100 Glass Floats Dropped This Weekend on Central Oregon Coast Beaches / Lincoln City

Published 01/05/22 at 5:32 PM PST
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) – It's the opening volley for glass float season on the central Oregon coast: the starting shot, albeit a bit later than usual.

For the last few years, Lincoln City's Finder's Keepers program of dropping artisan-created glass float balls on the beach has been a year-round thing, and not something that started up in the fall with a lot of ballyhoo and hoopla. Yet each New Year's Eve or the closest weekend to it has been considered the “opening weekend” of the famed favorite of the central Oregon coast. This year, with king tides barreling in, that put the kibosh on the colorful fun. After all, you don't want the citizenry stooped over the beaches as tidal chaos reigns.

Thus, Lincoln City officials postponed the big opening weekend of 2022's glass float drop to January 8 and 9. Out with the old year, in with 100 glass float balls let loose on the sands of the 7-mile central Oregon coast burgh. This Saturday and Sunday, 100 extra colorful creations will be set upon the town's beaches.

As always, if you happen to find one of these glass treasures on the beach, make sure to share your photos of them via Facebook at Facebook.com/ LincolnCityOregon, on Twitter using the tag @LincolnCityOR or on Instagram using @LincolnCityOR and #FindersKeepersLC.

It's also a time when Lincoln City announces its roster of special glass float drops throughout the year.

The next biggie happens from February 12 through 21 during Antique Week, also coinciding with the special Valentine's Day drop on February 12 through 14.

For Antique Week, some 100 antique Japanese glass floats will be carefully hidden during daylight hours between the high tide line and the embankment on the beach. These are the real thing: the old school, green glass balls that were used by Japanese fishermen for decades. Until about the ‘80s, they were seen along the Oregon coast in sizable numbers, drifting over from the east, and collected by just about everyone who ever hit this coastline and looked down.

They were a staple of ‘70s décor in the Pacific Northwest in many homes.

Lincoln City Visitor Bureau's Scott Humpert said they've had a contact in Alaska for some time that's been providing the now-disappearing treasures. The bureau has a lot of them stockpiled – but that supply is dwindling, he said.

For the Valentine's Day glass float drop, there will be 50 balls of red, white and pink showing up on the beaches.

The next several drops are: (for the full year's list see special drops page on Explore Lincoln City's site).

February 12-21,2022: Antique week: 100 Japanese antique floats
February 12-14, 2022: Valentine's Day: 50 Red/pink/white floats
March 19-April 3, 2022: Spring break: 200 floats
April 22-24, 2022: Earth Day: 50 Earth Day floats
May 7-9, 2022: Mother's Day: 50 floats
May 28-30, 2022: Memorial Day: 50 Red/white/blue floats
June 25-26, 2022: Summer Kite: 10 Hope floats
June TBD: Casino Anniversary: 27 floats
June 18-19, 2022: Father's Day: 50 floats
Sept 3-5, 2022: College Ball: 20 Green/yellow and 20 Orange/black floats
September TBD: Celebration of Honor: 50 Red/white/blue floats
October 1-2, 2022: Fall Kite: 10 floats Hope floats

Each are signed, numbered, and handcrafted, and they are hidden along the seven miles of public beach in Lincoln City. When the floats are found, they become collector's items. Bring your discovered treasure to the Visitors' Center at 540 NE Hwy 101 in Lincoln City to receive your autographed certificate of authenticity and a biography of the artist who created the glass float.

The glass floats tradition began in 1997, after a local artist came up with an idea for a fun way to herald the new millennium. The city sponsored the project and the inaugural season in 1999 – 2000 took off soaring like a kite on the wind.

Hotels in Lincoln City - Where to eat - Lincoln City Maps and Virtual Tours

SUGGESTED HOTELS

Coastal Inn. A remodeled inn that is affordable on any budget, among Lincoln City’s most colorful accommodations. Exceptionally clean with excellent service, it’s like a boutique hotel. Each room offers a 32-inch flat screen TV, coffee maker, microwave, air conditioning and free high speed wi-fi. 24 hour front desk. Rooms w/ one queen bed, king bed room, two queen beds, or each type of room with a balcony. Pet-friendly. 541-994-5281. 1713 NW 21st Street, Lincoln City, Oregon. Coastal Inn Website

Seagull Beachfront Motel. A beachy and historic vibe that is getting a modern new twist. You're completely oceanfront and on a bluff; budget price. Some large kitchen units, a cottage, rooms with private hot tubs, lovely view of the surf. Large viewing deck. Amenities: Keurig coffeemaker, refrigerator, microwaves, color TV. Rooms sleep between 2 to 6 people. 100% smoke free and pet-friendly. 1511 NW Harbor Ave. Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-994-2948. Seagull Beachfront Motel

Surfrider Resort. A combo of restaurant, luxury resort and oceanfront boutique, the Surfrider sits in that gloriously, slightly hidden section between Depoe Bay and Lincoln City. Overlooking Fogarty Beach, whales are often abundant here. Amenities include decks or balconies in some rooms, some pet friendly, kitchens available, handicapped parking, and plenty of entertainment devices. Free Wi-fi. 3115 NW Highway 101, Depoe Bay, Oregon. (541) 764-2311. Surfrider website here.

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