Don’t Miss These Annual Oregon Coast Events
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 / Fall / Winter
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
- Help keep the coast looking snazzy by joining in the Solve Oregon Spring Beach Cleanup. Apr 22, 2027, with related events spanning the month
- Sample local bounty and live music at the Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival.
- Labyrinths and land art meet at the beach in Bandon for the annual Circles in the Sand.
May
- Turning 120 in 2027, the Florence Rhododendron Festival is one of the oldest flower festivals on the West Coast, younger only than Portland’s Rose Festival and Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses.
- The Port of Garibaldi Seafood and Spirits Festival mixes locally harvested oysters, mussels, seaweed, and more with Oregon booze and a view of Tillamook Bay.
- Bring those wide tires to the sand for the Cannon Beach Fat Bike Festival for a pedal past Haystack Rock.
- Trace Yaquina Bay from Newport toward Toledo and back at the Newport Marathon and Half Marathon, a certified qualifier for the Boston Marathon.
The Lincoln City Summer Kite Festival.
June
- No vasectomy on the prize list in recent years (yes, that happened), but there's often a $1,000 grand prize for Nehalem Bay Crab Derby at Kelly's Brighton Marina. June 6, 2026
- While the official Goonies Day lands on June 7 (the Oregon-set film's 1985 release date), this year Astoria is using the occasion to mark the Short Circuit 40th anniversary instead, complete with ticketed photo ops and an ’80s prom. June 5–7, 2026
- The annual Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest includes a bonfire the night before and a fun run the day after. June 19–21, 2026
- Expect huge sculptures, a 90-minute quick carve every day, and a live auction every evening over Father’s Day weekend at Reedsport’s Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Carving Championship. June 18–21, 2026
- Part of a long-running Lincoln City treasure hunt, 31 new colorful orbs (in honor of Chinook Winds Casino's 31st anniversary) are waiting to be found after the Father's Day glass float drop. June 19 & 20, 2026
- The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival invites visitors to discover their “inner Viking” at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds every June. June 19–21, 2026
- Go fly a kite, up to its highest height, at the D River State Recreation Site during the Lincoln City Summer Kite Festival. June 27 & 28, 2026
A tufted puffin.
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
- The Pig-n-Ford race (people drive Model Ts while holding pigs) is not to be missed at the Tillamook County Fair. Aug 5–8, 2026
- Expect teams from around the world at the 42nd annual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament. Aug 5–9, 2025
- Jazz, chamber music, and more blanket Lincoln City for the Siletz Bay Music Festival. Aug 13–23, 2026
- Teams of runners take turns in the Hood to Coast relay race from Mount Hood to Seaside by way of Portland. Aug 28 & 29, 2026
September
- Bring your pooch to Manzanita's Muttzanita, a fundraiser for a local animal rescue agency. Sept 12, 2026
- String up your kites for the Lincoln City Fall Kite Festival, on the beach at the D River State Recreation Site.
- The Bandon Cranberry Festival includes a cranberry eating contest, a Cranberry Court coronation, and a crab derby. Sept 10–13, 2026
- The Cruz the Coos classic car show and Prefontaine Memorial Run highlight the Bay Area Fun Festival in Coos Bay. Sept 19 & 20, 2026
- Help pick up after the summer crowds at a Solve Oregon Beach &
Riverside Cleanup.
The Astoria-Megler Bridge.
Image: DMaddocks/shutterstock.com
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.
Image: Margaret Seiler
- 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.
Image: Hugh Hull/Shutterstock.com
- 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.