4th of July On The Coast

The 4th of July is always a very busy time on the Oregon Coast and this year in celebration of the Nations 250th birthday there is a lot to celebrate. The Lincoln County Fair and Rodeo will be taking place Thursday - Saturday July 2-4. Activities including the Rodeo will be taking place at the Lincoln County Commons and on Harney Street in Newport. There will be music, food, vendors, camel rides and 4-H activities, plus the Rodeo on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The fair however will not have a carnival this year as the fair board had originally hoped it would.

The Lincoln County Fair board announced their disapoitment that they will not have a carnival this year. After months of ongoing discussions, Brass Ring Amusements, based out of California informed the Fair Board that they are unable to commit to providing carnival services for the 2026 Lincoln County Fair. Brass Ring told the board they continue to face significant staffing challenges resulting from delays in the federal H-2B temporary foreign worker program. At this time, the company has only 37 of the approximately 140 employees needed to operate its full schedule. There has not been a carnival at the Lincoln County Fair since 2017.

In Lincoln City it will be a busy weekend with lots of events and activities for the holiday including the Devils Lake Neighborhood Association holding their fireworks display over the lake Friday night July 3rd at dusk. Then on Saturday, July 4th, they will have the annual boat parade on Devils Lake. The procession will start at Regatta park around 4pm and work around the lake counter-clockwise. The city of Lincoln City will then be doing their firewoks display over the lake at about 10pm.

Other events going on in Lincoln City include Lincoln City Parks & Recreation hosting: Vets', Pets and Pies. This event will be held at the Community Center from 10am until 12 noon. Enter your best pie for judging and walk your pet in the pet parade. Best pies and pets will receive a prize. Veterans receive free entry to the Community Center all day and a special gift from Lincoln City Parks & Recreation.

The public is invited to join Explore Lincoln City in the Taft District for Stars and Stripes and Wildlife, a celebration of Independence Day and the natural wonders of Siletz Bay. Live music, food trucks, eco-activities, fun swag and more from noon to 5pm near the Taft Pavilion. Parking for the Stars, Stripes and Wildlife will be in the public parking areas throughout Lincoln City's Taft District. Event parking at Taft High School will be open at 11:00 am. A shuttle service will make rounds from Taft High School to the event site until 6:00 pm.

In Newport the Newport Symphony Orchestra will perform their starts and stripes forever concert at the Newport Middle School on Saturday July 4th at 4pm. This is a free community concert, however they will be accepting donations for the Newport Fishermen's Wives. July 3-5 there will be an art exhibition at Don And Ann Davis Park Gazebo 10am -6pm titled Past, Present, Future: U.S. at 250 Postcard Mail Art. There will be live music on Mo's Patio between 1-3pm. Enjoy fireworks over Yaquina Bay at 10pm.

Toledo is holding a 4th of July celebration at Memorial Field on Saturday 11-5 with music, food trucks, family games and a free community raffle. Legal fireworks can also be sold and used within the city of Toledo. Gleneden Beach is holding a breakfast at the community club then the parade gets underway at noon. There will also be vendors and food. Waldport is holding their fireworks show on Friday July 3rd at 10pm over Alsea Bay. Yachats will be doing their annual LaDeDah parade at noon on Saturday the 4th and there will be family friendly activities throughout the day and then fireworks over the ocean at 10pm.

No matter where you go plan to arrive early if you are attending any of the fireworks shows as parking fills up quickly, shuttles are available for activities in Lincoln City. Bring warm clothing or blankets. Even after warm days, evening temperatures on the coast often drop into the 50s. Personal fireworks are prohibited on Oregon beaches and in state parks, and in many cities and the unincorporated areas of Lincoln County. The city of Toledo is allowing legal fireworks and sales, but the are encouraging firework safety.