PDX Carpet Beats the Carpet Capital to a Parade
In 2015, PDX Carpet became the best-known carpet in the world. Portland, Oregon, may not be the nation’s carpet capital, an honor that belongs to Dalton, Georgia. Still, Portland, Oregon, celebrated the old carpet in a big way. Portland International Airport Carpet was rolled up from the old aqua colored carpet of the Portland airport. It served as the Grand Marshall of the 2015 Starlight Parade. That piece of carpet was named PDX Carpet.
Carpet is Not Weird in Portland
While some may find PDX Carpet a bit eccentric, Portland embraces its quirky charm. The city’s famous motto, ‘Keep Portland Weird,’ reflects a culture that celebrates the unexpected. This includes such peculiarities as carpet taking center stage as a Grand Marshal. Portland hosts a lot of unconventional events. These range from the legendary World Naked Bike Ride to the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby. There’s also the Quiet Music Festival, where attendees are actually encouraged to fall asleep. And if that’s not peculiar enough, more than 42,000 selfies have been snapped with this iconic late-’80s carpet.
The Carpet Will Live On at PDX
In true Portland fashion, the Port of Portland unveiled a bold plan: replacing thirteen acres of carpet at PDX Airport.
As expected, social media quickly embraced the news, sparking a wave of enthusiasm for the beloved carpet’s distinctive pattern. Soon, its signature aqua-hued design appeared on various merchandise. This includes cups, shirts, shoes, and socks. A host of other novelty items also featured the design.
The original PDX carpet removal process began in January 2015. While worn sections were recycled, remaining pieces found new life through local retail vendors who made them available for sale. Then, in February 2022, officials delighted Portlanders with an unexpected announcement—the iconic carpet would be making a return. The airport’s main terminal underwent renovations, culminating in its grand reopening on August 15, 2024.
