Have fun without shelling out at Pearl and Oyster
Fighting Foos
Is it an art show? Is it a family-friendly festival? Or is it perhaps an all-day music event? Good news, it’s all three!
Bay City will be all abuzz when the Pearl & Oyster Festival returns this Friday, Aug. 21, through Sunday, Aug. 23.
The festivities begin on Friday evening thanks to a new partnership between the festival and the Bay City Arts Center. A free kick-off concert on the front steps of the center begins at 6 pm with coastal favorites The SeaDogs, followed by Oregon singer-songwriter Bart Budwig. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for the outdoor performance.
Inside the center, guests can check out the inaugural Driftwood Art Show, with work by 10 local and regional artists who have transformed one of the Oregon Coast's most recognizable natural materials into sculpture, mixed-media pieces and other original artwork. The exhibition explores driftwood as both a product of the forest and the sea, with each artist giving new life to wood shaped by rivers, tides and time.
The music moves to Al Griffin Memorial Park on Saturday, where five bands will perform throughout the day. Tombstone Shadow opens from 1 to 3 pm with a tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival, followed by Fighting Foos performing the music of the Foo Fighters from 4 to 6 pm. Bad Medicine closes the evening from 7 to 9 pm with Bon Jovi favorites. Original music from Mercury Coast and Hope Montgomery & the Invasive Species rounds out the lineup.
Visitors will also find a beer garden, food vendors, arts and crafts booths and raffle prizes throughout the park.
Back at the arts center, festivalgoers can explore the Driftwood Art Show, watch stone carving demonstrations, try carving techniques for themselves and take part in arts and crafts activities designed for children and families.
Sunday is Kids Day at the festival, featuring a talent show, pet parade, face painting, bubbles, games and an ice cream social from 11 am to 4 pm. The center also hosts its quarterly Community Pancake Breakfast before reopening the Driftwood Art Show and stone carving. The Bay City Arts Center is located at 5680 A Street. Al Griffin Memorial Park is located at the 6400 Block of B Street. For more information, go to baycityartscenter.com or baycitypearlandoysterfest.com.