Parallel Parking Competition
| Parallel Parking Competition | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Locations | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Inaugurated | 2025 |
| Founders |
|
The Parallel Parking Competition is an annual event in Portland, Oregon, United States. Established by friends Daniel Lyman and Stefanie Lynch in 2025, the inaugural parallel parking competition was held outside Lyman's house in the southeast Portland part of the Kerns neighborhood. Approximately 40–100 people attended.[1][2] The competition was planned within a few days. It received national media attention, including coverage on Good Morning America.[3]
Approximately 94 people using 80 vehicles competed in the second annual event in 2026,[3][4] which drew approximately 200 spectators. Competitors parked between Lyman's and Lynch's vehicles, which had pool noodles attached to the bumpers. Judges and commentators for the 2026 event include drag performer Nicole Onoscopi, KOIN meteorologist Josh Cozart,[3] and a parking enforcement officer for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). Prizes included PBOT-sponsored parking passes. Consolation prizes such as facial masks and Las Vegas keychains were also distributed.[1] Entries in 2026 included a baby stroller and a motorcycle.[5]
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and the Portland Mercury have described the event as "quirky"[6] and "quintessentially Portland", respectively.[5] The competition's grand prize has been described by OPB as a "gold spray-painted miniature Subaru-turned-trophy".[1][7] Competitors are judged based on speed, style (or "flair"), vehicle length, and distance from the curb. Backup cameras cannot be used.[3] The Portland competition inspired KIRO-FM radio co-hosts to make plans for a similar event in Washington.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "2nd annual Parallel Parking Competition draws hundreds to a small street in Southeast Portland". opb. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ Nocera, Veronica (2026-08-25). "Portland's parallel parking competition is back, and even bigger than before". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- 1 2 3 4 "Portland's newest spectator sport? Parallel parking". The Oregonian. 2026-08-31. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "2nd annual Parallel Parking Competition doubles in size as PBOT joins in on fun". KOIN.
- 1 2 Humphrey, Wm Steven (2026-08-31). "Good Morning, News: New Conservative Group Targets Progressives, a Parallel Parking Contest, and Trump (Stupidly) Renames Lake Ontario". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "10 OPB news stories that were bright spots in 2025". opb. Archived from the original on 2026-01-03. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "Parallel parking contest in Southeast Portland keeps the city weird". opb. Archived from the original on 2026-04-16. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "'A lot of bragging going on': Jake, Spike plan their own parallel parking showdown after Portland's viral competition". MyNorthwest.com. 2026-09-01. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
External links
[edit]
- Portland's Parallel Parking Competition returns for second year, KOIN
- Portland 2nd annual Parallel Parking Competition, The Oregonian
- Couple hosts hilarious parallel parking competition on YouTube, Good Morning America
- Portland's newest spectator sport? Parallel parking on YouTube, The Oregonian
