Pacific Beach, Moclips, Aloha & Seabrook WA~ February 24, 25 & 26

The Chocolate Festival on the Beach was so popular in its fourth year event, that it’s reported visitors and vendors are making their travel plans far in advance for 2012… you haven’t booked your Pacific Beach lodging yet, hurry as the winter storm last year didn’t stop this fun event from surpassing expectations!

Enjoy three miles of chocolate! There are events taking place all the way from Seabrook to Moclips. They also have Two vendor buildings this year. You could say State Route 109 and Ocean Beach Rd./Main St. in Pacific Beach, Is Chocolate Central… then the chocolate ripples out from there.

The Chocolate on the Beach Festival has grown so much that it has become its own entity. Their mission is to unite the North Beach community and businesses by providing a charitable, fun and entertaining experience that would enhance tourism and economic growth through the diversity of chocolate.  A percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Museum of the North Beach’s Moclips Depot Rebuilding Project.

The Local Business community welcomes you to entertain your taste buds all weekend long, with special Chocolate Menus and Events!

~ Chocolate Bake Sale
~ Chocolate Vendors and Crafts
~ Chocolate and Wine
~ Chocolate Recipe Contest
~ Family Events and Much More!!
~ Admission is only $5 per adult, includes both Saturday & Sunday!

For more information visit Chocolate on the Beach Festival 2012~ Enjoy

Take a fall trip to the Oregon Coast and visit Yachats during their Annual Mushroom Festival, a fun event for all ages. Reserve your getaway in a Yachats vacation rental and enjoy all that the fall season has to offer at the beach (including lower rates for vacation rental lodging)

Enjoy wild forest mushroom cuisine at local restaurants, expert led mushroom walks, talks and exhibits, culinary mushroom workshops, culinary mushroom markets, wine tasting, and live entertainment. Guided mushroom walks and exhibits are FREE and open to the public.

October 21 – 23rd, 2011~ 12th Annual Yachats Village Mushroom Fest

Friday 5 pm – Sunday 5 pm
Yachats Commons, Cape Perpetua and About Town

Beginning Friday Oct 21~ 7:30 p.m
Yachats Commons Auditorium, Hwy. 101 and W 5th St. [#15]

The Wheel of Fungi, Chapter Nine
Featuring Keynote Speaker; David Arora
Acclaimed mushroom expert and author of Mushrooms Demystified and All That The Rain Promises & More will deliver the festival’s opening night keynote address. (It’s a fun-guy fungi address!) Admission $13, $8 students. Tickets available (beginning September 16) at the Yachats Visitors Center, 241 Hwy 101, and sold at the door. FMI 541-547-3530, 800-929-0477.

Free Events include

• Mushroom Exhibits Rm 8, Yachats Commons
• Mushroom Walks at Gerdemann Botanical Preserve;  3 walks on Saturday & 2 walks on Sunday
• Mushroom Walks at Cape Perpetua; 17 walks on Saturday & 5 walks on Sunday
• Mushroom Slideshows at Cape Perpetua Theater

Note: There is a $5 parking fee at Cape Perpetua unless you have a FS or Oregon Coast Passport (or) buy a wristband and take the shuttle.

For more information on $5 Festival Wristbands, Workshop Schedules, Exhibits & Activity Details: Visit the Yachats Chamber of Commerce website or call 1-800-929-0477 – 541-547-3530.

~ See you there… thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

Photo Compliments of~ The Blue Heron Vacation Rental

Lincoln City Fall Kite Festival ~ October 8-9, 2011

The Fall Kite Festival is held on the beach, in the center of Lincoln City, at the D-River Wayside from 10am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday. If you need lodging, here is a great list of Lincoln City vacation rentals to choose from… enjoy ocean front views, hot tubs, pet friendly accommodations and more!

This year’s theme is “Rockin’ the Rokkaku!” The festival will include kite flying demonstrations by experts, including Connor Doran, a finalist in 2010 on the top-rated NBC series, America’s Got Talent! Connor auditioned along with 90,000 people and brought indoor kite flying to the world.

