Pushing the boat out
Pacific City celebrates its maritime heritage at Dory Days Festival
Get ready to sail through time as Pacific City gears up for the annual Dory Days Festival, this Friday through Sunday, July 19 through 21.
The events include live music on Friday, a fish fry on Saturday and a vendor fair held through the weekend. The highlight of the festival, the parade of boats, cars, horses and music, will wind through the streets of Pacific City on Saturday. Floats, decorated according to the theme "Decades of Dories," will compete for trophies in six different categories.
The parade begins at 11 am at Bob Straub State Park and works its way into downtown Pacific City.
Also on Saturday, the traditional fish fry happens at the Kiawanda Community Center from noon to 5 pm. Visitors can taste the history of the Pacific with fresh-caught fish from the SeaQ dory boat, expertly fried by the Sportsman Pub and Grub.
Or, start the day bright and early at the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District Pancake Feed, also held at the community center. At this annual fundraiser for the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District, firefighters and helpful volunteers will be serving up delicious pancakes from 7 to 10 am. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for kids.
Music lovers can look forward to live performances and entertainment. Friday's performers are the rock band The Radio Riots, playing cover songs from groups like AC/DC to the timeless anthems of Led Zeppelin at the community center. Tickets for the all ages concert are $15 per person.
During the parade on Saturday, “The Beat Goes On” marching band will play tunes featuring a high-energy, brassy, rock and roll style.
For those interested in the historical aspects of the dory fleet, the "Launching Through the Surf: The Dory Fleet of Pacific City" traveling exhibit is a must-see. This collaborative presentation by Linfield University and the Pacific City Dorymen’s Association will be open to the public at the community center on Saturday from 7 am to 5 pm.
Festival-goers will also have the opportunity to chat directly with dorymen about their distinctive boats and the specific purposes behind their builds at the Traditional Dory Boat Display in the Dorymen’s Lot on Friday from noon to 6 pm and on Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. These traditional dory boat displays will showcase the features that have enabled these vessels to brave the Pacific waters for more than a century.
Pacific City fishermen and women have launched dory boats through the surf at Cape Kiwanda since the early 1900s. Dory fishermen and women remain an integral part of the traditional lore and contemporary life of the community. Cape Kiwanda is one of the only places on the West Coast where hundreds of dories are launched through the surf. But how do they do it? It's all about the boat.
Come check out these incredibly unique vessels that are often locally built. There will be five dories that span time from the 50s up to modern day and really showcase the evolution of the dory boat. Learn how they are built and the key differences to look for in a recreational and commercial vessel.
The artisan market, happening at the Dorymen’s Lot, will feature a range of unique souvenirs, vintage-inspired jewelry, artwork and more.
The lineup of children's activities, happening at the community center following the parade and lasting until 4 pm, include face painting and temporary tattoos, arts and crafts stations where kids can let their imaginations soar as they create personalized crafts using a variety of materials and interactive games played in a safe and supervised environment.
Dory Days has been recognized by the Oregon Heritage Commission as an Oregon Heritage Tradition and joins only a handful of other events for this honor.
The Kiawanda Community Center is located at 34600 Cape Kiwanda Drive. The Dorymen's Lot is located at 34670 Brooten Road, at the corner of Brooten Road and Tent Street.
For more information, go to pacificcitydorydays.com.