The Coos Bay Downtown Association (CBDA) is excited to announce that their two major festivals, the Blackberry Arts Festival, which is a juried art show and the Bay Area Fun Festival, which is the last major celebration of the summer are back on the calendar! The CBDA made the difficult decision to cancel the festivals for the last two years but is excited to be bringing them back in 2023.

The Blackberry Arts Festival is a juried art and craft festival that has been happening consecutively for 37 years. It was started to highlight the works of local artists and crafters during the annual harvest of the blackberry. It features an impressive array of metalwork, jewelry, quilts, candles, hand-painted clothing, wine, carved wood, and much more available for purchase. The festival also includes food vendors. It is not hard to find food and craft featuring the blackberry. This is a free event with activities centered on Central Avenue in downtown Coos Bay. The festival is scheduled for August 27^th and 28th this year.