The weekend includes featured fliers, family-friendly activities like kite-making, a kid’s kite parade, a Rokkaku (six-sided kite) aerial battle with past national champion Ronda Brewer, and a mass ascension.

Schedule for Both Days:

10:00am Opening Announcements, Past Rokkaku Battle National Champion, Ronda Brewer will teach you the “Art of Battle.” Meet her on the north end of the beach.

10:00am-11:30am Kite-Making Workshop with PhantomStarDesign.com

10:00am-2:00pm Kite-making for Kids

10:00am-Noon Featured Kite Fliers
(selection based upon wind conditions needed by the fliers)

Noon-2:00pm Rokkaku Mass Ascension & Battle

2:00pm Kids’ Parade

2:30pm-4:00pm Featured Kite Fliers
(selection based upon wind conditions needed by the fliers)

4:00pm Closing

Schedule is subject to change due to circumstances beyond control, including weather. Times are approximate.

*Kite Festival Information is provided by the Lincoln City Visitors Center at: OregonCoast.org

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

Planning a trip to the Central Oregon Coast? View our selection of  Depoe Bay vacation rentals and plan your next  Depoe Bay vacation around this traditional annual event!

Photo Compliments~ SeaQuell Depoe Bay Vacation Rental

Indian Style Salmon Bake

Enjoy a succulent salmon meal, great performances and music…  Over 2,000 pounds of salmon is slow roasted to perfection on alder stakes, just as the native Americans did 2,000 years ago. Watch as native Americans perform their traditional dance and song.

When: 9/17 /201110:00 – 5:00

Location: Depoe Bay City Park
Cost: In advance:$15 adults, $9 age 10 and under
At the gate:$18 adults, $10 age 10 and under

Information provided by the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce

For more information:
Phone: 541-765-2889
info@depoebaychamber.org

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

~ Seaside Beach Volleyball “A look at last years 2010 tournament” from PDXposed ~

Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament 2011~ August 12,13 & 14

Seaside Oregon is the place to be to be next weekend during their 30th consecutive year of the largest amateur beach volleyball tournament in the world!  In 2010 this event drew over 810 teams playing on 104 courts during the three days of competition..  divisions range from Parent & Child to Masters 55+, Men, Women & Co-ed Open Divisions that feature current and retired AVP ranked players. Seaside Beach Volleyball is consistently the highest ranked and most visited amateur beach volleyball tournament around!  The teams travel from as far as the East Coast and Hawaii as well as Canada.

Seaside Beach Volleyball is produced by The Seaside Chamber of Commerce in association with the Elevation Group, one of the nation’s leading Sports & Music marketing and event production firms. The major sponsors are Bud Light, Clatsop Distributing, Monster Energy Drink, Spalding, Peterson CAT, Plastic Clothing and US Open Beach Volleyball. The Seaside Chamber’s annual sponsors Fred Meyer and Pacific Power help make the event possible.

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

The annual 2011 Sand Master Jam is coming up fast!!  The Sand Master Park in Florence Oregon is hosting the longest running sandboard competition in the world… the Sand Master Jam! If you haven’t reserved lodging yet, here is a link for Florence vacation rental info.

This year will offer something very special above and beyond the exciting sandboard competition. World Sand Sculpt champion, Bill Dow, will be giving free sand sculpting lessons right here at Sand Master Park all day to all those interested in learning this fascinating art! But that’s not all… Three Rivers Casino is hosting and sponsoring the Big Air segment right at the casino itself to tie in a total area event for SAND LOVERS of all sorts!

Rail slides, slalom, drag races, sand sculpting and BIG AIR…

Saturday, July 16th~ the Jam will kick off at 2:00pm at Three Rivers Casino with crazy sandboard jumps and then will move on for slalom and drags and wind up at Sand Master Park for the final segment… rail slide competition.
But that’s not all…

Sunday, July 17th~ team sand sculpting competition for all those who learned the day before and wish to apply their new skills on sand. All of this is FREE! (No cost to participate or spectate)

If you are interested in competing at sandboarding OR learning to sand sculpt and can put together a team of three people to build your sand master piece call Sand Master Park and register ASAP!!

