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Covering 180 miles of Oregon coast travel: Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Nehalem, Wheeler, Rockaway, Garibaldi, Tillamook, Oceanside, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, Yachats & Florence. 06/16/08
Oregon Coast Fourth of July, Independence Day Celebrations Lodging Availability Report for Fourth of July Weekend Here
(Oregon Coast) - Independence Day celebrations aren't just about the Fourth of July on the Oregon coast. Some areas celebrate all weekend, and some have their fireworks on the fifth or the third, instead of the fourth. From Astoria to Florence, there's much that will go boom in the night for this weekend - as the fourth falls on a Friday this year, allowing for a really big weekend. There's more to Independence Day than Fourth of July celebrations. Many communities along the beaches have interesting little events happening around the holiday. Make your plans now: spend a few days at the beach. Remember to reserve your lodging well ahead of time - and be prepared for major crowds and traffic.
But most of all prepare to have a lot of fun. All events happen on July 4 unless otherwise noted. Astoria The Ft Stevens Historic Area is hosting some events (in Warrenton). 503-861-1470 www.visitftstevens.com. There’s a Fourth of July parade through downtown Astoria during the day. The trolley is all dressed up in red, white and blue. Look for fireworks over the river and day activities. Near Maritime 800-875-6807. www.oldoregon.com Seaside
Serious Old Fashioned Fourth of July. Celebrate all day long with The Museum Society Parade starting at 11 a.m. and their Old Fashioned Social, happening from 11 – 4 p.m. At 3 p.m., the Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corp will provide a free concert at Quatat Park. Parade includes 110-piece Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps along with individuals, families, pets, floats and civic organizations to provide a fun and funny patriotic pageant. Some marchers hand out salt-water taffy and other goodies to the spectators. There’s a Street Fair on Broadway begins at Noon and continues until 8 p.m. It features a variety entertainment, face painting, a petting zoo and other booths and activities. At 3 p.m., the Drum & Bugle Corps will march the Promenade and then along Broadway to Quatat Park along the river where they will present a free concert. At dark, the fireworks display begins. The spectacular
show is coordinated to music broadcast over speakers across the Promenade
and on the local radio station, KSWB AM 840. There will be a “Fireworks
Free Zone” on the beach for families who prefer to keep children
away from the areas where spectators are setting off their own displays.
800-444-6740. The Fourth is celebrated without fireworks because of the bird sanctuaries at Haystack Rock. But it's charming Americana nonetheless. Parade at 1 p.m. with bikes, walkers, cars, pets and the infamous lawn chair drill team that doubles as a kazoo band. You'll have to see it to believe it. Personal fireworks on the beach were recently banned altogether. (503) 436-2623.
Manzanita Pancake Breakfast from 8:30 - 11 a.m. at the Fire Hall. At 1 p.m., a parade meanders through town. People often just jump in and join. Live music in downtown. Fireworks at dusk. 1-877-368-5100. Local secret: Some pack picnics and head to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain (just north of town). There, spectators can take in displays from Seaside, Manzanita Rockaway - and sometimes further south. Independence Day Celebration at Nehalem Bay Winery. BBQ with live music in the afternoon following the parade in Manzanita. A great time for the whole family. Free. Nehalem Bay Winery along Highway 53, near Wheeler, one mile from the junction of Highway 101 and 53. 1-888-368-9463. www.nehalembaywinery.com.
Rockaway Oceanside Fireworks shoot off from this little tiny town west of Tillamook. They're also quite visible from Netarts. One of the coast's coolest little secrets of the coast. Pacific City July 5: Clover’s Day. From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Cloverdale, along Hwy. 101, in the downtown and Nestucca Valley High School area. Festivities include a breakfast, a parade, a bazaar and music. For more information, contact contact Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce, 503-392-4340, manager@pcnvchamber.org.
