the parade tests the city boundaries.

“We keep doing it because our residents like it, and they keep supporting it – and thus, we’re keeping this tradition alive,” the mayor remarked.

An ‘international’ event
It’s difficult to say how many people come out for the parade in a year, Montross told us. “We will have five people who visit us from Denmark, here just for the parade – so that makes this an international event.”

After a trip around their city, the parade returns to the starting point.

As many as 30 people work behind the scenes to put on the parade, and the community dinner that follows, said Montross. “We all love it; again, it’s all about tradition.”

>> On our Front Page: It’s Jude, Mike, and Charley White from Gresham, visiting Grandmother, a City of Maywood Park resident.

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