Pacific City's Birding and Blues Festival

Pacific City. A tiny unincorporated seaside getaway in Tillamook County. You’d think it’s a cute beach town, and not much else, right?

Well, not exactly. Because every spring Pacific City is home to the Birding and Blues Festival, a whole-town party that celebrates music and our feathered friends. This year's festival just ended May 1, but stay tuned for details on next year's.

Expect a weekend of music and bird-related activities. Hikes, all-day tours, nature field trips and nightly blues concerts are scheduled. This year’s bird-centric highlight was a lecture from Dr. John Marzluff, a James W. Ridgeway Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington. He covered some new research on the behavior of crows, ravens, and jays, as well as a look at the urbanization of songbirds.

Music lovers enjoyed the jams of Franco Paletta & the Stingers, which won the Cascade Blues Association Muddy Award for “Best New Act” in 2007. And for folks planning to make a real adventure out of it, there were special offerings, including a night owling trip and a guided kayaking paddle up the Nestucca River. Not to mention the beloved, annual talk on pelicans at The Pelican Pub & Brewery.

Festival activity costs vary, but a standard adult festival pass is $35. Pricing for adventures, hikes and presentations depend on the activity. For more details and specific pricing, follow the booking link above.