It’s pouring in Newport
as the Seafood & Wine Festival returns for its 46th year
••••• Due to extreme weather conditions, the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival will delay its opening.
We plan to open our doors on Friday at 12:00 pm.
Safety is most important for our community, attendees, volunteers, and vendors. The roads are expected to get icy this evening.
What does that mean for Thursday ticket holders?
You are invited to use your Thursday ticket for the FULL weekend Friday-Sunday.
VIP party by Chinook Winds Casino? We will host the Chinook Winds VIP Party on Friday 5 pm-7 pm
Stay safe, and we’ll see you Friday-Sunday at the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival.
By Barbara B. Covell
For the TODAY
It is back again and still the best for thousands of fans who have eagerly waited for its return. While the pandemic caused a shutdown in 2021 and 2022, the Seafood & Wine Festival has returned to celebrate its 46th year this weekend.
This year’s festival will attract foodies and wine aficionados from throughout the Northwest and California. It is the only event that brings together Pacific Northwest wineries, locally harvested seafood, and artisans of multiple mediums in a four-day extravaganza. There are also the popular commercial and amateur wine competitions where vineyards of all sizes present their finest varietals.
The fun begins on Thursday, Feb. 23, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 26. Located in a tented venue adjacent to Rogue Brewery in South Beach, the Seafood & Wine Festival is the biggest event held on the Oregon Coast. It is one of the largest seafood and wine festivals in this country, billed as “The Original and Still the Best.”
Presented by longtime sponsor Chinook Winds Casino Resort, the festival offers a different experience on each of the four days. Thursday is informally called “locals’ night” and draws coastal residents who appreciate a more intimate experience. Running from 5 to 9 pm, it gives the opportunity for guests to connect with vendors, visit with friends and neighbors in a low-key atmosphere.
Friday brings a heightened level of excitement as demonstrations, wine talks, specialty foods and tastings filling the festival from noon to 8 pm. Acoustic music will be featured on the center stage providing an ambiance without overtaking the conversations between vendors and their customers. While every hour offers a unique experience, festival organizers say Friday’s biggest draw is from 4 to 6 pm.
On Saturday, the festival runs from 10 am to 6 pm.
“This is the big day for festival goers. It has more of a party vibe,” says Bobbi Price, who has managed the festival for 13 years. After this year, she will pass the baton on to Newport Chamber of Commerce employee Maggie Conrad.
On the final day of the festival, the doors are open from 10 am to 4 pm.
“This is when people come in to purchase wine,” Price said, “often some varietals they’ve tasted on prior days.”
Approximately 150 vendors create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, showcasing their wines, local seafood and art.
A smorgasbord of food options features the Pacific Northwest’s freshest bounty. Dungeness crab cocktails, crab melts, oyster shooters, sushi, chowders, grilled shrimp and seafood bisque are a few offerings, in addition to Mexican-style and barbecued seafoods. Roam through the booths and discover candies, baked goods, sweets, nuts, textiles and clothing.
“There’s something for everybody,” Price said.
One of the biggest draws is the commercial wine competition featuring large to boutique vineyards. The 2023 festival will showcase 85 vineyards from all parts of the Pacific Northwest., with winners published in the festival’s official guide.
“There will be a designated food court and ample seating areas,” Price said, “and a separate beer tent offering varieties of Rogue Ale.”
The festival is making a greater effort to reduce waste by focusing on recycling and the proper disposal of waste via composting. “We are committed to being a green event,” Price said.
There are so many details in orchestrating an event where 17,000 guests enter the doors over the course of four days. It estimated that Newport’s population of 10,000 will swell to 25,000 for the 2023 festival. Virtually every hotel, restaurant, retail establishment and method of transport benefit from the Seafood & Wine Festival. Price says the citywide hospitality industry is gearing up to make it a success.
While event parking is limited for $5, a citywide shuttle bus will make an hourly loop from the major area hotels, extending geographically from Pacific Shores to South Beach. Taxicabs and temporary taxi permits are also available.
“We are back in action as a community. We want to promote that the Seafood & Wine Festival is the original and the best. These traditions should continue on.”
Single-day ticket prices for the 21-and-over event are $20 for Thursday, $26 for Friday, $32 for Saturday and $12 for Sunday. Saturday admission is by e-ticket only although at 1 pm the gate will open for general admission depending on capacity. Tickets can also be purchased in three- and four-day bundles. VIP tickets include access to the VIP hospitality suite for $150. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance online. Price suggests the online option as gate purchases tend to sell out.
For more information, go to the Newport Chamber of Commerce at www.newportchamber.org or call 541-265-8801.