Winter Waters: Port Orford
Friday, February 27th & Saturday, February 28th, 2026 — Port Orford, OR
Mark your calendar and be part of something extra special - Winter Waters is returning to this gem of a fishing village, Port Orford! Event programming is in the works but check out last year’s event recaps HERE to get an idea of what we may have in store.
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.
Events Throughout the Weekend:
Winter Waters Art Show
Friday, February 27 & Saturday, 28, 9am-3pm Port Orford Community Center 423 11th St., Port Orford
Local artists and artisans will display and sell their art inspired by the sea throughout the weekend. Attendees can expect jewelry, paintings, driftwood sculptures, stained glass, and ceramics. This is a free, all ages event. Stop by during open hours to enjoy the art, and maybe even purchase a piece from a local coastal artist!
Screening: Hope in the Water
Friday, February 27, 7pm
Port Orford Field Station
444 Jackson St., Port Orford
Port Orford Main Street is hosting a FREE screening of the PBS docu-series, Hope in the Water. Join us for this event at the field station. Space is limited so arrive on time.
Visit the Port Orford Lifeboat Station
Saturday, February 28, 10am-3:30pm Port Orford Lifeboat Station: 92331 Coast Guard Hill Rd, Port Orford
The Cape Blanco Heritage Society will open the Port Orford Lifeboat Station for one day 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. You can also hike several short trails around this headland for fantastic views. Sometimes you can see whales or seals!
SOLD OUT - Port of Port Orford Tour
February 28th, 10am-1pm
Join us for an immersive visit to the Port of Port Orford, one of the most distinctive working ports on the West Coast. Spend time on the dock learning directly from fishermen and port staff about this open ocean, south facing port. The experience concludes at The Galley, a pop up by Port Orford Sustainable Seafood, with a locally caught seafood lunch and conversation around direct seafood sales, community supported fisheries, and kelp restoration efforts on the south coast.
February 28th, 2pm-6pm, Mr. Ed's Espresso, Juice, and Underground Pub, 1870 Oregon St, Port Orford
Learn more on the SeaFest event page
Our main event in Port Orford is 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 and samples, seafood processing demos, sea urchin tastings, and seaweed cooking demo + tasting. Bring the whole family! See the event recap from Port Orford SeaFest 2025 to get a feel for what’s in store. This is a free, non-ticketed event.
Accommodations:
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.
Rent The Lily Pad for 25% off February 27th & 28th by messaging the host on VRBO.
The Castaway by the Sea will offer 20% off for the Winter Waters dates, for a maximum of three nights. Call 541-332-4502 and mention you’re coming to town for Winter Waters to book.
Sea Crest Motel will offer 10% off those dates. Call 541-698-1104 and mention you’re coming to town for Winter Waters to book.
The Cove at Port Orford will offer a third night free when you book two nights. Call 541-366-9525 and mention you’re coming to town for Winter Waters to book.
Thank you to Discover Port Orford, Port Orford Main Street, Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation, Oregon’s Wild Rivers Coast, for sponsoring Winter Waters in Port Orford.
Join us for the whole weekend!
We’re taking over the South coast - Join us for the Gold Beach Seafood Adventure of Friday, Feb. 27, then meet us in Port Orford for a full day of events of Saturday, Feb. 28. Then journey further South to Brookings on Sunday, March 1.
Thank you to Discover Port Orford, Main Street Port Orford, Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation, and Oregon’s Wild Rivers Coast, for sponsoring Winter Waters in Port Orford.
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.