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.
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.
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.
Events Throughout the Weekend:
Winter Waters Art Show
Friday, February 27 & Saturday, 28, 9am - 3pm
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!
Port Orford Community Center: 423 11th St., Port Orford, Oregon
Visit the Port Orford Lifeboat Station
Saturday, February 28, 10am-3:30pm
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!
Port Orford Lifeboat Station: 92331 Coast Guard Hill Rd, Port Orford, OR 97465
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
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.
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.