Memorial Day Campground Parades at The Cove Palisades State Park

Memorial Day Campground Parades at The Cove Palisades State Park bring a quintessential Central Oregon morning to the Crooked River and Deschutes River campgrounds on Lake Billy Chinook. You and your neighbors line the paved loops as kids and families roll by on decorated bikes, wagons, and strollers in red, white, and blue. It feels like a campground version of a small-town main street, with cheers traded from campsite to campsite.

Plan on a morning start, typically around 9:00 AM, so you can finish before the high desert heat builds. Expect everything from simple streamers to thoughtfully built wagon “floats,” with no judges and no prizes. The point is participation and community, and you are welcome to join in whether you are camping or visiting for the day.

Arrive 15 minutes early to claim a good spot along the loop, and bring your own decorating supplies such as ribbons, flags, and tape. Pack high-SPF sunscreen and plenty of water, even early, and keep pets leashed since the crowds and noise can be a lot. If you are coming with kids, helmets for bikes and scooters are a smart baseline, and the vehicle-free route makes it an easy, low-stress outing.

After the last riders pass, you can pivot straight into the rest of the park: a marina afternoon or the Tam-a-lau Trail for basalt canyon viewpoints and Cascade Range panoramas. For the most seamless experience, book a campsite inside the park well ahead, often six months out; otherwise, look to Crooked River Ranch or Culver for rentals, or broaden your search via Lake.com. The parade itself is free, but day-use visitors should expect the standard parking fee; light rain usually does not stop it, though storms and high winds can.