Holiday Magic & Fun on Oregon's Adventure Coast

Who’s looking forward to this year’s holiday season? We are! Not only will the Holiday Lights at Shore Acres be back after a two year hiatus, holiday magic will be all around Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston! With November upon us, it’s the perfect time to feature some of the upcoming events you will want to experience this 2022 holiday season!

If you’re among those traveling from out-of-town to see the holiday lights this year, we hope you’ll stick around and experience more of what Oregon’s Adventure Coast has to offer. Here are a few points of interest to add to your itinerary this holiday season (in no particular order).

• Charleston Marine Life Center - Located on the edge of the harbor in Charleston, the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology’s Charleston Marine Life Center is an exciting place for discovery. Aquaria highlighting different coastal ecosystems, a tidepool touch tank, whale and sea lion skeletons, underwater video from deep reefs and undersea volcanoes, and a variety of specimens reveal the hidden and remarkable diversity of life off Oregon, from the coast to the deep sea. Open Wednesday through Saturday 11am-5pm. www.charlestonmarinelifecenter.com

• The Mill Casino and Three Rivers Casino - Yes, we have not one, but TWO casinos in Coos Bay and North Bend offering some of the most fun-filled, Vegas-style and casino-gaming in the Pacific Northwest. www.oregonsadventurecoast.com/gaming

• Coos Art Museum - Housed in a former US Post Office building, this is the 3rd oldest art museum in Oregon. Features multi-discipline changing exhibits and a highly regarded permanent collection of Contemporary Northwest Art. The Steve Prefontaine Memorial Gallery is on the 2nd floor. Special arrangements are possible. www.coosart.org

• Whale Watching - mid-December through mid-January is migrating season for Gray whales! Plans are underway to bring back Whale Watching Spoken Here® volunteers in various locations on Oregon’s Adventure Coast to help visitors view the migrating California gray whales as they travel south to the warm lagoons of Baja Mexico. See the current details at orwhalewatch.org .

• Shopping in Downtown Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston - You never know what you’ll find in our unique shops on Oregon’s Adventure Coast. Our eclectic shops and boutiques feature special Oregon-made gifts, antiques, collectables, clothing, and more. Learn more » www.oregonsadventurecoast.com/shopping/

• Coos History Museum - Explore the rich tribal and maritime heritage of the Coos Bay area. Be sure to explore the museum’s newest exhibit Reclaiming Our Words: Tribal Language on the South Coast opening in November 2022. Cooshistory.org .

• Winter Storm Watching - Keep your eye on the forecast because storm watching season begins in November of each year and continues through the end of winter. Watching an ocean wave, reaching up to 35 feet, crash into the rugged cliffs along Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston is a beautiful sight to behold. https://www.oregonsadventurecoast.com/storm-watching/

• Cranberry Sweets & More - Made famous by Rachel Ray, Cranberry Sweets & More has invented a way to capture the cranberry’s unique tang in a candy that leaves customers coming back for more. All candies are made by hand and free sample products are always in good supply. Located in Coos Bay’s Empire District and in Bandon. cranberrysweets.com

• Egyptian Theatre - The historic Egyptian Theatre, originally designed as a Vaudeville and silent film house, boasts over 1200 seats between the main floor and balconies. Listen to the stylings of the Wurlitzer Organ and view classic movies on the Big Screen. Click here to see their calendar of events this holiday season! egyptiantheatreoregon.com

• Oregon Coast Historical Railway Museum - Railroad and logging equipment in an outdoor display area, and a mini-museum with photos and railroad memorabilia. Signature piece is a restored 1922 Baldwin steam locomotive. orcorail.org

• Other Oregon Coast holiday adventures worth mentioning include: Fishing , Crabbing , Clamming , Scenic Drives , and Entertainment & Nightlife

Here are some of the events happening this holiday season on Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston:

DOWNTOWN COOS BAY HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: NOVEMBER 11-12, 2022

The Coos Bay Downtown Association invites you to knock out your holiday shopping and explore the many local businesses that make Downtown Coos Bay a unique destination during the weekend of November 11-12, 2022 during its Annual Downtown Holiday Open House. Enter to win door prizes when you visit participating businesses in Downtown Coos Bay and be sure to keep your receipts to receive a commemorative mug on Shop Small Saturday (see below for more). Click here to learn more.

*Keep your receipts for all purchases made in Downtown Coos Bay between November 11 and November 26. Collect $100 in receipts, bring those receipts to Jennie’s Shoes (262 Central Ave) and receive a commemorative mug!*

CHARLESTON CRAB POT TREE NOVEMBER 22- DECEMBER 31, 2022

Photo @ Chris at Off the Edge Photography

Each year, visitors and locals marvel at the beautiful, festive holiday Crab Pot Tree in the parking lot of Fisherman’s Grotto restaurant! The twinkling lights can be seen as you’re driving down Cape Arago Highway and across to the Charleston Marina!

