City of Coos Bay 150th

A Summer of Celebration for the City’s 150th Birthday!

The City of Coos Bay turns 150 this year. The official term for this is Sesquicentennial but we’re just calling it a Big Party - all summer long! From May to October, events happening all over the city will be part of the big birthday celebration. And it all culminates with a Block Party Bash the weekend of the City’s official birthday, Saturday, October 26th. More info on that below!

Did you know that Coos Bay and the city’s Empire District are filled with Historic Homes? Take a Self-Guided Driving Tour of the Historic Homes of Coos Bay and Empire as you help us celebrate Coos Bay’s 150th Birthday!

The Events below are all proudly part of the City’s Summer of Celebration. We hope you will attend some, or all, of these great events! And don’t miss the Block Party on October 26th.

Mayfly Festival

May 18 | 11am-3pm | Mingus Park
The Mayfly Festival is designed to shed light on the connections between community, the environment, and water. This is a free, all-ages, hands-on celebration of watershed ecology and inter-connectedness through activities, games, live music, science, and art! At the Mayfly Festival, you can dance to some good music, make a costume, join a parade around the pond, dip a net into the Mingus Pond to see what lives there, and learn about fish, insects, plants, compost, marine debris, gardening, the connections between human health and environmental health, and so much more! The Mayfly Festival is a Coos Watershed Association annual event.

June Fun Events

June 18, 19, 21 | Various Times | Various Locations
The South Coast Equity Coalition invites you to celebrate Juneteenth 2024 with the following great activities in the Coos Bay Area:
June 18, 2:00pm, Umpqua Hall at SWOCC - A Special Presentation by Taylor Stewart of the Oregon Remembrance Project.
June 19, 5:00pm-7:30pm, Black Market Gourmet - African Drumming with Gansango Music and Dance Company followed by the Annual Family Reunion Reception and an Essay honoring Mr. Alonzo Tucker, and more.
June 21, 7:00pm-9:30pm, The Egyptian Theatre - Free screening of Black Panther.

June 22, 23, 29, 30 | 3:00pm | Mingus Park
Beware the Ides of March! Coos Bay’s own Shakespeare in the Park brings us Julius Caesar! Performed in the outdoor amphitheater of Mingus Park, the production features a brilliant cast of one of Shakespeare’s most revered plays. Shows will be held on Saturdays and Sundays, June 22 & 23 and June 29 & 30 at 3:00pm. Green Show begins at 2:30. Bring a chair or a blanket to sit on the amphitheater’s hillside overlooking the stage.

July 4th Celebration and Fireworks

July 4th | All Day & Evening | Mingus Park and Boardwalk
More Details coming soon. Full day of events in Mingus Park including fishing, a fun run, family fun events and more. Annual Fireworks Display over the Bay begins at dark.

July Fun Events

July 5 | 5:00pm-7:00pm | Downtown and Coos Bay Village
The July Wine Walk features a special 150th Birthday etched wine glass, while supplies last! Begin at the Coos Bay Visitor Center or Checkerberries. For a $10 donation, receive a glass, a map and a wristband.

July 13-27 | Various | Various
The Oregon Coast Music Festival is proud to be part of the 150th Birthday Celebration! This annual event features a variety of concerts at venues all over Coos Bay and Charleston. Visit the OCMF Event Page for Details!

July 12,13,14 and 19,20,21 | Friday-Saturday 7pm, Sunday 2pm | The Dolphin Playhouse
The Dolphin Playhouse presents “The Hollering Place Radio Show- Celebrating the 150 Year History of Coos Bay” for six performances. This original script will be performed by local talent.

July 17 | Noon-3:00pm | Downtown Coos Bay
Join the Coos Art Museum for an Historic Sketching Walking Tour of downtown Coos Bay. Walk will begin at the Coos Art Museum, 235 Anderson, and will visit such interesting historic spots as the Egyptian Theatre, the Tioga Building, Carnegie Library, Old City Hall, and the Buggee Bank Building.

August Fun Events

August 6 | 6-9pm | Ed Lund Park in Empire and Eastside Park in Eastside
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Events are scheduled for both Empire and Eastside this year. Empire’s event will include hot dogs, ukulele music and dancing, the movie “The Sandlot” at the Dolphin Playhouse, and more. Brought to you by the Community Coalition of Empire, AYA, and Star of Hope.

August 8, 15, 22, & 29 | 7pm | Mingus Park
Music on the Bay brings us a great lineup of music for this year’s concert series running eight Thursday’s in a row from August 8th through September 12th. For a full line up of musicians and bands, visit the Music on the Bay Facebook Page .

August 11 | 11am-5pm | Coos Art Museum
The Coos Art Museum proudly celebrates its 40th Anniversary in the repurposed Art Deco post office located at 235 Anderson Ave, downtown Coos Bay. Viewable all day will be a Museum History poster exhibit and a Maritime Art History exhibit. Take a polaroid picture for the community wall and make CAM buttons throughout the day. From 1pm-4pm is the official Birthday Party Open House. At 1:30pm will be a cake cutting and at 2pm will be a Memories of the Museum talk.

August 15 | 6-7pm | Coos History Museum
Coos History Museum brings us a Special Thursday Speaker Series for the 150th Birthday! The August program features Steve Greif on the Development of Marshfield.

Blackberry Arts Festival

August 24-25 | SAT. 9am-6pm and SUN. 10am-4pm| Downtown Coos Bay
The Annual Blackberry Arts Festival Celebrates the Delicious Blackberry and Art! Blackberry arts, food, and drink are the fare at this popular event in downtown Coos Bay. Featuring live music with the Blackberry Jam all weekend long! Visit the Blackberry Arts page for more information!

September Fun Events

September 5 & 12 | 7pm | Mingus Park
Music on the Bay brings us a great lineup of music for this year’s concert series running eight Thursday’s in a row from August 8th through September 12th. For a full line up of musicians and bands, visit the Music on the Bay Facebook Page .

September 6 | TBD | Dolphin Playhouse Parking Lot
Join area non-profit organizations for a special fundraiser, the Non-Profit Parking Lot Sale held each year in the parking lot of The Dolphin Playhouse in Empire.

September 19 | 6-7pm | Coos History Museum
Coos History Museum brings us a Special Thursday Speaker Series for the 150th Birthday! The September program features The Story of Eastside and Empire

Bay Area Fun Festival

September 21-22 | Time | Downtown Coos Bay
What began as the celebration of Coos Bay’s 100th Birthday, has now become the Last Great Party of the Summer! The Bay Area Fun Festival happens in Downtown Coos Bay and surrounding areas on the third weekend in September!

Thousands of locals and visitors from afar come to enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of beautiful downtown Coos Bay and surrounding areas for this popular festival. Highlights include live entertainment, the famous Cruz the Coos featuring nearly 500 vintage automobiles, the Prefontaine Memorial Run , Live Music, the BAFF parade, and much more!

October Fun Events

October 17 | 6-7pm | Coos History Museum
Coos History Museum brings us a Special Thursday Speaker Series for the 150th Birthday! The October program features Tribal History.

October 23 | TBD | Downtown Coos Bay
Coos Bay Downtown Association announces a Pumpkin Carving Contest to coincide with the October 23rd Farmer’s Market. More details coming soon!

150th Birthday BLOCK PARTY!

October 26 | Time TBD | Coos Bay Village, Coos History Museum and Front Street
Join us for a blowout Birthday Party to celebrate Coos Bay’s Sesquicentennial. There will be music, activities for the whole family, and of course, birthday cupcakes! More details coming soon.