The Royal Rosarian’s Milk Carton Boat Race celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday at Westmoreland Park in Sellwood.
With the sun shining, nearly 50 boats made largely from milk cartons and gallons, were paddled by children and adults across the pond. Some boats were small, barely fitting the riders, and some were grandiose and modeled after Viking ships of old.
All the fun was had in an effort to reduce hunger locally. This year’s theme was “Paddle to Prevent Hunger.” The Portland Police Bureau’s Sunshine Division was collecting canned non-perishables for its food pantry and sponsor Alpenrose Dairy pledged to donate one gallon of milk for every carton and gallon used to construct the boats.
“We estimate that last year’s entries used 2,300 gallons of empty milk cartons. Our goal is to double that in 2023 and help fill Sunshine Division’s food pantry through the fall,” said Josh Reynolds, general manager of Alpenrose in a press release.
Sea Scouts (a program through Boy Scouts of America) were paddling a boat, ready for rescue. Only one craft did not make it across the pond, but the pilot did not need rescuing.
Not only was there good Samaritan-ing going on via food donations, but attendees could witness a bit of milk carton boat race history in one boat called “Foley’s Folly.”
The Milk Carton Boat Race celebrated its 50th anniversary at Westmoreland Park in Sellwood on Sunday, June 25.
The vessel came out of retirement (grandfather’s garage) to be paddled once more. It originally sailed in 1985. Though the boat wasn’t up to the current regulations — clocking in at around 12-feet long, which surpasses the current 10-foot-long maximum rule — it was able to participate in the parade of boats at the end of the show.
Dad Chris Holzgraf sailed the boat himself in the late 80s and early 90s. It won a total of eight races, according to the announcers at the show. On Sunday, Holzgraf’s 9-year-old son Max got to carry on the tradition of paddling across a pond that vessel, which compared to its peers, has unique, dare we say, vintage, cartons.
This year’s event saw more than double the entrants of last year, and volunteers said they hope the event continues to grow.
Destiny Johnson| djohnson@oregonian.com| Twitter: @hello_destiny| Bluesky: @hellodestiny.bsky.social
