Stay Eat Events Weather Beaches

That Inimitable Glow: Tour of 362 Miles of Oregon Coast Holiday Lights

Published 12/25/22 at 5:35 PM
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

That Inimitable Glow of Holiday Lights on Oregon Coast in Pictures

Latest Coastal Lodging News Alerts
In Seaside:
Includes exclusive listings; major specials now that winter is here
In Cannon Beach:
Includes rentals not listed anywhere else
In Manzanita, Wheeler, Rockaway Beach:
major specials for winter
In Pacific City, Oceanside:
Winter's enticing specials now
In Lincoln City:
Major winter specials now
In Depoe Bay, Gleneden Beach:
major specials this season
In Newport:
Look for many specials
In Waldport
New amenities offered; specials and tempting prices now
In Yachats, Florence
Big deals available; lodgings not listed anywhere else
Southern Oregon Coast Hotels / Lodgings
Reedsport to Brookings, places to stay; winter deals

(Oregon Coast) – The spirit of the holidays is definitely alive and well along the Oregon coast, even if for a couple of years it took some time off due to the pandemic. That effervescent glow is like a giant twinkle in a collective eye along the villages of the state, with one town after another showing its luminous, multi-colored sides. (Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Therein lies this photo essay, with sometimes historic shots that Oregon Coast Beach Connection has snapped over the last two decades. For some little beach burghs, you'll glimpse what the lights looked like at one time – and they may or not still be in those configurations.

If they look the same or not – well, you'll just have to jaunt out here to see for yourself.

Others are newish celebrations or those that have only recently gotten some ink, especially down on the south coast.

First along the stops is Astoria, where the Astoria Column gets lit up in fanciful ways. This shot is from at least a few years ago, and its look is completely different now. Hotels in Astoria - Where to eat - Astoria Maps and Virtual Tours

In Seaside, the festive bulbs have a deep sea theme. You may notice some of the businesses seen here are not around now, so yes, it's one of Oregon Coast Beach Connection's old collections, in this case about 2005. Hotels in Seaside - Where to eat - Seaside Maps and Virtual Tours

Cannon Beach is always a powerhouse of holiday spirit, and there are moments its decorations rival those big neighborhood tours in Portland. Hotels in Cannon Beach - Where to eat - Cannon Beach Maps and Virtual Tours

A bit farther south, tiny Manzanita is no shirker, either. Here the place is locked up tight and the sidewalks have all but rolled up on a particularly beautiful but chilly Christmas night. Hotels in Manzanita, Wheeler - Where to eat - Manzanita, Wheeler Maps and Virtual Tours

A few years back, Tillamook County had this lovely shindig from its northern border to its southern edges called The Village Light. This shot from Tillamook is from that event (courtesy photo), where every town in the county would get itself draped in Xmas cheer in a joint effort. Each town had its own theme: like Garibaldi had a fishing theme, Tillamook and Cloverdale spotlighted barns and cows, and Neskowin's motif was golf.

That lovely drive-by tour disappeared just before the pandemic. Hopefully it will return. Hotels in Tillamook Bay - Where to eat - Tillamook Maps and Virtual Tours

Insider's Tip: Garibaldi has a surprising amount of radiant constructs, including the giant G gussied up in different colors each year.

Lincoln City's outlet mall, circa 2002. Glowing reindeer often graced its lawns while other forms of seasonal sparkle covered the mall itself. Also of visual note is the Lincoln City Cultural Center's phat tree out front: it's out-freakin'-standing. Hotels in Lincoln City - Where to eat - Lincoln City Maps and Virtual Tours

In Newport, for at least 20 years the Oregon Coast Aquarium has held its spectacular Sea of Lights, probably the most dense concentration of lights on the entire north half of the shore. Hotels in Newport - Where to eat - Newport Maps and Virtual Tours


Near Florence, the BnB at Heceta Head Lightstation is always outstanding in its field. Holiday celebrations held within is walls are rather legendary too (courtesy photo).

That Inimitable Glow: Tour of 362 Miles of Oregon Coast Holiday Lights

Holiday Lights near Coos Bay, on the south Oregon coast, could well be the most impressive along all of the area's 362 miles, and this year it's returned after a certain, icky disease shut things down for two years. Its light bulbs are in the hundreds of thousands. (Photo courtesy Friends of Shore Acres State Park) See Oregon's Adventure Coast for more

Finally, just above California we come to the final town on the Oregon coast: Brookings. Its Nature's Coastal Holiday – Festival of Lights is held at its Azalea Park. There, some three million blobs of light create nothing short of a tsunami of color. (Courtesy photo).

- South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours


MORE PHOTOS BELOW





More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....


Coastal Spotlight


LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Snowy Plover Nesting Season Means Restrictions on Some Parts of Oregon Coast
Right now through September 15 is snowy plover nesting season. Sciences. South coast, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
First Big Killer Whale Sightings for Oregon Coast Season Spectacular - Includ...
Five orcas including a calf spent last three days at Newport, Depoe Bay. Marine sciences
SOLVE Cleanup Registration Now Open for Earth Day on Oregon Coast
April 22 is the cleanup all around the state. Seaside events, Pacific City events, Manzanita events, Lincoln City events, Newport events, Yachats events, S. coast events
Striking, Fiery Science of Depoe Bay and Newport: Oregon Coast Lava, Gray Wha...
What are resident whales, crazed lava flows, what's missing. Marine sciences, geology
Mermaids on Display at Florence as Central Oregon Coast Gallery Features Enca...
Florence Visitors Center brings you to a new, whimsical side of the area. Florence events
From Astoria's Skyline Come Tales, Images of an Oregon Coast and American First
The oldest town west of the Rockies, nation's longest bridge, more
Spectacular Green Fireball Lights Up Oregon Valley Through Washington Coast
From bright white to a neon green: astronomers weigh in. Sciences
Newport Events Show How to Eat from the Beaches, Explore Oregon Coast Tidepools
April into May come some unique forays into Neptune, Seal Rock. Yachats events

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted