Fall for Pacific City this weekend
By Chelsea Yarnell
For the TODAY
Fish are typically what you’d find inside a dory boat. But, for one weekend they’ll be traded out for bales of hay.
The first ever Pacific City Fall Festival will be hosted at the Cape Kiwanda Marketplace this Friday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 20.
The inaugural weekend event will be a festive gathering featuring local artists, food trucks, beer and wine tastings, a pumpkin patch, face painting, a fire truck and, making it so very Pacific City-y, hayrides on a dory boat.
“We’re using our tractor to pull the dory boat,” said Mark Dunn, general manager of Hart’s Camp and Cape Kiwanda RV Park. “It gives it a little twist because we're at the cape with all the boats.”
The event is hosted in partnership with Hart’s Camp and Cape Kiwanda RV Park, Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa and the Inn at Cape Kiwanda.
“The three general managers for each property put our heads together and decided, ‘Why don’t we do a fun community event,’” Dunn said. “We want to attract the locals to come back down to the cape because a lot of them stay away during the summertime. It's a good way to bring them back in, thank them for all the support and just have some fun.”
Thirty different artists will host booths during the festival featuring their works of photography, blown glass and artisan crafts. Three food trucks will keep stomachs full throughout the festivities, serving dishes including dory-caught fish from SeaQFish. For those aged 21 and older, PC Pour will have wine tastings while Pelican Brewing will have beer tastings. The Nestucca High School cheerleaders will be selling cotton candy as a fund-raiser for their program.
“We’re trying to capture a wide range of vendors that want to participate and will appeal to the community plus any visitors that come to the area during that week,” Dunn said.
Complimentary s'mores, hot cocoa and cider will be served around the campfire.
On Saturday only, the Matt Mitchell Music Company will perform live music from 1 to 4 pm.
“Just come enjoy,” Dune said. “We're trying to make it as fun as possible and for years to come.”
Admission to the event is free and all ages are welcome. Free parking is available just south of Doryland Pizza, or pay-to-park directly at Cape Kiwanda.
The festival runs from noon to 5 pm on Friday and Saturday and noon to 4 pm on Sunday.
The Cape Kiwanda Marketplace is located at 33315 Cape Kiwanda Drive in Pacific City. For more information, go to discoverpacificcity.com.