Events

Don’t Miss These Annual Oregon Coast Events

Sandcastles in Cannon Beach, chainsaw art in Reedsport, and kites in Lincoln City.

By Margaret Seiler May 26, 2026

There's never a bad time to be at the Oregon Coast. From watching a massive storm roll in and break against a rocky cape to celebrating Pacific Northwest cuisine at one of the many seafood festivals, these annual events keep us coming back to the salty western seaboard no matter the weather.  

 Spring / Summer / FallWinter


January

  • Catch the first glass float drop of the year in Lincoln City, with 100 floats distributed. 
  • Participate in the Oregon King Tides Project by taking pictures of areas impacted by extreme tide events at certain spots along the Oregon Coast. 
  • Catch a range of music styles (recent fests have included bluegrass, folk, and dystopian Afrofuturism) at the Winter Music Festival in Florence. Jan 28–30, 2027

February

  • Astoria’s Fort George Brewery promises “dark art, darker entertainment, and the darkest collection of beers” at the stout-centric Festival of Dark Arts. Tickets typically go on sale on Black Friday, at dawn. Feb 13, 2027
  • This 21-and-over Newport Seafood and Wine Festival (in addition to the headlining goodies, there are also baked goods, beer, and more) returned in full force in 2023 after a brief hiatus during the pandemic and decentralized format in 2022. Feb 25–28, 2027
  • Voices from the commercial fishing industry bring poetry, storytelling, and music to Astoria for the annual FisherPoets Gathering. Feb 26–28, 2027

A gray whale spouting off the Oregon Coast.

March

  • Eat fresh crabs and race them, too, at Garibaldi Crab Races, with kid and adult divisions. Mar 13 & 14, 2027
  • North Bend's Mill Casino hosts the South Coast Clambake Music Festival, packed with blues, zydeco, big band, swing, and other genres. (Organizers note that the name comes from the slang word for a jam session, clarifying that the long-running fest "is NOT a celebration of mollusks!") 
  • Squeeze in some early shopping for Easter, Mother's Day, and graduations at the Yachats Spring Arts & Crafts Fair. Mar 20 & 21, 2027
  • Catch migratory whales on their way back north during Spring Whale Watching Week, with volunteers staffing certain viewpoints. 

High fashion at the Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival.

April

May

The Lincoln City Summer Kite Festival.

June

July

  • Join wildlife experts each morning for the Great Cannon Beach Puffin Watch to learn more about the birds who visit Haystack Rock in breeding season
  • Independence Day usually brings fireworks to Astoria, Rockaway Beach, Newport, Waldport, Coos Bay, Bandon, and Gold Beach, while quaint parades prevail in communities including Cannon Beach and Oceanside. 
  • Mingus Park, the Oregon Institute for Marine Biology, Shore Acres, and other venues around Coos Bay and Charleston host orchestral music for the Oregon Coast Music Festival. July 11–25, 2026
  • Pacific City’s flat-bottomed fishing boats inspire a parade and festival for Dory Days, in the shadow of Cape Kiwanda and the other Haystack Rock. July 17–19, 2026
  • Live music, a car show, and firefighter vs. Coast Guard contests fill Garibaldi Days in this fishing town just north of Tillamook. July 24–26, 2026

August

September

The Astoria-Megler Bridge.

October

  • The Great Columbia Crossing 10k run/walk over the Astoria-Megler Bridge is not for acrophobes! Watch for registration to open in June for this certain sell-out. Oct 11, 2026
  • Have fun with fungi at the Yachats Mushroom Festival
  • A special glass float drop for Halloween in Lincoln City means there are 50 glow-in-the-dark floats to find. Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026

November

Shore Acres Holiday Lights.

  • Get moody at the Stormy Weather Arts Festival in Cannon Beach, with artist demonstrations, gallery receptions and live music. Nov 6–8, 2026
  • Concerts, whistle workshops, dance performances, and more pack the schedule of the Yachats Celtic Music Festival. Nov 13–15, 2026
  • A stunning estate garden by day blossoms at night, too, for the Shore Acres Holiday Lights at this state park between Coos Bay and Cape Arago. Thanksgiving–New Year's Eve (Timed-entry tickets go on sale in June here.)  
  • Participate in the Oregon King Tides Project by taking pictures of areas impacted by extreme tide events at certain spots along the Oregon Coast. 

    December

    King tides at Shore Acres State Park, near Coos Bay.

    • A stunning estate garden by day blossoms at night, too, for the Shore Acres Holiday Lights at this state park between Coos Bay and Cape Arago. Thanksgiving–New Year's Eve (Timed-entry tickets go on sale in June here.)  
    • Take a one-hour round-trip ride from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach on the Candy Cane Express, an Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad excursion. 
    • Participate in the Oregon King Tides Project by taking pictures of areas impacted by extreme tide events at certain spots along the Oregon Coast. 
    • Volunteer to count whales and answer questions during Winter Whale Watching Week, or just show up to look and learn.  
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