June Highlights on Oregon's Tillamook Coast: Nehalem Bay Crab Derby, Rockaway Beach's Kite Fest

Published 05/26/26 at 8:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Rockaway Beach, Oregon) – Rockaway Beach will get as high as a kite and an area around Nehalem Bay will get truly crabby. June features two major highlights along Oregon's northern coastline, with the annual Crab Derby at Kelly's Brighton Marina on June 6 and the famed Rockaway Beach Kite Festival sending the days soaring on June 19–21.

Kelly’s Brighton Marina will host its annual Crab Derby on Saturday, June 6, bringing a full day of crabbing, live music and family activities to Nehalem Bay.

The folks at Kelly's return with this longtime event, releasing 26 tagged crabs into the bay that morning. Participants must purchase a $10 ticket to enter the derby, with proceeds benefiting the MuddNick Foundation in Manzanita and Animal Haven By The Sea Rescue in Nehalem. Any tagged crab caught must be returned to the marina by 5 p.m., when a drawing will see who is the winner of the $1,000 top prize.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and boasts games, crafts, vendors, raffles and a variety of prizes. Many attendees return each year, making the derby a coveted, seasonal tradition on the north Oregon coast.

Nehalem Bay (Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

The derby takes place at Kelly’s Brighton Marina, 29200 N. Highway 101 in Rockaway Beach. More details are available at tillamookchamber.org/event/nehalem-bay-crab-derby or by calling 503-368-5745.

The Rockaway Beach Kite Festival returns June 19–21, bringing one of Tillamook County’s biggest summer weekends back to the Rockaway Beach Wayside.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the festival, which began in 1976 and has grown into a major coastal tradition. Supported by the American Kitefliers Association, the event draws both professional and amateur kite fliers who fill the sky with elaborate designs, unusual shapes and colorful displays. Children can take part in special classes where they build and learn to fly small kites.

Friendly, unofficial contests are part of the weekend, with participants vying for lighthearted awards such as nicest kite or longest drag before takeoff. Organizers say the festival is meant for all ages and encourages kite enthusiasts to bring their own kites to fly alongside the featured exhibitions.

Food vendors, live music and artisan booths round out the three-day celebration, offering everything from local performers to handmade goods and a variety of meals. The festival has become a highlight of the summer season, drawing hundreds to Rockaway Beach each year.

Organizers say they hope to see record attendance in 2026 as the community celebrates five decades of kites over the Oregon coast.

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