This Oregon Coast event information is provided by:

Sand Master Park
5351 Hwy 101
Florence, OR USA 97439
541.997.6006

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

Photo by~Patsy Schuyler Ball

It was 200 years ago, in 1811, that John Jacob Astor’s fur trading company laid claim to the area. Since then the city has transformed from a fur trader’s post to a bustling cannery town to a busy World War II hub and then to a popular tourist destination.

Come and join the fun at Astoria’s opening weekend of its 200th Birthday! If lodging in the Astoria area is booked up, concider staying in at Seaside beach rental… it’s just about a 20 min drive away.

Bicentennial Events~ Opening Weekend May 20-22, 2011

Tall Ships Adventure Sails ~ Sail on the Lady Washington or Hawaiian Chieftain for a three-hour family-oriented Adventure Sail. Features a living history experience with demonstrations of tall ship handling, sea shanty singing, and maritime storytelling. Tickets & more info available here.

Heritage Fair ~ Celebrating Astoria’s cultural diversity with food, music, dance performances, art, jewelry, weaving, horse & wagon rides, kids activity tent. Family friendly events all day…

• 9:30 a.m. - Fort Vancouver Pipe Band
• 10:30 a.m. – Portland Taiko (International Japanese Drummers)
• 11:30 a.m. - NW Lion Dancers
• 12:30 p.m. - Riverwalk Parade to 17^th Street Plaza
• 1 –p.m. – Scandinavian Dancers
• 2 –p.m. Kaleinani O ke kukui-Hula Halau Dancing Demonstration
• Birthday cupcakes
• 3- p.m. The Squeezer & the Geezer - Coreen Bergholm & Ken Presthus
• 3:45 p.m. – Wilho Saari –Finnish Kantele
• 4:15 p.m. – Mariachi Band
• Portland Taiko- Toro TK Footsteps

No Entry Fee! Items for sale by individual vendors 9:30 am – 5 pm

Location: Sunset Empire Transit Center Parking Lot, on Marine Drive between 9th, 10th Astor & Bond Streets

This is just the beginning of many fun events to enjoy… For more information on bicentennial events: www.astoria200.org

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

Video by Cody Cha 2010

~ 27th Annual Summer Kite Festival in Lincoln City Oregon~ June 25th & 26th 2011

• Location~ D-River State Wayside
• Time~  10am to 4pm both days

Lincoln City isn’t just known for it’s exceptional ocean front vacation rental choices… it’s named by Kitelines Magazine as one of the best places to fly kites in North America, celebrates with three kite festivals each year, two outdoors and one indoors. Situated on the 45th parallel, Lincoln City is positioned at the ideal point for mixing warm equatorial air and cold polar air, which creates ideal winds for outdoor flying. In addition, the clean air flowing directly off the ocean is preferred by kite flying experts, and novices will see a difference in their abilities as well.

This year’s theme is Lincoln City ROKS “ROCKIN THE ROKKAKU!” A celebration of both professional and leisure kite fliers with some of the most colorful big “show kites” in the world.

• 10am Opening Announcements10am – 2pm Free Kite Making for Kids
• 10am – 12pm Featured Sport Kitefliers and Large Kite Fliers
• 12pm Running of the Bols
• 1pm-2pm Rokkaku Mega Fly
• 2pm Kids Parade
• 2:30pm-4pm Featured Sport Kitefliers and Large Kite Fliers continues
• 4pm Closing

Kite Festival Schedules are subject to circumstances beyond control, including weather. Times are approximate.

For more information visit OregonCoast.org - Lincoln City Visitor’s Center

801 SW Hwy 101, Suite 401, Lincoln City, Oregon  97367
(541) 996-1274 • 1-800-452-2151

~ Thanks and have fun AT THE BEACH!