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT SHORE ACRES STATE PARK: NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 31, 2022

The dazzling Holiday Lights at Shore Acres State Park will light up Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston for the first time since 2019! This festive holiday event, brought to us by the Friends of Shore Acres , kicks off on Thursday, November 24, 2022 (Thanksgiving Day) and will be on display from 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. each night (including December 24th & 25th) thru December 31, 2022.

*IMPORTANT: Oregon State Parks has implemented a new timed entry system that all park visitors, regardless of residency, must sign up for, in advance, or else be turned away. The purpose of the timed entry system is to prevent extreme traffic and maintain visitor’s safety on Cape Arago Highway. Click here to learn more.*

TREE LIGHTING AT THE COOS BAY VISITOR CENTER WITH SANTA, PLUS ELF! AT THE EGYPTIAN: NOVEMBER 25, 2022

Santa is coming! Don’t miss our annual tree lighting event November 25, 2022 (Black Friday), culminating with Santa and the Mayor of Coos Bay lighting the 30 foot Christmas Tree in downtown Coos Bay. The event takes place at the Coos Bay Visitor Information Center and is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. Cider and cookies will be served as visitors await the lighting to take place at 5:30 p.m. Head to the Historic Egyptian Theatre immediately after the tree lighting for a visit with Santa followed by the traditional showing of the movie, Elf, starting at 7 p.m. Entry to the movie is FREE with a pair of new clean socks for the snowball fight scene. Socks will be donated to local shelters after the showing.

Can’t make it that day? No problem! The EgyptianTheatre will have two screenings of Elf the following day, Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 2pm (featuring a planned appearance from Santa) and again at 7pm. Please note, the 7 pm showing will not include a Santa appearance.

SHOP SMALL SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 26TH

The Coos Bay Downtown Association encourages shoppers to support our local businesses while holiday shopping on Saturday, November 26, 2022. There will be door prizes and other surprises at participating downtown businesses. Keep your receipts for all purchases made in Downtown Coos Bay between November 11 and November 26, 2022. Collect $100 in receipts, bring those receipts to Jennie’s Shoes (262 Central Ave) and receive a commemorative mug! Shop Small Saturday encourages us to shop at small, local shops this holiday season.

REINDEER ROUNDUP - NOVEMBER 28TH TO DECEMBER 21ST

Ruckus, the Reindeer, has convinced Santa’s reindeer to explore downtown instead of going back to the north pole following Santa’s visit. The reindeer will be hiding in businesses downtown. Find the reindeer in participating businesses, take a picture and then fill out an entry form to be entered to win a grand prize. (Business hours vary) The event will end on December 21st when the reindeer will return to the north pole to help Santa deliver toys to children around the world.

EMPIRE DISTRICT TREE LIGHTING AND SANTA PARADE - DECEMBER 2, 2022

The Empire District of Coos Bay will host their own Tree Lighting on December 2, 2022 at 5:30 pm. Before the lighting, Santa will be riding through the streets in the *Empire District (a historic area in the far west area of Coos Bay)- from 3:30-5:30pm - on top of the Empire fire engine as his elves hand out goodies to children. After the tree lighting, Star of Hope will once again be opening their doors for families to come in, have refreshments, visit with Santa, and vote in the gingerbread house competition. Each Star of Hope team will design and build a gingerbread house entry and the most votes will determine this year’s winner. The Tree Lighting will also be live streamed on Facebook .

*The Empire District borders the bayfront adjacent to Empire Blvd from Wisconsin Avenue north to the shoreline in Coos Bay. At the intersection of Empire Blvd and Newmark Avenue, east on either side of Newmark Avenue to the intersection with Ocean Blvd, east to the property line between Norman Avenue and LaClair Street.

NORTH BEND TREE LIGHTING, FESTIVAL ON MAIN & LIGHTED TRUCK PARADE!


Downtown North Bend will be the place to be on Saturday, December 3rd to get fully into the Holiday Spirit! Events begin at 9am and go all the way until 7pm! There is something for everyone throughout the day.

• 9:00am-11:00am - Waffles with Santa! at the North Bend Fire Station
• 10:00am - Noon - Storytime with Mrs. Clause at the North Bend Public Library
• 1:00pm-3:00pm - Christmas on Main Street in downtown North Bend
• 3:00pm-5:00pm - Holiday Block Party in the Festival Tent near City Hall
• 5:00pm - Annual North Bend Tree Lighting in Grants Circle Roundabout outside City Hall (Note: new location this year in downtown North Bend)
• 5:30pm-6:30pm - Meet Santa! in the Festival Tent near City Hall
• 6:30pm-7:00pm - Lighted Truck Parade cruises through downtown and midtown North Bend. (Note: Click here to see the new route for parade, which follows the July Jubilee parade route)

Please click here for the most current information.

Want more inspiration? Visit our Adventure Page for more resources to plan the perfect Oregon Coast getaway! Click here for directions and other important travel tips, or contact one of our friendly volunteers at the Coos Bay Visitor Information Center on Oregon’s Adventure Coast and start planning your trip today!