Ronald Breeze Dancers took to the floor and listeners packed the tent during musical performances at the Beach, Bike and Blues festival in Waldport last year, leading organizers to double the shelter’s size this year.

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews

What has 1,400 tires, a smoky blues beat and the power to pedal big bucks to the central Oregon coast? That would be the Beach, Bike & Blues Festival back for its third year Saturday in Waldport.

Anchored by two bicycle races — first in Waldport and then in Yachats — the celebration in Waldport includes some 700 cyclists with friends and family coming to fill motels, campgrounds and restaurants. The festival itself will attract crowds of fun-lovers to downtown Waldport for music, dancing and food.

Beach, Bike & Blues helps kick off the spring and summer community festival season along the coast, which includes Waldport’s Beachcomber Days in June and Independence Day festivities July 3-4 in Waldport and Yachats.

Cheryl Romano **Waldport Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Fullmer displays the T-shirt and glasses that Beach, Bike and Blues volunteers will wear Saturday.**

“We had about 2,000 people last year, and we’re projecting about 2,500 this year,” said Tom Fullmer, executive director of the Waldport Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the event. The festival combines the downtown Waldport waterfront, the Oregon Coast Gravel Epic bicycle race, and what Fullmer calls “the largest blues music festival on the Oregon Coast.”

The festival will take over the Alsea Bay Bridge Visitor Center & Museum from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday with live music and more than 25 vendors selling food and beverages.

“Thanks to feedback from last year, we’ve doubled the size of the music tent so there’s more room for dancing and tables and chairs,” said Fullmer.

Family- and dog-friendly (leashed only), and handicapped-accessible, the event is free, presented by Pioneer Connect, the city of Waldport and Lincoln County. One new addition is the Beachcomber Days kids’ area with games and activities reflecting the annual Beachcomber Days weekend June 14-16.

Live music begins at 12:30 p.m. with blues artist Paul Schuytema, followed by Steve Cook and other musicians from the central coast. Local blues/rock favorite Ronnie Jay Pirrello is also featured, with the entertainment capped by Sonny Hess, Lisa Mann and Kelly Pierce.

Science fiction fans may be intrigued to realize that the Saturday event coincides with Star Wars Day and its theme, “May the force be with you.” That’s why festival promotion carries the tagline “May the 4^th BBB with you” Fullmer said.

Frizz Studio **Hundreds of riders in the 2023 Oregon Coast Gravel Epic leave downtown Waldport to head into the Siuslaw National Forest at the start of their 65-mile race.**

700+ cyclists, two parties

The blues festival is piggybacking on the annual bike races that draws hundreds of participants to Waldport and Yachats.

“We’re expecting about 450 riders for the main race Saturday,” said Mike Ripley of Monroe, owner of race organizer Mudslinger Events. On Sunday, another bike race called West Coast Gravel will pedal through the Yachats area and is expected to draw about 275 riders. It ends at the Yachats Commons with live music, food and drink.

“It’s remarkable how many people are booking accommodations,” Ripley said. “The races and the festival make the coast a destination for the weekend.”

Ronald Breeze **Blues performer Paul Schuytema and Steve Cook, right, will return to the Waldport Beach, Bike and Blues festival Saturday to perform.**

While the Gravel Epic bicycle race is in its 12^th year, it was not until 2022 that the general Waldport community got involved.

Before then, “the community never really did anything to recognize the race,” said Fullmer. “Now, this is a festival that celebrates community — and not just for Waldport. It has all the right components for families, residents and vacationers — it’s free, friendly and fun.”

Helping organize the fun are 50 volunteers led by Fullmer’s wife, Maureen. This year, they’ll be sporting Pacific blue sunglasses and T-shirts.

Local businesses providing food and beverages include Beachcrest Brewing Company, Bigfoot Beverages, Grocery Outlet, Ray’s BBQ, Chubby Lil’ Mermaid, Fishing Rock Eatery, The Thirsty Fisherman and JillyBeanz Ice Cream.

Frizz Studio **The Oregon Coast Gravel Epic on Saturday is expected to have 450 bicyclists testing their endurance over a 60-mile or a 37-mile route through the Siuslaw National Forest east of Waldport.**

Weekend cycling action

Frizz Studio **Some 250 bicyclists have signed up for the West Coast Gravel Epic that will end at the Yachats Commons on Sunday.**

The Oregon Coast Gravel Epic is the spring gravel cycling kickoff for the Pacific Northwest. It covers about 65 percent unpaved logging roads, and 35 percent smooth pavement left from decades of logging. It’s an endurance event taking racers through the Siuslaw National Forest via two routes — the 60-mile “Abomination” and the 37-mile “Son of Abomination.”

“We’ll have racers ages 15 to 80 and they’re coming from all over” from throughout the Pacific Northwest, California, Canada, and as far east as Washington, D.C. and Boston, said Ripley. “Cycling is one of the unique things about the Oregon coast.”

Saturday’s race begin about 9 a.m. from the Waldport Community Center and are expected to finish around noon, just in time for awards and the start of the blues festival.

On Sunday, the West Coast Gravel Race will pedal through the Yachats area, including along U.S. Highway 101 and around Cape Perpetua. It will finish at the Yachats Commons with a post-race party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. that is open to the public. Dave Cowden of Yachats will provide live music, with food available for purchase by Cowgirl Cookin’.

On Sunday in particular, Ripley requested that drivers along U.S. Highway 101 and Yachats River Road and pedestrians downtown help keep safety first.

“Please be aware that your friends who bike will be cycling on the roadways,” he said. “We appreciate your patience and support of healthy outdoor activities.”