Newport in full bloom
Bring your buds to celebrate spring on the Oregon Coast
Music, food, art and community spirit will take over Nye Beach this Saturday, May 16, when Bloom Newport returns to the Newport Performing Arts Center for its fifth annual celebration of creativity and connection on the Oregon Coast.
Running from 3 to 7 pm, the free all-ages festival has grown into one of Newport’s signature spring gatherings, drawing together musicians, artists, food vendors, nonprofits and families for an afternoon that feels equal parts block party, arts festival and community reunion.
What began as a smaller local event has steadily expanded over the years, and this year’s edition will be the largest and most ambitious Bloom yet, with three simultaneous stages, more than 35 artisan vendors, a sprawling food lineup and activities spread throughout the campus and nearby esplanade.
At the heart of the festival is live music, and this year’s lineup stretches across genres ranging from folk and indie rock to funk, dance music and traditional Mexican folk performance.
The Main Stage opens with DJ Crew from Corvallis at 3 pm before local favorites Massive Delicious bring their soulful hometown sound to the stage at 3:30 pm. One of the festival’s most anticipated returning acts, Ballet Folklorico Oregon Coast, takes over at 4:45 pm with a colorful performance celebrating traditional Mexican dance and culture. Portland-based Sweet N’ Juicy will close the Main Stage at 5:30 pm with the kind of groove-heavy set organizers expect will keep audiences dancing into the evening.
Meanwhile, the Esplanade Stage will showcase a mix of local and regional acts including Newport’s It Found Things at 4 pm and Revel’n at 5 pm before Bend musician Jeshua Marshall closes out the outdoor performances at 6 pm. The nearby lawn area will host games and activities for kids and families courtesy of Newport Parks & Recreation, Newport Public Library and the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
Inside the Alice Silverman Theatre, guests will find a quieter but equally varied lineup featuring two choral groups and a solo performance from Chet Udell.
But Bloom Newport is about more than music.
Throughout the past five years, the festival has developed into a showcase for local makers, artists and community organizations, giving visitors the chance to browse handmade goods, connect with nonprofits and sample food and drinks from around the region.
This year’s artisan market will feature more than 35 vendors offering everything from pottery and jewelry to body care products, artwork, woodworking and clothing. Seventeen local nonprofit organizations will also participate, sharing information about the work they do throughout the Newport area.
Food has also become one of the event’s biggest attractions, and this year’s lineup reflects both local favorites and newer additions.
Guests can expect seafood from Local Ocean alongside gourmet albacore tuna sandwiches from Erin Nicole Albacore Tuna, while other vendors will serve yakisoba noodles, burgers, doughnuts, kombucha, artisan teas, baked goods and a wide range of Mexican snacks and desserts. Vendors including Dark Moon Doughnuts, Siren’s Lure Tea House and Bakery, Tastee Tiki and Piquín y Chamoy will join the festivities, creating one of the festival’s most diverse food selections to date.
Returning for another year is Bloom’s popular beer garden, featuring Pacific Northwest craft beverages from breweries, cider makers and wineries including Pelican Brewing, 2 Towns Cider, Beachcrest Brewing, Claim 52, Rusty Truck, Depoe Bay Winery and Bier One Brewing. The beer garden is open to guests aged 21 and older.
Part of Bloom Newport’s appeal is the way it blends visitors and locals into a single shared experience. Families spread blankets across the lawn, kids move between games and activities, music drifts between stages and longtime community members reconnect while browsing vendor booths or standing in line for food.
The result is an event that celebrates not only the arts, but also the sense of community that makes Newport so special.
Saturday’s festival runs from 3 to 7 pm at the Newport Performing Arts Center, located at 777 W Olive Street. Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information, go to bloomnewport.org.