If you will are planning a trip to the coast of Oregon the first part of June and are looking for interesting events to attend, I have a suggestion.
From June 1 to 4, the Festival of Sail is coming to Coos Bay/North Bend. This will be one of the largest events in Oregon in 2017 and will include the largest rubber duck in the world and eight historic tall ships.
On June 1, behind the slipstream of the 61-foot tall, 11-ton World’s Largest Rubber Duck, the historic tall ships will sail into port at the Mill Casino in North Bend, Oregon, for the festival.
The eight tall ships will be available to board and tour starting June 2. The ships include Bill of Rights, Schooner Freda B, Lady Washington, Hawaiian Chieftain and Dirigo.
Along with on-board tours and day sails, other activities will include live music, entertainment, educational programs about maritime life 200 years ago, sea shanties, locally curated beer, local food and fun for the entire family.
These ships combine the mystique of Hollywood with a living history of the sea. These ships were made famous in films such as the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. The Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain are both heavily researched replicas of vessels that ran the trade routes in the 1800s.
Single-day festival-only tickets start at $9, a single onboard tour pass is $12, a multiple-day pass that includes admission and onboard tours is $20, a day sail is $95 and a Parade of Sail Day Sail on one of the tall ships as they arrive at Coos Bay on opening day is $150.
Those interested in bringing 10 or more people to the festival can email rebekah@drawevents.com for tickets. Those who want to get their tickets early should visit www.festofsailcoosbay.com or call 877-4FLY-TIX for tickets.
For those who are interested in seeing and touring these tall ships, I suggest getting your tickets and any hotel reservations in the Reedsport/North Bend, Oregon, area as soon as possible to make sure you have a place to stay and can see, tour, or sail on these historic ships.
For those driving to Coos Bay/North Bend from East Idaho, it is a long drive.
Plan on 13 to 14 hours to get there. Those flying can fly to Eugene and rent a car to drive the 115 miles southeast to Coos Bay/North Bend.
I have been trying hard to get back to Coos Bay the first four days in June ever since my wife and I heard that the tall ships were coming. We will be there and are looking forward to a great experience.
Smokey Merkley was raised in Idaho and has been hunting since he was 10 years old. He was a member of the faculty of Texas A&M University for 25 years. There he taught orienteering, marksmanship, self-defense, fencing, scuba diving and boxing. He was among the first DPS-certified Texas Concealed Handgun Instructors. He can be contacted at mokeydo41245@hotmail.com.
