By CHERYL ROMANO/Lincoln Chronicle
WALDPORT — The attractions are still free and family-friendly, but the 69th annual Waldport Beachcomber Days is making a slightly smaller splash when it comes ashore Saturday.
Under the theme “United by the Sea,” the festival which coincides with Flag Day packs a lot of fun into a one-day schedule — a car show, live music, a food court, parade, kids’ fair and vendors.
Beachcomber Days was traditionally a Friday night to Sunday afternoon affair, but this year it goes on without its popular two-day logging shows and minus a Friday night kick-off dinner. The changes are due to a conflict between festival leaders and supporters with the city over financial reporting.
The event raises scholarship funds for Waldport High School graduates going on to higher education in trades or traditional fields. The funds come from participating businesses and private donations.
For full festival details, visit the Beachcomber Days website.
The events rev up at 9 a.m. Saturday when a car show with the theme “Sexy Sixties” fills the parking lot of Eager Beaver Furniture until 3 p.m.
The highlight is the traditional Beachcomber pays Parade, headed this year by grand marshal and Oregon National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Luke Bobeda of Newport. Bobeda joined the National Guard in 2012 and now serves as Lincoln County’s National Guard recruiter. He has served in Romania, Poland and Indiana, where he helped support Afghani refugees in the last days of the Afghanistan war.
The parade begins at noon, forming on Crestline Drive before moving down Highway 34 and then south on U.S. Highway 101 through downtown before ending about 1 p.m.
All day, from 8:30 a.m. to midnight live music pours out of the Bay Street stage, featuring local favorite bands like Grey Wails and Weird Science, plus the Sol Fire Dancers and Tyler Spencer.
More music will be performed on the John Street stage from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. At 3 p.m. organizers will announce parade and car show winners.
Also offered all day in the parking lot of Central Coast Fire & Rescue are a vendor fair and food court.
The Pacific Coast Wind Ensemble will perform at the Community Center at 12:30 p.m.
More live entertainment will be featured at various times at three Waldport locations: Café CHILL, the Flounder Inn, and the Waldport Moose Lodge.
Local businesses should enjoy extra trade thanks to a Beachcomber Days “receipt raffle.” Visitors may bring a receipt from any local shop or vendor dated June 13-14 to the Beachcomber Days information booth. There, they can enter to win a glass float from the Seal Rock Glass Blowing Shop.
Comment Policy