Sunday, June 01, 2025

Crabbing in Florence Oregon by the Florence Chamber.

 Catching and preparing Dungeness crab is a quintessential coastal activity in Florence, Oregon, offering a mix of excitement, family fun, and delicious rewards. Whether you’re a seasoned crabber or a first-timer, Florence offers prime crabbing spots along the Siuslaw River and the Oregon Coast that make it an unforgettable adventure.


Here’s your complete guide to getting started.




Thursday, May 01, 2025

A guide on where & what to fish in Florence

We have lake, river & ocean & surf fishing in Florence. The Florence Chamber of Commerce has put out a wonderful guide to all of the types of fishing in Florence.

fisherman at Heceta Beach


Tuesday, April 01, 2025

Live Music at the Laughing Crab Gallery and Tasting Room

 

Experience the Vibe at Laughing Crab Gallery and Tasting Room

Where Music, Taste, and Laughter Collide

Step into the world of the Laughing Crab Gallery and Tasting Room, Florence's go-to destination for live music, exquisite tastes, and an ambiance that vibrates with energy and fun. With live entertainment filling our space most weekends and often during the week, there's always a reason to visit and let loose in a setting where art meets revelry.

Live Music and Dance
Get ready to move to the rhythm of live bands, offering a diverse array of musical styles. Our venue is perfectly designed with ample room to dance, ensuring every beat of the music is not just heard but felt, inviting you to be part of the melody.

Tantalize Your Taste Buds
Indulge in an array of culinary delights that complement our lively atmosphere. From wine tastings that traverse the vineyards of Oregon to craft brews that encapsulate the essence of the Pacific Northwest, your taste journey is boundless. Savor our charcuterie boards, soups, and specialty tastes, each offering a unique flavor profile to enhance your experience.

A Gathering of Fun
While we occasionally ask for a small cover for our events, it’s a small price to pay for the immense value of entertainment and connection you'll experience. Whether it’s a weekend escapade or a midweek retreat, the Laughing Crab Gallery and Tasting Room is your sanctuary for relaxation and enjoyment.

Stay Updated
Don’t miss out on any of our events! For the latest on our live music schedule, special events, and more, visit their website or Facebook page: The Laughing Crab Gallery Here, you’ll find all the details you need to plan your next visit.

Join us at the Laughing Crab Gallery and Tasting Room, where every visit is an opportunity to create memorable moments filled with laughter, music, and the best tastes in town. Let's celebrate the joy of life together!

 

Saturday, March 01, 2025

118th Rhododendron Festival May 15, through May 18th.


 

πŸŒΊπŸŽ‰ Join Us for the 118th Rhododendron Festival!

Get ready for a celebration of 'Rhodies on the River' amidst our breathtaking local beauty and floral wonders at the 118th Rhododendron Festival in Florence, Oregon. As we invite everyone to Oregon's Coastal Playground, prepare for an unforgettable experience brimming with fun and the pageantry that defines our state's second-longest running floral festival.

Event Highlights:

  • When: May 15, 2025 (Opening) through May 18th.
  • Where: Florence Events Center & Old Town, Florence, OR
  • Kickoff: Coronation of Queen Rhododendra & the King of the Coast - May 10
  • Attractions:
    • Rhododendron Court Coronation - May 10
    • Carnival by Davis Shows - May 15-18
      • Thursday: 3pm to Closing
      • Friday: 12pm to 11pm
      • Saturday: 11am to 12am
      • Sunday: 11am to 8pm 🌟
    • Free Shuttle Service Provided by Three Rivers Casino! Enjoy convenient and complimentary transportation between Old Town and Three Rivers Casino during the event. Shuttles will depart from the corner of Maple and Bay St. and run every 15-20 minutes. Shuttle services are available on Friday the 17th from 3 PM to 10 PM and Saturday the 18th from noon to 10 PM. Make the most of your visit with this hassle-free transit option!
    • Let It Ride Motorcycle Poker Run benefiting American Legion Veteran programs. 
    • Rhody Days Arts Festival - May 17 & 18
    • Rhody Run & Walk - May 17
    • Rhody Classic Car Show 'n' Shine - May 17
    • Rhody Car Cruise 6pm May 17 - Coast Radio Classic Car Cruise in Old Town Florence. You can listen to the broadcast on KCFM at 104.1 and 103.1 Mapleton and also streaming at KCFM Coast Radio from your phone or computer.  The Broadcast will begin at 5:30 with the Classic cars rumbling through town beginning at 6pm.
    • There are more things to do - download the program below!
  • Grand Finale: Spectacular Floral Parade through Historic Old Town - May 18 at Noon. 

Festival Fun for Everyone:

Experience the charm of our vibrant event featuring:

  • Vendor's Fair: Explore treasures in Old Town
  • Rhododendron Show: Witness nature's beauty at the Florence Events Center
  • Live Music & Art: Enjoy a lively atmosphere filled with creativity
  • Family Activities: Kids' parades, activities, and more!

A Tradition for All:

For generations, families have cherished the Florence Rhododendron Festival—a tradition of carnival thrills, showcasing rhododendrons, displaying classic cars, participating in parades, and savoring the delights of Old Town's shopping and dining scene. It's an Oregon institution, a celebration where memories are made.

Join Us:

Mark your calendars and join thousands of visitors from across the state and country for an incredible weekend celebrating community, nature's beauty, and the spirit of togetherness. Let's make the 118th Rhododendron Festival a year to remember!

For more details and inquiries, call the Florence Chamber at 541-997-3128.

 




Sunday, February 16, 2025

27th Florence Home & Garden Show Feb 28th & March 1

 

πŸ“… When: Friday, 12 PM–6 PM & Saturday, 10 AM–6 PM

πŸ“ Where: Florence Events Center, 715 Quince St., Florence

🎟️ Admission: $2 for adults, $1 for kids. Saturday from 4–6 PM is free!

Don’t miss this exciting event, presented by KCST, KCFM, and the Siuslaw News! Experience free samples, specialty products, and services, including outdoor infrared heaters, cookware, gourmet foods, and more. Be sure to enter the Grand Prize Giveaway!

πŸ“ž For more information, call 541-997-9136.

Thursday, February 06, 2025

2025 Wine, Chowder & Glass Float Trail - Presidents Day Weekend

 

2025 Wine, Chowder &
Glass Float Trail

Florence's Wine, Chowder & Glass Float Trail - President's Day Weekend!

Tickets on sale HERE!

🍷πŸ₯£πŸ” February 14-16, 2025
Explore the coastal delights of Florence during our annual Wine, Chowder, and Glass Float Trail! Hosted by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, this event promises a weekend of exquisite tastes, artistic wonders, and hidden treasures.

Great Glass Float Trail, Friday, Saturday and Sunday all over town!

  • Hunt for over 30 hand-blown glass floats hidden across town. Spot a float, validate your passport, and stand a chance to take one home!

How to Participate:

  • Passports & Maps: Available at the Chamber's visitor center and Gazebo Park (Saturday & Sunday).
  • Float Trail: Collect entry forms by validating your passport at participating locations. Submit entry forms by Sunday, 3:15 p.m., at Gazebo Park for a chance to win.

Wine Trail - Saturday and Sunday February 15 & 16

  • Time: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
  • Location: Gazebo Park (Bay St. & Laurel St., Historic Old Town Florence)
  • Details: Sample wines from Oregon's renowned wineries and distilleries (21 and over). Preorder your passes or pick up a commemorative wine glass and tasting tickets on-site.

Chowder Trail - Sunday, February 16

  • Time: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Location: The Playhouse (208 Laurel St. Historic Old Town Florence)
  • Participants: Experience a variety of chowders from top local eateries in Florence.

Participating Establishments: Will be on purchased Float & Chowder Passport

Additional Activities:

Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) - Taste of Art and Wine

  • Dates: February 15 (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) & February 16 (11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
  • Location: Florence Events Center (715 Quince St.)
  • Features: Juried art show, artisan booths, demonstrations, and wine tastings.

Get Around:

Three Rivers Casino Resort Shuttle Service

  • Free transportation between Gazebo Park, Florence Events Center, and the casino.



Wednesday, May 15, 2024

30th Rhododendron Festival Car Show & Shine May 18th 2024

 

πŸš—πŸŒΈ Join Us for the Rhody Days Show and Shine Car Show! πŸŒΈπŸš—

πŸ“… This Saturday, May 18
πŸ“ Siuslaw Middle School Parking Lot

Calling all car and truck enthusiasts! You can still register your vehicle on Saturday morning at the show. Don’t miss out on this exciting event!

Schedule:

Participant Gate Opens: 7:00 AM
Show Starts: 9:00 AM
Awards: 2:30 PM
🌟 Bonus Event:
Get there early and enjoy Hot Rods & Hot Cakes from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM! Support the High School Trap Team while you feast on a delicious pancake breakfast. πŸ₯žπŸš—

Bring your family and friends for a day filled with incredible cars, great food, and community fun. See you there! Details here https://bit.ly/3QNGhUm

#RhodyDays #CarShow #ShowAndShine #HotRodsAndHotCakes #CommunityEvent #SupportLocal RhodyDays.net 

117th Rhododendron Festival - May 16th -19th 2024

 Here is the schedule of all the events:




Tuesday, May 14, 2024

14 Awesome Things to do in Florence, Oregon

This article outlines all of the best things to do in Florence, Oregon, a small town located smack dab in the middle of the enchanted Oregon Coast. If you’re looking for a home base for your Oregon Coast adventures, Florence, Oregon is a great choice.

One of our houses (Arago Bungalow)  made their list as a great place to stay.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Celebrating Vacation Rental Week March 11-15, 2024

 

Whales Watch Vacation Rentals is thrilled to participate in the fifth annual Vacation Rental Week! Professionally-managed vacation rentals provide value and benefits for guests and property owners alike. This celebration of Vacation Rental Week is our chance to highlight these and to encourage you to book a stay or entrust your vacation property to a professional manager.

FOR GUESTS

As a guest, vacation rentals are a great alternative to hotels in every aspect, offering you much more for your money, including additional space, privacy, convenience, and amenities. Vacation rentals also present you with a unique opportunity to create a more personalized, memorable vacation experience when compared with traditional hotels. When you book with a professionally managed vacation rental, you get:

  • The practical comfort of an actual residence, including more space and additional bedrooms for those traveling with family.

  • The ability to explore the neighborhood and the opportunity to discover aspects of your destination you might not encounter when staying at a hotel.

  • Amenities not typically included in a hotel such as kitchens, laundry rooms, and more.

FOR PROPERTY OWNERS

Safely renting your space as a property owner through a professional manager can be an easy and reliable revenue source, transforming it into an asset that offers a significant return on your investment. You’ll also be able to use the property when you choose, spending your own vacations there with family, while renting it to guests the rest of the year.

A professional vacation rental manager will handle all the logistics, securing responsible guests, and maximizing your return through an expert understanding of the industry and in-depth knowledge of the local community. They’ll also handle cleaning the property to the highest standards, advertise, handle inquiries, collect deposits and balances, generate agreements, and follow-up post-rental, so you can sit back and simply enjoy the experience.

CONNECT

The Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) can help you find a vacation rental to book or a professional manager to represent your property. Visit the VRMA website for more details and find a vacation rental or professional manager for your property today.


Thursday, March 14, 2024

The perfect family trip.

 


  • It’s Vacation Rental Week 2024! Vacation rentals are the ideal, cost-effective choice for family trips—you'll enjoy more space, privacy, and amenities such as extra bedrooms, baths, and your own kitchen, allowing you to enjoy a unique stay with those close to you! #VacationRentalWeek https://www.vrma.org/vrw

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

There is a vacation rental for everyone!


 

  • We’re thrilled to celebrate Vacation Rental Week 2024! There are 115,000+ vacation rental companies worldwide. So, whether it’s a beach cottage, mountain cabin, or downtown apartment, the perfect vacation rental is waiting for you! #VacationRentalWeek https://www.vrma.org/vrw

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Vacation Rentals, a unique local experience.

  • During Vacation Rental Week 2024, we remind you that vacation rentals are a great option for a unique, local experience that includes fewer touchpoints with staff & other guests in comparison to traditional hotels. #VacationRentalWeek https://www.vrma.org/vrw


 

Monday, March 11, 2024

Vacation Rental Week March 11-15, 2024


We’re excited to kickoff Vacation Rental Week—a week-long celebration of professionally-managed vacation rentals, the industry, and the unmatched benefits & value they offer guests. The possibilities for your next getaway are endless! #VacationRentalWeek https://www.vrma.org/vrw


Friday, March 01, 2024

Spring Break & Spring Whale Watching - March 2024


 Spring Break in Florence? Of course! Forget all those other usual crowded destinations and come to Oregon’s Coastal Playground! Family fun from golf, kite flying, and sandcastle building to sandboarding, horseback riding, or ATV rentals on the dunes! Making memories has never been so easy or rewarding as it is in and around Florence! Visit FlorenceChamber.com, call us for tips at 541-997-3128, or drop by our office when you’re in town at 290 Highway 101.

  
Spring Whale Watching usually coincides with Spring Break. We think the whales swim past our shorelines just to watch our visitors! Visit any of the many Highway 101 turnouts near Sea Lion Caves and Heceta Head Lighthouse, at Cooks Chasm Turnout, and at Cape Perpetua Interpretive Center—and just about anywhere in between!

Monday, January 15, 2024

February 16-19, 2024—Annual Wine & Chowder Trails and Great Glass Float Giveaway



Join us in Historic Old Town Florence and other sites around town for this tasty fun-filled three-day President’s Day Weekend! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday search for and enter for your chance to win hidden glass floats around town. On Saturday stroll through Old Town and sample wines from a dozen of Oregon’s finest wineries. On Sunday be your own judge and let us know which is your favorite chowder from the dozen different samples available all along Bay Street. Glass Float Trail and Chowder Trail passports ($5 each) will be available Friday at the Visitors Center (290 Hwy 101) and in Old Town at Gazebo Park Saturday and Sunday. Commemorative Wine Trail glasses and tasting tickets will be on sale at Gazebo Park in Old Town on Saturday. Glasses are $5 and winetasting tickets are $1 each. Live music, surprise performances, and more. Watch for wine pairing dinners, clam digging clinics, and other events! For more information: FlorenceChamber.com, 541-997-3128

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

January 25-27, 2024—Florence Winter Music Festival

 January 25-27, 2024—Florence Winter Music Festival


The last weekend in January is always hot in Florence! Warm up your winter with blazin’ hot bluegrass, heartwarming new and traditional folk, and foot-stompin’ Americana during the annual Florence Winter Music Festival! Two days and eight award-winning, internationally touring acts fire-up the Florence Events Center. The event opens with a Thursday evening all-comers open mic/hootenanny and includes open jam sessions, multiple songwriting and performance workshops, and great food and drink.
 
Tickets, artist profiles, lodging recommendations, and other details are available at WinterMusicFestival.org or by calling the Florence Events Center at 541-997-1994. Purchase tickets online at EventCenter.org or in person at the Florence Events Center (715 Quince Street in Florence), during box office hours. Ask about the moneysaving two-day passes!
 
The Florence Winter Music Festival is produced by the all-volunteer 501 (c) (3) nonprofit FACE—Florence Arts, Culture & Entertainment—that supports the venue and those who use it.

Friday, December 01, 2023

Winter Whale Watching - December


 The height of the annual northbound migration of up to 20,000 majestic gray whales is usually between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

 
Volunteer “Whale Watching Spoken Here” experts are strategically located along the Oregon Coast (whalewatch.org), or venture out on your own to any of the many Highway 101 turnouts between Sea Lion Caves and Heceta Head Lighthouse, at Cooks Chasm Turnout, and at Cape Perpetua Interpretive Center—and just about anywhere in between! For more information click here.