S. Oregon Coast's Azalea Fest Fills Brookings with Song, Food, Airplane Rides, More

Published 05/22/23 at 10:52 p.m.
B y Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Brookings, Oregon) – Down on the southern Oregon coast, there's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on for Memorial Weekend. That's not the shuddering, underwater quake kind, either. No, Brookings puts on a bangin' kick-off to summer that is nothing short of an extravaganza. (Photo courtesy City of Brookings)

Azalea Park in Brookings will be host to the 2023 Azalea Festival from May 26 through May 28 – with some events happening on Monday the 29th. Street fairs, live music, a major car show, a street dance, magic shows, along with soaring fun like airplane and helicopter rides are just part of the celebration. Plus, tons of food in nearly infinite combinations, such as a big BBQ, Saturday Farmers Market at the Port of Brookings-Harbor, and a shrimp feed are among the foodie finds.

The theme this year is “Our Heroes.”

The bulk of it happens at famed Azalea Park, the colorful favorite of south Oregon coast visitors for decades.

There's an enormous amount of activities scheduled, which you can find in greater detail at their website.

One of the highlights over the holiday is the street fair that goes on Saturday (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). There's gourmet grub to fine art, all happening on 5th St. and Highway 101.

Among the happenin's on Friday are the Honoring Our Service Men and Women at the Chetco Community Library at 6 p.m. The Friday Night Dance Party whoops it up in Azalea Park starting at 7:30 p.m., where you can dance under the stars with the jams provided by a local DJ.

Also on that night, there's the pool party movie night where you can kick off summer in the water while watching a flick. It's family friendly:, $5 with popcorn or free with a pool pass purchase. It is weather dependent. For more information call Chaylene, pool manager at 541.469.4711.

One of the big favorites is the Curry County Cruisers Show n' Shine Car Show on Saturday. This part of the southern Oregon coast is home to one of the biggest classic car clubs. Enjoy rods and other jalopies from the 50s and 60s – and even much earlier. It goes from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., after which the whole kit-and-kaboodle parades up to Harris Beach State Park.

There's the Azalea Festival Awards Ceremony on Saturday at 1:45 p.m., featuring locals who've won special awards. A Pioneer Citizen Reception is held Friday at 4 p.m. to honor families whose ancestors helped found the city. This happens at the Chetco Valley Museum.

Of course, the highlight is the 84th Annual Azalea Festival Parade, which goes from 10 a.m. to noon up Highway 101 in Brookings.

Come Sunday, it's time to take to the skies of the south Oregon coast with Airport Day. Here, you get airplane rides for $40 for adults, $30 under 12. Helicopter rides are $85 for adults, $75 under 12. Tickets are purchased there, at the Brookings Airport - Parkview Dr., Brookings.

On Monday, there's a chill-inducing military fly-over at approximately 11:20 a.m., featuring the 173rd Fighter Wing, based in Klamath Falls.

Meanwhile, over the course of the festival live music kicks out the jams at the big shell stage. Among the highlights is the Fleetwod Mac tribute band, Taken By The Sky, along with other local rigs.

See https://azaleafestivalbrookingsoregon.com/

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Brookings, courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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