Winter Waters Weekend: Port Orford
February 28th - March 2nd — Port Orford, OR
Mark your calendar for the weekend of March 1st, 2025, and be part of something extra special - Winter Waters is making our first-ever journey to the Southern Oregon Coast, landing in the gem of a fishing village, Port Orford! See the whole line up of events below, plus check out the menu specials HERE (scroll to the bottom).
Port Orford feels like a secret you just can’t wait to share. At the heart of this community is the Port of Port Orford, where the rare dolly dock showcases a spectacle few ever witness - fishing boats hoisted in and out of the water! This working port supports not only a vibrant mom-and-pop commercial fishing fleet but is a hub for marine conservation, research, and education.
If you’re visiting from out of town, please book accommodations within Port Orford. Part of the mission of Winter Waters is to encourage visitors to book local accommodations and enjoy their time visiting the Oregon coast in the wintertime, so we hope you’ll join us all weekend. Please take advantage of the following accommodation discounts.
Castaway by the Sea - 10% off (call (541) 332-4502 and mention Winter Waters when you book)
Port Orford RV Village - 20% off (call (541) 332-1041 and mention Winter Waters when you book)
The Point - 20% off (contact directly through the website or email: vagabondproperties409@gmail.com and mention Winter Waters)
The Lily Pad - 20% off (contact through VRBO and mention Winter Waters)
Thank you to Discover Port Orford, Port Orford Main Street, and Travel Curry Coast for sponsoring Winter Waters in Port Orford.
Winter Waters Art Show
Friday, February 28th + Saturday, March 1st, 10am-4pm — Port Orford Public Library, OR
We're inviting local artists and artisans to display and sell their art inspired by the sea at the Port Orford Public Library during the Winter Waters weekend takeover of Port Orford.
Attendees can expect jewelry, paintings, driftwood sculptures, stained glass, and ceramics from artists Jessica Lawler of Seaward Ceramics, Holly Lucas, Kathee Woods, Cherry Beeken, Michelle Leonard, Lorilie Cameron, Rebecca Babcock, Heidi Foss, and Helen Stonhill.
This is a free, all ages event. Stop by the library during open hours to enjoy the art, and maybe even purchase a piece from a local coastal artist!
Port Orford Public Library: 1421 Oregon St, Port Orford, OR 97465
Bonus: Strange Angels and Kat’s Corner, normally closed in the winter, will be open all weekend.
Visit the Port Orford Lifeboat Station
Saturday, March 1st - Sunday, March 2nd, 2025, 10am-1:30pm — Port Orford, OR
The Cape Blanco Heritage Society will open the Port Orford Lifeboat Station over the Winter Waters Weekend (March 1st + 2nd from 10am-1:30pm) so history buffs can experience the only Forge River-type station left on the West Coast. Normally closed from November - April, this is a special treat, so make sure stop by the museum in the former barracks/office building. You can also hike several short trails around this headland for fantastic views. Sometimes you can see whales or seals!
The Coast Guard operated this lifesaving station from 1934 to 1970. When ships were in distress offshore, these incredibly brave men ran down over 500 steps to the boathouse and took 37-foot motor lifeboats out into 80 MPH winds and 20-foot seas to save lives. The museum contains many fascinating exhibits including artifacts from wrecks, a scale model of Orford Heads, restored living quarters of the Coast Guardsmen and one of the motor lifeboats that operated here.
Port Orford Lifeboat Station: 92331 Coast Guard Hill Rd, Port Orford, OR 97465
Ocean Poetry at Sea Wolf Books
Saturday, March 1st, 10am-3pm, Sea Wolf Books and Community Writing Center, Port Orford, OR
Before our main event (Port Orford SeaFest, see below) please stop by Sea Wolf Books for 10% off any non-fiction books relating to oceans and rivers, and to participate in their poetry-writing station in partnership with Winter Waters. There will be paper, pens, poetic inspiration and writing prompts available to folks of all ages. After the event, we’ll share the poetry through our social media channels and website.
Sea Wolf Books & Community Writing Center: 324 6th St. Port Orford, Oregon 97465
Port Orford SeaFest - SOLD OUT / AT CAPACITY
Saturday, March 1st, 2pm-6pm — Mr. Ed’s Underground Pub, Port Orford, OR
Join us in Port Orford for a fun, free, family-friendly event at Mr. Ed’s Underground Pub. Come enjoy an afternoon celebrating local seafare and the people who make it all possible. We'll have a marine touch tank, folks from the seafood industry presenting information, seafood processing demos, and Pacific Dulse seaweed cooking demo + tasting. Bring the whole family and order seaweed-specials from the Mr. Ed’s menu.
This is a free event, but tickets are required.
Event schedule:
2-6pm: Partner Presentations: Non profits, community partners will be presenting information about their organizations. Walk around the room and talk to seafood and conservation leaders. Think touch tank with urchins, seafood bites, and kids activities.
2:30pm: On stage: Welcome from Mayor Ann Vileisis
2:45: On stage: seaweed cooking demo + tasting with Alanna Kieffer of Oregon Seaweed
3pm: On stage: Whole Oregon Albacore fish cutting demo and poke tasting
4pm: Ocean Trivia lead by Alanna Kieffer
5pm and beyond: live music by Jenae Kelly, who will play acoustic classic rock and country originals and covers
Participating organizations include:
South Coast Fishery & Aquaculture Tour - SOLD OUT
Sunday, March 2nd, 10am-3pm — Port Orford & Bandon, OR
This tour is for the sustainable seafood and aquaculture-curious folks who are adventurous to come out to Port Orford in the winter!
Grab your fleece and best outerwear and come on this journey lead by Winter Waters co-founders Alanna Kieffer (also of Shifting Tides and Oregon Seaweed). Alanna’s background in seaweed farming, marine education, and sustainable Oregon fisheries makes her the perfect host for this day-long tour.
First stop: the Port of Port Orford, the west coast's only “Dolly Dock,” where vessels are launched and received using a crane and housed on homemade dollies! Nest, the group will head to The Galley, a new pop up shop by Port Orford Sustainable Seafood (POSS) for a lunch of locally caught seafare. Kean Fleming of POSS will fill us in on all things South coast sustainable seafood.
Finally, take a trip North up the coast to the Port of Bandon to see urchin ranching facilities, the Oregon Seaweeds dulse seaweed farm, and Oregon Kelp Alliance's newly developed bull kelp hatchery. This is a full day of fisheries and aquaculture education (and yummy sea-snacks).
Your ticket includes a tour of all facilities as well as lunch lunch at POSS. Attendees must drive themselves to various locations, but carpooling is highly encouraged!
About Us
Winter Waters is an Oregon-born initiative dedicated to promoting seaweed as a superfood culinary ingredient and enhancing local Oregon coast food systems. Our mission is to bridge the gap between consumers and sustainable seafood sources through education and shared meals.
Each February, Winter Waters collaborates with chefs and tastemakers to celebrate local seafood! The state of Oregon boasts some of the most sustainable fisheries in the world, yet much of the seafood produced is exported, and a significant portion of consumed seafood is imported (about 90%!). There is a disconnect between the people and the process and we’d like to help bridge this gap through education and delicious culinary experiences.