Upcoming S. Oregon Coast Events Include Gem Show, History: Coos Bay, Bandon

Published 04/13/25 at 5:29 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Coos Bay, Oregon) – Coos Bay and Bandon will get a little more enriching in the coming month or two, with events popping up that delve into U.S. history, local waters and rocks and gems. (Bandon Photo Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts)

On May 6, the Coos History Museum's talk session will feature Mitzi Loftus and “92 Years of Life as a Japanese American.” Loftus is the author of From Thorns to Blossoms which digs deeply into the Japanese / American internment camps that happened during World War II.

Part of the First Tuesday Talk program, the event begins at 6 p.m. at the museum.

Born in Hood River, Loftus shares her compelling story as a Japanese American, including her three years in WWII incarceration, a year as a Fulbright teacher in Japan, and two years in Germany with her family.

This program will be hosted in-person at the Coos History Museum, as well as on zoom, with an admission price of $7 for non-member adults, $3 for youth, $5 for zoom regardless of membership, or free for CHM members in person.

Historic phtos of McCullough Memorial Bridge in Coos Bay

Doors open at 5:30 pm with time to explore the museum. Pre-registration is encouraged. Reservations can be made online at https://cooshistory.org/event-registration/, by phone at 541-756-6320 or register in person at the museum’s front desk. Walk-ins are welcome for all Tuesday Talk programs.

May 17 in Coos Bay means a dip into the waters. The Coos Watershed Association hosts the 9th Annual Mayfly Festival. This free, family-friendly event offers an engaging celebration of watershed ecology and the connections that bind our community, environment, and water.

Created in collaboration with local groups, the festival features live music, mouthwatering local cuisine, creative costume-making, and an opportunity to explore Mingus Pond with a net in hand to discover its fascinating inhabitants.

Attendees can dive deeper into the wonders of fish, insects, plants, and the ways we can all contribute to a healthier watershed. If you’re passionate about science, nature, art, and music.

725 N 10th Street Coos Bay, Oregon. 541-888-5922.

Just down the road on the south Oregon coast, June 7 and 8 feature the Bandon Down By the Sea 3rd Annual Rock & Gem Show. Local lapidary artist gems, rocks, slabs and jewelry vendors from the west will all gather. The festival starts at 10 a.m. both days and goes until 5 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday.

It is free. Bandon Barn Community Center, 1200 11th St. SW Bandon, Oregon.

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MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Shore Acres State Park garden

Historic photo of Bandon, Cave of the Winds

- Manuela Durson Fine Arts

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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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