S. Oregon Coast's Bandon Cranberry Festival Recognized as a State Heritage Tradition

Published 06/12/26 at 7:35 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Bandon, Oregon) - The Bandon Cranberry Festival is about to mark a major milestone this year as it approaches its 80th anniversary and entering an elite club of sorts. The festival now has the new distinction of being recognized as an Oregon Heritage Tradition by the Oregon Heritage Commission.

The festival becomes the 30th event in the state to receive the designation, joining long-established celebrations such as the Great Oregon Steam-Up in Brooks, Cannon Beach's Sandcastle Festival, the Oregon State Fair, Medford’s Pear Blossom Festival, the Pendleton Round-Up, the Prefontaine Classic, and Woodburn’s Fiesta Mexicana. The honor is reserved for events that have operated for at least 50 years and contribute meaningfully to Oregon’s cultural identity.

The next incarnation comes up September 12-13, 2026, with the annual Cranberry Parade kicking off the main festivities on Saturday morning.

“The designation recognizes those traditions that have been ongoing for 50 years or more, add to the livability and identity of the state, and have a public profile that distinguishes them from other events,” said Katie Henry, Oregon Heritage Commission coordinator.

Rooted deeply in the south Oregon coast's cranberry industry, the Bandon Cranberry Festival has been a fixture in the region since 1947. Cranberries have shaped the local economy and culture for more than a century, and the Bandon area now produces roughly 90 percent of Oregon’s annual cranberry crop. The festival was created to honor growers, celebrate the harvest, and highlight the community’s agricultural heritage.

Several cornerstone events date back to the festival’s earliest years, including the Cranberry Court and Coronation, the Cranberry Bowl high school football game, the community dance, the Grand Parade, and The Cranberry Kitchen. The Cranberry Court, which begins months before the festival, remains a youth leadership program for high school juniors focused on service, public speaking, cultural stewardship, and civic engagement.

Like the fruit itself, the festival has become a south Oregon coast staple.

Bandon's mayor Mary Schamehorn said the recognition reflects both the festival’s longevity and its deep ties to local families. “I think it is wonderful for us to be recognized for a festival that has endured so many ups and downs over the years, and celebrates an industry that has brought recognition to Bandon and supported so many families,” she said. “When I was born, my parents lived on their cranberry bog, which my father built. For years, he was the manager of Ocean Spray cranberries, so that little red berry has meant a lot to me through the years.”

Attendance data shows the festival draws between 10,000 and 16,500 unique visitors to the south coast during its main weekend - remarkable for a town of about 3,000 residents. Roughly 59 percent of visitor days come from people traveling more than 50 miles, while about 41 percent come from within the local region. Visitors routinely arrive from Medford, Grants Pass, Roseburg, Eugene, and Portland, as well as out-of-state cities including Seattle and Redding.

The Oregon Heritage Commission will formally present the Heritage Tradition designation during this year’s festival, scheduled for September 12–13 in Bandon.

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