South Oregon Coast Events Bring Two Ways to Take a Wild Ride in Bandon, Coos Bay

Published 05/18/25 at 12:25 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(North Bend, Oregon) – Now here's some unique ways to get your thrill on this summer. Be it as a watcher or participant, 2025 is going to get interesting in Bandon and Coos Bay / North Bend. In one case it's wild rides on the dunes for days, and in another it's all about laughing it up to zany ways people create small maritime disasters.

From June 24 through June 29, the UTV TakeOver event does just that to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. The sprawling event occupies a fair amount of the sand dune areas but most of it happens right in the Coos Bay and North Bend area. Thousands of off-road vehicle enthusiasts or watchers rip it up on those puffy hills, with competitions and activities that are family friendly and adrenaline-inducing.

Boxcar Hill Campground, at the edges of the south Oregon coast's Horsfall Beach, is the center of much of the action. Campers dig in here for a few days as well as other surrounding campgrounds, turning this region into one heckuva party.

Courtesy Port of Bandon

Planned events take advantage of the scenic backgrounds of sea and sand, offering some of the best photo and selfie opps of the summer. There are mini-games, group rides, the Huckfest, Wheeliefest, Hillfest, Rock-n-Roll Bingo and charity raffles among all the events – and all are free.

Various forms of races and demo rides hit the granules, and there's a tire toss competition, cornhole tournament, treasure hunts, music gigs, and events where the rigs literally get lit up. There's the gigantic barrel racers, a variety of timed challenges and simply a large array of off-road vehicle action. See https://www.utvtakeover.com/coos-bay-or/activities/

Fourth of July in Bandon brings a special kind of funkiness and watery madness. This time around, that Friday sees the Annual 4th of July Cardboard Boat Regatta fill the local waterway with kooky kinds of fun and inventiveness.

Courtesy Port of Bandon

Bandon's Annual 4th of July Cardboard Boat Regatta goes from noon to 2 p.m. at the Bandon Boat Launch, right on the Coquille River.

Participants piece together their watercraft from the wackiest of materials into even wackier designs, creating an amusing time for those watching, what organizers call “ wild & very entertaining.”

“The Port of Bandon's inaugural cardboard boat regatta was held on July 4th, 2015 with 10 cardboard boats participating,” organizers said. “A great deal of fun was had by all. Participants and cheering audience on the boardwalk enjoyed the event tremendously.”

Courtesy Port of Bandon

By 2019 it had expanded to more than ten participants per category.

Award categories in the past included Best in Show (which means most attractive) and the Titanic Award for best sinking of the soft vessel.

Email INFO@PORTOFBANDON.COM for more or how to participate.

MORE BANDON AND COOS BAY BELOW

Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Photos Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

Photos Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

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

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

Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

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