Loyalty Days And Blessing Of The Fleet

The first weekend in May is the annual Loyalty Days and Seafair Festival. Celebrate community spirit and patriotism at the Newport Loyalty Days, a longstanding coastal tradition. The festival features a variety of family-friendly events, including a parade, live entertainment, community gatherings, and activities honoring veterans and local heritage. This year marks the 68th year of the celebration. Events will kick off tonight (5/2/25) with the Loyaty Days Court meet and greet and crowning of the queen, this year being held at the Newport Elks' Lodge. The parade will get underway at noon tomorrow May 3rd. After the parade the fun continues at the Newport Armory. The Newport Chamber is holding a Cinco D Mayo festival with music, food and fun. The 234th Oregon Army band will be playng a free concert at 2pm.

On Sunday May 4 at Port Dock 5 @ 9am-11am in Newport the Newport Fishermen's Wives we will be doing a survival suit exchange and leak testing during the survival suit races, which starts at 9am. Bring up your survival suits and we will test for any leaks and we will exchange up to two survival suits per commercial vessel owner for any suits older than 2007 or that have a leak. They have 59 new suits and it’s first come first serve. Any extra suits and the set up will be at the free barbecue & Highliner competition at 1 PM at the Newport international terminal. Funding for this project is through a Northwest Oregon Works Grant, Englund Marine, Oregon Sea Grant, and Newport fisherman’s wives.

At 11am will be the annual Blessing of the Fleet. This has been a longstanding tradition in our community for decades. This takes place in our harbor and can be viewed from most locations on our Bayfront. After the blessing at 1pm will be the free community BBQ and highliner games taking place at the Port's International Terminal. At 4pm at Yaquina Bay state park will be the treasured Memorial, with a service remembering our fishermen lost at sea while offering support and encouragement to all fishing families. This will take place at the Fishermen's Memorial Sanctuary.