March madness

Newport puts its best foot forward with Loyalty Days parade

By Breeana Laughlin

For the TODAY

Loyalty Days is back for its 65th year with the theme of “Heal Together,” bringing the community of Newport together to recognize military servicemen and women and memorialize fallen heroes.

A variety of activities will take part throughout the day on Saturday, May 7, including a fun run/walk, a parade, barbecue, a reading of the names of fallen heroes and a blessing of the fleet.

“This town has a lot of history and with that history comes Loyalty Days,” said active duty National Guard member Luke Bobeda, a chairman of the Loyalty Days committee. “You'll find people who have lived here their whole lives and they remember walking in the parade when they were little kids — and that's pretty cool.”

The event offers a variety of activities throughout Saturday, starting with a one-mile fun run and walk followed by a parade.

There are more than 60 entries in the open-entry parade, so parade goers can expect to see everyone from big businesses to dancers to schools participating. Parade goers will also see a variety of entities that help keep the community safe — from first responders like ambulances and life flight, to members of the coast guard and national guard.

The parade route starts at Walmart at the north of town and continues to Highway 20.

The parade will be followed by an American Legion open house. The events for the blessing of the fleet will follow beginning at 2 pm.

“During the blessing of the fleet a pastor prays over the boats,” Bobeda said. “It's really cool to see the big line of fishing boats going out onto the bay.”

In the absence of an official carnival this year, Simply Design Studios and Camp 1 Coffee have joined forces to put on a Family Fun Fair in their parking lot, offering games, cotton candy, live music and entertainment, rain or shine. The fair will run from 11 am to 2 pm at 1460 N. Coast Hwy.

This year’s two Loyalty Days Princesses will also be at the event to share their speeches highlighting the “Heal Together” theme.

Newport High School seniors Kacey Cutter and Nina Bain each wrote a speech about their personal experiences living through a pandemic as a young person. They will be sharing their speeches on several occasions throughout the year, including Saturday's events.

“COVID not only changed the way society functions but it changed us as individuals,” Kutter wrote in her speech. “Whether we lost a loved one, had to isolate ourselves from the life we know, or lost a job, the pandemic has forced change to occur in each of our lives.”

Kutter poignantly and honestly describes her struggles with mental health during the pandemic, and how she was able to come out of the experience as a better person.

Fellow princess Bain describes the pandemic as a “nightmare.”

“Everybody has lost things that were important to them and we have had to overcome it all together,” she wrote in her speech. “It has not been easy for anyone. Whether we lost a loved one, had to take on jobs to support our families, or were stripped of our childhood years, we have all experienced difficulties, but what I believe is more important to focus on are the things we learned and gained.”

Bobeda commends the young women on their ability to share their personal stories with the community.

“Their speeches tear at your heartstrings,” he said. “They share a high-school perspective of COVID and what they went through during the pandemic — including how to heal together.”

Bobeda said he is glad to be part of an event that gives the community an opportunity to celebrate everyday heroes, whether those in the medical field, servicemen and women and local fishermen and women.

“What makes this event unique is how far it's grown since it started and how much the town comes together to support it,” he said.

For more information, go to the Newport Loyalty Days and Seafair Festival Facebook Page.

Event schedule

11 am-2 pm: Family Fun Fair at Simply Design Studios

Noon: Loyalty Days Parade

1 pm: American Legion Open House


2 pm: Blessing of the Fleet

4 pm: Fishermen’s Wives BBQ

7 pm: Fisherman Memorial Service