Our annual festivals are a delightful way to experience Bandon year after year. Plan for a fun-filled weekend stay during the Cranberry Festival and Gorse Blossom Festival.
Bandon Cranberry Festival
September 7, 8 and 9, 2018
The longest running festival on the Oregon Coast boasts more than seven decades of family fun with a parade, festival market, street dance and more.
The Bandon Cranberry Festival is a lively introduction to the community as well as a time-honored tradition for residents. The festival celebrates local cranberry farming, with something for everyone– live music and performing arts, classic cars and farm equipment, sports, shopping, dining and contests.
Events are staged in Old Town, the Port of Bandon waterfront, Sprague Community Theater and city park, and Bandon High School.
Get the full list of festival events at bandon.com/cranberry-festival. Or, visit the Bandon Chamber & Visitors Center, open daily at 300 2nd St. SE, in Old Town Bandon. The festival is presented by the Bandon Chamber of Commerce with support from local businesses and organizations.
Gorse Blossom Festival
February 15, 16 and 17, 2019
This is not your average beer and wine fest. The Gorse Blossom Festival highlights Bandon’s heritage and culture with a quirky angle on local horticulture.
Festival vendors fill the Old Town Marketplace on the Coquille River waterfront, featuring Pacific Northwest wine, beer, food, crafts and live music. Sign up for wine or brew-maker dinners at local restaurants. And, get ready to raise a glass to the Bloody Mary Stroll, a movable cocktail feast. The festival is held President’s Day weekend.
Aiming for an eco-friendly profile, festival organizers decided food and beverage samples should be served with reusable glassware and silverware. Horticultural education may be the most intriguingly green festival element: Visitors can learn about invasive plant species, such as the local gorse plant, and get tips even home gardeners can use to promote healthy local landscapes.
The festival, organized by the Greater Bandon Association, was named 2017 winner for Best Downtown Special Event by the Oregon Main Street program. Find event details at gorseblossomfest.com.
Article by Geneva Miller. Photos by Angela Cardas, Cardas Photography.