MAYOR'S MESSAGE Blackberry Arts Festival Returns to Downtown Coos Bay Downtown Coos Bay will once again welcome the Blackberry Arts Festival on August 23–24, 2025. For more than forty years, this event has transformed Central Avenue into a hub of creativity, music, and community celebration. The festival began in the early 1980s as a way to showcase local artists and celebrate the abundance of blackberries that ripen along the Oregon Coast each August. What started as a modest gathering has grown into a two-day event that draws visitors from across the region. At its heart, the festival is a juried arts and crafts fair, filling downtown with booths featuring handmade work. Guests will find metalwork, jewelry, quilts, candles, hand-painted clothing, wine, carved wood, and more. Adding to the atmosphere is the Blackberry Jam stage at Central Avenue and Third Street, where live performances keep the streets lively throughout the weekend. Another highlight is the “It’s All Berry Good” recipe contest, where cooks and bakers showcase their best blackberry-inspired creations. Judged on taste, creativity, and presentation, the contest is a flavorful reminder of the berry that inspired it all. Over the decades, the Blackberry Arts Festival has become more than just an event—it’s a gathering that captures the essence of summer in Coos Bay. Families return year after year, artists find new audiences for their work, and visitors leave with both keepsakes and memories. This August, make plans to wander Central Avenue, savor the music, sample blackberry delights, and support local artists. The Blackberry Arts Festival is free, family-friendly, and open to all. It’s not just a festival—it’s a tradition that continues to grow. For more information, visit the official festival page at https://coosbaydowntown.com/blackberry-arts-festival/ A special thank you to the Coos Bay Downtown Association and City staff for their hard work in bringing this event to life each year. -Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay