Plan your winter vacation to Newport this February for the 47th Annual Newport Seafood & Wine Festival! The four-day event is the biggest party on the Oregon Coast and has been welcoming locals and visitors to immerse themselves in the much-anticipated celebration for nearly five decades. Known as “The Original and Still the Best,” the festival is one of the largest of its kind in the country and continues to evolve and expand every year. Newport Seafood & Wine festival will take place from Thursday, February 22nd - Sunday, February 25th in 2024. The event will be located in the parking lot next to the Rogue Brewery in South Beach and will feature and even larger tent this year to provide more space.
Since 1977, Newport Seafood & Wine Festival has drawn revelers from near and far. So many, in fact, that in recent years the population of our small coastal town has grown from 10,000 people to well over 25,000 for the four-day event. Nearly all of the hotels, restaurants, stores, shops, galleries in town also benefit from the influx of people who choose to stay with us over the extended weekend.
You’ll be able to maximize your fun at the festival with the many popular activities that people look forward to every year. Sample a wide variety of Pacific Northwest wines and locally harvested seafood while browsing booths featuring the unique work of local and regional artists and craftspeople. Chat with winemakers and chefs about their offerings and listen to great music that’s been selected to complement the atmosphere and feel of the event. Learn about and try some of the new wines that will be judged in the annual commercial and amateur wine competition.
Over 150 vendors selling wine, food, and crafts will be offering their goods during the four-day festival, and more than 300 volunteers, a dedicated volunteer committee, and local support from city and county agencies make this annual event possible. The event is also “green focused” and will compost and recycle as much as possible to reduce waste from vendors and attendees. The festival is produced by the Greater Area Newport Chamber of Commerce, and Chinook Winds Casino Resort is our presenting sponsor and has generously supported the event for the past thirteen years.
Wine offerings from at least 50 wineries will be available to enjoy, and bottles may be purchased throughout the event. The amount of fresh, local seafood will be expanded this year, with hearty Dungeness crab cocktails and melts, oyster shooters, grilled shrimp, sushi, chowders and bisques, as well as other delicacies from the Pacific Northwest. Baked goods, nuts and an assortment of other delicious deserts and treats will also be available. This year will feature a new juried chowder competition, where high-quality chowder entries are expected, and real chefs will attend the festival to judge the contest. A beer garden featuring ales, beer and other craft brew beverages from Rogue Brewing will also share space with the event.
Additionally, the festival features the longest-running wine competition in the Northwest, open to all participating wine vendors. A panel of five distinguished wine experts judge the prestigious Commercial Wine Competition at the beginning of February, awarding bronze, silver, and gold medals, and one Best in Show award. Medal winning wines are included in the official festival guide, so event attendees can purchase them while at the event. In addition, the festival includes an Amateur Wine Competition, where amateur winemakers submit their wines for feedback and judging.
The music this year will be provided by Curtis Salgado, Sonny Hess, Ty Curtis, and many more, and will match the feel of the festival. For example, Thursday is known as “locals day” and has a much more mellow feel, so the music will be more reserved as the celebration starts to warm up. The energy of the music will ramp up during Friday and Saturday, the busiest days of the event, and then return to a mellow vibe as the festival slows down and concludes on Sunday.
We recommend that you purchase tickets in advance online, but tickets may also be purchased at the gate as capacity allows. Single-day ticket prices are $20 for Thursday, $26 for Friday, $32 for Saturday, and $12 for Sunday. Saturday admission is by e-ticket only, although at 1 pm the gate will open for general admission depending on capacity. Tickets can also be purchased in three- and four-day bundles. VIP tickets include access to the VIP hospitality suite for $150.
Parking at the event is limited and will cost $5 per vehicle, but a free shuttle will operate an hourly loop from Pacific Shores to South Beach during the festival and will make many convenient stops around town at major area hotels. Nearby lodging is also available, but reservations fill up fast, so plan your stay as far in advance as possible. Don’t forget to bring warm clothes, raincoats, and umbrellas in case it rains. The festival is only for adults 21 and older, so make sure that you bring a valid ID. We look forward to welcoming you to the party! For more information or to buy advance tickets, go to seafoodandwine.com or call 541-265- 8801.
FESTIVAL HOURS
Thursday, February 22nd from 5 PM - 9 PM
Friday, February 23rd from 12 PM - 8 PM
Saturday, February 24th from 10 AM - 6 PM
Sunday, February 25th from 10 AM - 4 PM
TICKET PRICES
Advance ticket prices range from $12.00 to $150.00 and include:
Over 50 Pacific NW Wineries under one tent
Some of the best Seafood on the Oregon coast served by over 20 local chefs
Over 70 Pacific NW Artisan's to shop
A separate Beer Garden tent with festival-branded beer and live local entertainment
Seafood Chowder competition
VIP Tent with "Ruby Pass" tickets.
Rhythm & Blues Bands to entertain in the main tent throughout the weekend
Thursday night- Sonny Hess
Friday- Sons of Beaches & Curtis Salgado
Saturday- Curtis Salgado & Ty Curtis
Sunday- Randy McCoy & Hecktic Week
*Food and Wine are not included in the ticket price. There is a charge from each vendor. Click here to see this years list of vendors.
FREE SHUTTLE BUS
Safety is our number one priority, and the free shuttle buses are back in 2024! The shuttle busses will run on a continuous 45-minute loop, stopping at most of the major hotels as well as Nye Beach and the Bayfront. Click here for a shuttle bus map.
MUSIC LINEUP
Thursday
Sonny Hess: 5pm-7pm (Main Tent)
Seafood Chowder Judging: 7pm - 8:30pm (Main Tent)
Friday
Sons of Beaches: 1pm-3pm (Main Tent)
Randy McCoy: 2pm-4pm (Beer Garden)
Hecktic Week: 4pm-6pm (Beer Garden)
Curtis Salgado: 6pm-8pm (Main Tent)
Saturday
Randy McCoy: 10am-12pm (Beer Garden)
Curtis Salgado: 12pm-2pm (Main Tent)
Sons of Beaches: 1pm-3pm (Beer Garden)
Hecktic Week: 3pm-6pm (Beer Garden)
Ty Curtis: 4pm-6pm (Main Tent)
Sunday
Randy McCoy: 10am-12pm (Main Tent)
Hecktic Week: 1pm-4pm (Main Tent)
SEAFOOD CHOWDER COMPETITORS
Click here to learn more about festival food!
WINE, BEER AND BEYOND
There are dozens of Wines featured at the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival, as well as some other fantastic drink options. Click here to see them all!
The Newport Chamber of Commerce is always ready to welcome you to the beach! Visit newportchamber.org for a detailed calendar of events and a list of local businesses that will take care of every aspect of your stay.