At 8:45 p.m., the celebration continues with the Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce Fireworks Display. Fireworks will begin at dusk at the Pacific City beach area and the Bob Straub Wayside Area. For more information, call 503-965-7102. Also this day, the Kiwanda Music Festival. Six bands from around Oregon – classical, jazz to rock. Located at the southwest corner of the Cape Kiwanda parking lot. Music begins at 2 p.m. Arts and Crafts booths. Pacific City, Oregon. 541-996-7746 Lincoln City One of Oregon's bigger fireworks display happens at Taft, on Siletz Bay. Get there early in the day to park, and keep the family occupied all day with cooking goodies over a bonfire. 800-452-2151.
For those over 21, there's great kooky bar action before and afterwards at Roadhouse 101, Snug Harbor and The Pines. Gleneden Beach March in the parade at the biggest little celebration on the coast - one which has grown ten-fold since its beginnings a decade ago. The 1.1-mile route begins at the Fire Hall at 1 p.m. 800-428-5533. Community Breakfast with ham, sausage, eggs, pancakes and beverages at 8 a.m. (110 Azalea Street.) Also, there's a Craft Fair at Eden Hall. (541) 764-3212.
Depoe Bay July 3. Big stuff shoots off at dusk from nearby Boiler Bay. Shuttles available from 5 p.m. Concessions will be sold but families frequently bring their own picnics. 1-877-485-8348. Depoe Bay Winery stays open later for fun times. (541) 765-3311. Newport Fireworks at Yaquina Bay, Newport. This year will feature special finale: 125 explosions in honor of the town’s 125 years. Visible from bayfront, South Beach and down the river. Newport, Oregon. 541-265-8801 Newport Symphony Orchestra: 4th of July Concert. 4 p.m. Free. Newport High School. Newport, Oregon. July 5. Nye Beach Clambake and Seafood Barbeque. Held in honor of the town’s historical clambakes from days of old. Fun, Food, Live Music, Children's parade and Arts and Crafts booths. Seafood and non-seafood items. Picnic tables and chairs available. Public facilities and handicapped access. Free shuttle to event from parking areas. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nye Beach Turnaround, Newport, Oregon. Waldport Happens July 3. Folks line up along the bay to view the big booming stuff over Alsea Bay.
Yachats July 4. Yachats la de da Parade, Festivities & Fireworks Show. Fun-filled la de da Parade at Noon. Great food and music all afternoon and night at various venues about town. Spectacular Fireworks at Sundown over the Yachats Bay. This low-tech fun-filled Parade assembles at 11 a.m. behind the Yachats Commons on W 4th St and Hwy 101. At noon, the parade begins. It travels west on 4th St to Ocean View Dr, then south and east to Beach St, where it turns north and disperses just beyond the Yachats Post Office. July 4. Fourth of July Pie & Ice Cream Social. Tuesday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Yachats Ladies Club House, W 3rd & Pontiac. Yachats, Oregon. 541-547-3205. July 4. 3rd Annual Duck for Kids Race. Ducks will be launched at the Yachats River Bridge, just south of downtown Yachats. 1,000 Rubber Duckies will be dropped from the bridge to race down the Yachats River. Watch from the beach below the bridge at Yachats Ocean Road State Park. First ducks across the finish line will win fantastic prizes. You may sponsor a duck for $5 or 3 ducks for $10. Buy your chance to win at the Yachats Visitors Center, 241 Hwy 101, 541-547-3530; Chuck's Waldport Video, 520 Commercial St, Waldport, 541-563-4898, and area hotels and restaurants. 2:30 p.m. All proceeds will support Yachats Youth and Family Activities Programming. 541-547-4599.
Florence This year, it’s called “Four Days of Fourth of July,” with a bevy of events from July 2 – 5. On the Fourth, the sternwheeler offers a fireworks cruise on the river; live music outdoors in Old Town. Fireworks display over the river, with folks lining up all over Old Town and cramming the balconies of the area's restaurants and businesses. Some offer "fireworks specials" for the evening; many businesses stay open later to accommodate viewers. The sternwheeler offers a special fireworks cruise. Fireworks on the river at dusk. (541) 997-3128.
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