PORTLAND, Ore. - It's a tradition almost as old as the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade itself: marking off your spot to watch the big parade.

Competition for space is especially tough this year, the 100th anniversary of Portland's biggest public party.

Blocks of space along the parade route, marked off with duct tape or chalk, have become more precious than open parking spaces along Northwest 23rd Avenue.

But some people, including some city officials, are crying foul over the ever-increasing lead time people are taking to mark out their spots.

Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard said he does not think it's fair to kids who get stuck several rows back with little or no view on parade day because people marked their plots days earlier.

In years past, parade goers usually marked their spots on Friday, the day before the parade that is one of the largest in the nation.

Now, tape, chairs and chalk are appearing on the sidewalk almost a week ahead of the Saturday morning fest.

City officials said they may enforce a "first come, first served" seating rule, but that option is not likely to sit well with parade fans who have made a tradition of staking a claim to prime parade viewing spaces.

The 100th Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade is Saturday at 10 a.m.

Get complete Rose Festival schedule information here.