A community in bloom
By Breeana Laughlin
For the TODAY
A group of local leaders has been growing a community event to celebrate spring coming into full bloom.
Bloom Newport is a festival designed to showcase some of the best local arts, culture, food and drink the coastal community has to offer. It will be held at the Newport Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 30.
“It's a way to get people out after everything we've gone through the past several years and celebrate all the great things that can be found right here in Newport,” said Jason Holland, director of the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts.
The free event will feature live music performances, local arts displays, vendor booths, a food truck court, a beer garden — and even a silent disco party. Local surf club Babes on Waves will also be hosting a surf gear swap.
Holland designed the event with a group of fellow community members taking part in the Leadership Lincoln program. This program offers informational and networking opportunities for participants — as well as the opportunity to design a community project.
“One of the group project options was to throw a community-based event,” said Ryan Perry, leadership class participant and brand manager at Wolf Tree Brewery. “In my mind, that meant throw a party, so I signed up for that.”
Wolf Tree Brewery will be contributing craft beer to the beer garden, along with Rogue Ale and Spirits, Beachcrest Brewing Company and Bier One Brewing. A $25 beer garden entry fee includes a custom tasting glass and five tasting tickets. All proceeds will support the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts.
Festival goers can also choose a variety of food options during the event, including traditional barbecue, tacos, Americana and vegan options from Lady Bird BBQ, Canales Catering and Rolling Robin’s Nest.
“I'm really looking forward to eating the food,” Holland said. “And, of course I am biased, I am really looking forward to the performances. The local arts and culture scene is really impressive to me so I am excited to showcase performances from Andean folk music to Folklorico dance to a singer-songwriter duo.”
Fellow event organizer Perry said he's really looking forward to the silent disco party.
“I've been to one before and it was really fun,” he said. “Also, I think it's something most folks in Newport haven't seen or experienced.”
During the silent disco party, guests wear wireless headphones and a silent atmosphere instantly transforms into a high energy musical performance. The headset rental is free and requires a photo ID to hold while the headphones are in use. Participants can choose to dance to music mixed by one of three participating DJs.
“It is on the main stage front and center and anyone who feels like dancing can get up and get on stage,” Perry said. “It's fun to do, but it's also fun to watch because if you don't have the head phones on you can't tell what music they are dancing to.”
A variety of local merchants and businesses will also be on hand to sell and provide information about their services and products during the event, including the Olalla Center, Pura Vida Surf Shop, Beachy Things, Amp Surf and the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts’ Art Bus.
Although organizers are producing the event for the first time, they said they hope it becomes an annual spring festival.
“Our music scene, our arts scene, our culinary scene and our craft beer scene are pretty remarkable for a town the size of Newport,” Perry said. “We want to spotlight that and spend some time with our friends — and maybe make some new ones.”
Newport will bloom from 3 to 7 pm. For more information, go to coastarts.org/events/bloom-newport.
Performances
Inside the Newport Performing Arts Center
3:15-3:45 pm: Chayag — Andean folk music
3:55-4:30 pm: True North Duo — Singer-songwriter duo Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel
4:30-5 pm: Herencia — Mexicana folklorico dance
5-7 pm: Silent Disco Party — Heisty, DJ EPOC, DJ Bloom