The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce announced its selection of “Blast from the Past” submitted by Stan Pusieski of Florence, as the theme for the 113th Rhododendron Festival.
To help promote the annual event, the Chamber’s board of directors is holding a logo design contest. The board is requesting a design that incorporates the event’s name, dates, location, theme, and familiar elements from around the area. Contest rules are available here and at the Chamber’s visitors center, 290 Highway 101.
Deadline for submissions is January 19, 2020. The winner will be announced January 24 and receive a $250 cash prize and carnival passes. Their work will be seen across a multitude of media that promote the event which runs from May 15 to 17, 2020.
“With ‘Blast from the Past’ as our theme for the 2020 Rhododendron Festival, it opens the door to a wide variety of fun ideas,” says the Chamber’s executive director Bettina Hannigan. “It’s relevant and relatable to everyone. We anticipate people will come up with great ideas representing the highlights of past decades, native peoples and pioneer history, a new take on the old ‘Roaring ’20s’ images, favorite memories of life and times here in Oregon’s Coastal Playground, and maybe even a nod to the 50th anniversary of the exploding whale.”
This year’s logo will appear in print, broadcast, and online materials to promote the event and draw visitors to Florence. The logo will be printed on commemorative pins, banners, advertisements, and print guides. The Rhododendron Court will sell the pins, the proceeds from which go toward scholarships for Queen Rhododendra, the King of the Coast, and members of the Rhody Court.
“Generations of families have enjoyed the annual Florence Rhododendron Festival by attending, enjoying the Davis Shows carnival, exhibiting their rhodies, showing off their classic cars and motorcycles, being in the parade, and shopping and dining in Old Town and all around town,” adds Hannigan. “It’s a family tradition, an Oregon institution. The event brings to mind many blasts from the past for thousands of people across the state.”
The Florence Rhododendron Festival is Oregon’s second-oldest floral festival, bested only by a year by the Portland Rose Festival, and sees thousands of visitors from around the state and across the country.
For more information on the 113th annual Florence Rhododendron Festival, including applications for the Rhododendron Court, exhibitor space, parade entries, or to volunteer on the Chamber’s Rhody Fest committee, contact event coordinator Mitzi Hathaway at events@FlorenceChamber.com or 541-997-3128.
