Fish you were here
Seafood and Spirits Festival returns to Port of Garibaldi
By Chelsea Yarnell
For the TODAY
Learn to fillet a fish or craft a seafood boil, all while sipping spirits at the Port of Garibaldi Seafood and Spirits Festival this weekend.
Returning for its second year, the festival will bring together more than 25 vendors to highlight the abundance of seafood from the Tillamook Bay. The event will take place this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13 and 14, under the big tent at the Garibaldi Marina.
The marina has a moorage for 277 vessels and is home to several commercial fishermen and charter operations. It also boasts a public boat launch and two public boat docks for recreational crabbing and fishing.
“Garibaldi is a fishing town,” said Event Coordinator Ashley Christensen. “We’re getting people to really experience everything that's around the marina. Even something as simple as the way that we're going to have the tent with the sides open will make it feel like it’s part of the marina and the lifestyle there.”
The event will feature of mixture of local Oregon distilleries, wineries and breweries as well as seafood-centric vendors who will be selling their food, art, products and wares.
Featured vendors include: Ewing Young Distillery, Mama Celia’s, JAZ Spirits, Stillweather Spirits, JUST RUM and 4 Spirits Distillery. Local vendors include: The Fish Peddler, Werner Brewing Company, Garibaldi Portside Bistro and Sugar + Air.
This immersive experience will also be seasoned with the first-hand knowledge of seafood experts.
“We're going to have live demonstrations, like how to clean a crab,” Christensen said. “We’ll have educational things all about seafood and our guests will be able to taste freshly harvested oysters, seaweed and mussels. It’s going to be a really fun way to experience everything that the town of Garibaldi has to offer.”
Tickets are $30 each, which includes admission to the festival as well as two drinks.
“Guests will be able to choose their drinks from any of the distilleries, breweries or wineries present and have a cocktail,” Christensen said.
Those under the age of 21 are welcome to attend and partake in all the non-alcoholic festivities.
Each day of the festival will feature live music by several artists and musical groups.
“I like to call it the nightcap to summer,” Christensen said. “I feel like it's a great way to enjoy the season wrapping up and relish in what a great summer it was. Bring all your friends.”
The Port of Garibaldi Seafood and Spirits Festival will take place from 4 to 8 pm on Friday, Sept. 13, and noon to 6 pm on Saturday, Sept. 14, under the big tent at the Garibaldi Marina, located at 107 Jerry Creasy Way. For more information and tickets, go to portofgaribaldi.org/seafood-spirits-festival or the Port of Garibaldi office, located at 402 South 7th Street in Garibaldi.