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Beyond the beach: Waldport’s Beachcomber Days expands its slate of community unity activities to much of the year

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Quinton Smith Beachcomber Days secretary TiAnne Rios, right, and Amy Anderson of the Alsea Bay Center for the Arts combined forces recently at the Waldport Wednesday Market to show banners that were hung from light poles throughout town and are now up for auction. Banner artists Carol Cassidy, left, and Diana Buckley stopped by to look at the display.

 

By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com

WALDPORT — What do cool cars, Halloween treats, holiday wreaths and scholarships have in common? That would be Waldport’s Beachcomber Days, which is expanding its calendar of community events to run throughout the year.

Known for its traditional Father’s Day weekend celebration featuring a parade, music and car show, Beachcomber Days is a nonprofit that funds education scholarships for Waldport High School students.

Beachcomber Days is a long-standing tradition in Waldport — next year will be the 66th time the community has been treated to the celebration. The pandemic forced the event to skip a year in 2020 and because of uncertainty associated with that, organizers moved the parade and other events to July 2-3 this year.

The committee envisions an expanded, even splashier 2022 Beachcomber Days celebration June 17-19, featuring a three-day timber/logging event, car show, parade, vendors’ fair, live entertainment and other activities.

More than 35 people and businesses have signed up for Beachcomber Days’ “Trunk or Treat” event 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29 at the Waldport Community Center.

This year’s revived event was such a hit that the all-volunteer organizing committee is busy planning for more.

“Because Beachcomber Days was so successful and well-supported this year, we want to continue to give back,” said secretary Tianne Rios of Seal Rock.

Plans through 2022 include:

  • A “Trunk or Treat” costume Halloween event at the Waldport Community Center from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29. Volunteers can decorate their cars along spooky themes, wear costumes and distribute candy to young trick-or-treaters. Masks are required; social distancing guidelines will be followed. Volunteers are still needed and the group is seeking businesses to donate candy. So far 35 individuals and businesses have signed up to hand out goodies.
  • Working with Oregon Army National Guard to festoon light poles with holiday wreaths to create a display from the Alsea Bay Bridge through the center of town.
  • In partnership with Waldport High School leadership, conducting seasonal activities during the week before Christmas.
  • A Christmas Bridge Walk in conjunction with the Waldport Chamber of Commerce.
  • Managing and organizing the outdoor Waldport Wednesday Market featuring farm goods and crafts through Oct. 31, weather permitting.
  • Resuming the Friday night drive-in movies at the Community Center.

The next Beachcomber Days committee meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19 at the Waldport Library is an opportunity for new volunteers to learn more and become involved. Waldport Mayor Greg Holland serves as vice president of the committee, and Waldport librarian Sue Bennett is treasurer. At any time, those interested in volunteering or helping sponsor an event may call Rios at 541-270-5752. More information is available on the Beachcomber Days’ website.

“It takes a lot of people to put on these events,” said Rios. “You don’t have to do everything. Just find an area you’re interested in, and if you do a little, and someone else does a little, little by little, the event comes together.”

Members of the Waldport Baptist Church portraying Noah’s Ark won the “Mayor’s Choice” award in this year’s Beachcomber Days parade. The event moves back to Father’s Day weekend next June.

Raising money to benefit kids

“Our goal in all of this is to raise money to benefit kids,” said Beachcomber Days president Tammy Abele of Yachats. “We get there by putting on family-friendly events that everyone can be part of — it’s all for community unity.”

Waldport High grads are eligible for scholarships to either technical schools or colleges, with funds ranging from $1,000 and up. Students present themselves as candidates to the group’s scholarship committee in the spring. Then, a “Royalty Court” of recipients is chosen, on the basis of grades or community activities.

The scholarship funds are generated by local business contributions, and the proceeds of raffle tickets. While many area enterprises and organizations are key to the success of the group’s work, Rios singled these out for special mention: Holland, the library, First Baptist Church of Waldport, Sweet Homes Vacation Getaways, the Waldport Business Center, and Women of the Moose.

If the success of this year’s event is any indication, next year’s event should be a record-setter.

“This summer, when pandemic restrictions were eased, people felt freer to get out and about,” said Abele. “In a post-Covid world, we’ll still need these activities to bring the community together.”

  • Cheryl Romano is a Yachats freelance reporter who contributes regularly to YachatsNews.com. She can be reached at Wordsell@gmail.com