Celebrate Spring on Saturday by strolling around downtown Yachats to exchange bulbs, plants and listen to music

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com

If anyone needed an excuse to meander around downtown Yachats on the first day of spring, Polly Plumb Productions has come up with a great one — the first (and possibly annual) “Spring Equinox Celebration and Flower Bulb Exchange” for two hours Saturday.

As musical artists perform at four outdoor venues to celebrate the spring equinox, people are urged to bring and take whatever bulbs, flowers or plant starts they have, to exchange or give at two of the locations.

“Take a socially-distanced, masks-on, stroll through Yachats,” said Robert Rubin, a Polly Plumb Productions board member. “We want to celebrate spring with the sharing of flowers and the pleasure they bring.”

Polly Plumb is a not-for-profit organization that promotes music, art and other cultural programming in and around Yachats.

Tables for the plant exchange will be set up at the Drift Inn Gallery, and there may be a second table at the pavilion behind the Yachats Commons.

At the Drift Inn, daffodil and other spring bulbs will be available for free; it isn’t necessary to bring bulbs to exchange.

People who bring plants — non-invasive types only — are asked to put them in paper bags, flower pots or appropriate planters, and to label them and include characteristics, if possible. For those hoping to take away plants, bringing a carry-all or paper bags is suggested.

Live music at four locations

While the plant swaps are going on from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., live music will be provided by a variety of Lincoln County performers at four outdoor venues: Drift Inn Gallery, the pavilion behind the Commons, the former Yachats Rural Fire District station on West Second Street, and at the Yachats State Park.

Most performers are scheduled for a 45-minute set beginning at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with a 15-minute break between artists. Darrell Morehouse, the “Piper on the Point,” will start at 11:15 a.m. and perform shorter sets.

“The plan is for most of the musicians to be inside, shielded from any inclement weather, with the audience outside, strolling between the four venues, and sharing flower bulbs and plants,” Rubin said. “Since we are dealing with both COVID-19 restrictions and weather uncertainties, this event is constantly evolving.”

Scheduled to perform are:

• Morehouse, a bagpiper who has played at the Fleet of Flowers in Depoe Bay and is a member of the Northwest Firefighters Pipes and Drums.
• Dave Cowden, a singer/songwriter/guitarist, an inductee into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and familiar to many in Yachats for his work in the duo “Dave and Creight”.
• Ian Smith, a singer/songwriter/guitarist whose material ranges from blues to African, Americana, rock, folk and jazz.
• Sons of the Beaches, with Franz Paul Van Den Bogaard on guitar, mandolin and vocals, joined by Aaron Gibson on bass.
• Weird Science Boys, an ‘80s power trio offering a dance-oriented and costumed show. Features Kevin Strever, Ronnie Jay Pirrello and Richard Robitaille.

“We had to cancel every live event in 2020” due to the pandemic, Rubin said. “We have been brainstorming to find an appropriate, safe, family fun event” he said, and “if everyone enjoys the Spring Stroll we could try it again.”