The Newport Seafood & Wine Festival features more than 165 food and wine vendors. (Photo courtesy of Oregon Coast TODAY)By OREGON COAST TODAY
For nearly half a century, the final weekend of February in Newport has been defined by the scent of salt air, the steam of fresh chowder and the clinking of wine glasses at the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival.
The festival, which started as a modest gathering, has grown into a premier coastal celebration. Celebrating its 49th year, the event takes place this Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 19 through 22, on the Yaquina Bay near the former Rogue Ales Brewery.
The festival began with a simple but vital goal: boosting the local economy during the quiet winter months. In 1977, Newport Chamber President Bob Spangler and former state Sen. John Brenneman envisioned an event that would promote Newport’s thriving seafood industry while bringing much-needed visitor dollars to the central Oregon Coast.
“This is also the biggest fundraiser of the year for our local nonprofits,” said Newport Chamber Executive Director Wayne Patterson.
The first festival took place at the Newport National Guard Armory. Though small, its promise was obvious. A year later, Mo’s Restaurant founder Mo Niemi helped transform the concept, adding 13 wineries and featuring live music and arts and crafts booths. By 1980, attendance had surged past 8,000, forcing a move to the dry moorage building in South Beach.
Through the 1980s, the festival cemented its reputation as “The Original and Still the Best.” In 1987, organizers launched a commercial wine competition, now the longest-running such event in the Northwest. Judged weeks before the festival, it guides visitors toward gold medal selections from across the region.
An amateur wine competition, also judged prior to the festival, awards a hand-made, 5-gallon French oak barrel to the best of show.
“There are only two amateur wine competitions in the state,” Patterson said. “We are one of them.”
By the 1990s and early 2000s, the celebration had moved to its now-iconic tented home near the former Rogue Ales & Spirits brewery in South Beach. The event expanded to four days, beginning with Thursday’s popular locals’ night. Longtime partnerships, including more than 17 years of sponsorship from Chinook Winds Casino Resort, helped the festival welcome crowds that have grown to more than 25,000 each year.
Even with its growth, the festival continues to evolve. A recent standout addition is the seafood chowder competition, introduced in 2024, where guests can purchase tasting kits and vote for their favorites in a people’s choice contest.
“Last year, there were about 10,000 chowder tastings,” Patterson said. “We are also working on getting more celebrity judges. (Newport) Mayor Jan Kaplan will be one of the judges this year.”
Sustainability is also encouraged, with composting to reduce the waste generated by more than 165 vendors. The Ruby Wine Club will offer premium options for enthusiasts, with the Music Tent and Beer Garden gathering people together.
“We have lots of new music this year,” Patterson said. “And we are excited to have Pelican Brewing Company as our official brewery.”
This year the festival raises the bar — literally – with the debut of the “Raw-some Bar,” a new destination devoted to fresh seafood.
Situated in the heart of the grounds, the bar will feature a rotating lineup of Northwest oysters served with cocktail sauce, lemon and house-made mignonette, a French condiment for oysters made with shallots and vinegar. Visitors can pair them with sparkling wine from Varnum Vintners to slice through brine or opt for beer, with Pelican’s signature craft beers on tap.
The festival, which features local chefs and dozens of beverage, food and other vendors, runs from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at 2126 S.E. Marine Science Dr. For more information, go to newportchamber.org.
Entertainment schedule
Thursday, Feb. 19
5 to 7 p.m. — Beth Willis
7 to 8 p.m. — Seafood chowder judging
Friday, Feb. 20
Noon to 2 p.m. — Randy McCoy
2:45 to 4:45 p.m. — Sonny Hess
5:30 to 8 p.m. — Huckle Buck Highway
Saturday, Feb. 21
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Whole Lotta Louis
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. — Hecktic Week
3 to 4:30 p.m. — River Divide
4:30 to 7 p.m. — DJ Metal
Sunday, Feb. 22
10 to 11:30 a.m. — Randy McCoy
Noon to 1:45 p.m. — Hecktic Week
- For more arts and entertainment news, go to Oregon Coast TODAY.
Happy to see police out in Newport this weekend. In less than 2 hours flashing lights have stopped five cars. Lot of drivers do stupid things during seafood and wine weekend. Stay safe and smart this weekend.