This article from The Tillamook Headlight Herald features some quick facts for Spring Whale Watching on the Oregon Coast & where to find some great spots for viewing…

Photo Credits ~ The Tillamook Headlight Herald

As they make their annual 12,000-mile return voyage from Mexico to Alaska, gray whales can be spotted every spring off the coastal bluffs of Tillamook County.

About 18,000 whales will pass by the Oregon coast during the months of March through June, on their way to Alaska’s Bering Sea. Trained volunteers will be on-site at certain locations in throughout the week of March 19 – 26, to answer questions and help whale watchers spot the gray whales’ telltale spout.

The Whale Watching Spoken Here volunteers will be manning stations, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the week at 26 locations along the Oregon coast. In Tillamook County, volunteers can be found at the Neahkahnie Mountain Overlook, Cape Meares Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, Cape Lookout State Park and the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.

Juvenile whales will pass by first, followed by adults. Last are the mothers and babies, who were born in the winter off of Mexico’s warm, calm bays.

Many of the whales will come close to shore to feed on Oregon’s great food supply, according to the Whale Watching Spoken Here website. In April and May, the mothers and calves may be seen resting in protective coves close to shore.

For more information on Spring Whale Watch Week, how to spot whales and a map of whale watching points along the Oregon coast, visit whalespoken.org.

Plan your next beach vacation in an Oregon Coast vacation rental and don’t forget to bring your binoculars

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!

NEWPORT, Oregon – Perhaps the single biggest festival on the Oregon coast is coming soon… the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival is happening February 25, 26, and 27, 2011. If you are looking for last minute  lodging, try this quick & easy way…  copy your request to all vacation rental owner/managers in the Newport area in one email! Click on the blue request availability button located just above the listings: Newport & South Beach vacation rental info

The last weekend of every February, the central Oregon coast resort town of Newport swells with well over 17,000 visitors coming to the festival for a weekend of wine, wonders in the culinary world, seafood and arts & crafts. Last year’s festival reached a record 19,000 visitors.

The theme this year is Hollywood & Vine “Take 34″

32 food vendors, 24 crafters and 85 wineries will be found at this enormous festival. A large variety of craft items will be sold, from articles of clothing, jewelry, art glass, metal sculptures, works of art and hand-painted ceramics to handcrafted wine accessories.

Among the wineries are Oregon coast favorites like Nehalem Bay Winery and Flying Dutchman Winery, along with northwest big names like Amity, Abiqua, Hauer of the Dauen, Hip Chicks Do Wine, Oak Knoll Winery, Eola Hills Wine Cellars and Silver Falls Vineyards, among hundreds of others.

For food, you’ll find crepes, smoked fish, chowder, Hawaiian goodies, candies, oysters, sushi, burgers and pizza, among a number of other delights.

Festival Hours and Gate Prices:

Friday, February 25 – 2 pm to 9 pm $10 ticket price
Saturday, February 26 - 10 am to 6 pm $15 ticket price
Sunday, February 27  - 10 am to 4 pm $5 ticket price
Please note that ticket prices do not reflect a handling fee

Advance group tickets are also on sale, allowing larger groups a special entrance. Groups of 15 or more can call the Chamber office (800-262-7844). Advance e-tickets for individuals are still on sale as well, until they reach their limit.

Ticket prices do not include wine tasting. Food item prices range from $1 and up. Wine sampling starts at $1 and glasses of wine are available for menu price. Bottles and cases of wine are sold by wineries, too!

Location:

The South Beach Marina Parking Lot, near the Rogue Ales Warehouse, 2320 OSU Drive,  just south of downtown Newport

• Parking is available at the festival site for $5.00
• Free shuttle buses (including extended Saturday evening hours!) will run on a regular schedule from downtown Newport and major hotels. Maps are available at local businesses and at the Chamber
• Cab service is also available for a nominal fee

• You must be 21 years or older to attend this event and must have valid ID (no exceptions)
• The site is smoke free and handicapped accessible

This information is provided by the Newport Chamber of Commerce.  Visit their website to view a full list of food, wine and crafts vendors.

~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!