New Art Exhibit in the Visitors Center! The chamber enthusiastically supports our local art community. Each month it hosts one of its member’s art exhibits in the Visitors Center. Backstreet Gallery was the July exhibit and new member Heffy’s Gallery presenting exceptional wood carvings and watercolor paintings is the August exhibit. Florence’s artist community has a deep love of the area and that passion is shared with our 14,000 plus visitors a year. Florence is known for its sand dunes and it’s now becoming known as an art lover’s destination. We invite our locals and guests to come in and enjoy the visual experience of this two and three dimensional exhibit in the Visitors Center. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for the beautifully painted rocks hidden in plain sight!
Oh sure, you could drive the most diverse and spectacular coastal highway, but what fun would that be if you’re a cyclist? Oregon’s bicycle tourism contributes an average of $1.1 million per day to Oregon’s economy. That means we love cyclists. It also means lots and lots of pedal-powered two-wheelers are on Highway 101 with you all year. But of course, spring, summer, and fall are the absolute best times to take in the dramatic panoramas. There are 363 incredibly scenic miles of Highway 101 starting in Astoria at the border with Washington to Brookings near the border with California. The entire Pacific Coast Scenic Byway provides views of amazing coastal scenery. The road winds by estuarine marshes, clings to seaside cliffs, passes through agricultural valleys, and brushes against wind-sculpted dunes. And Florence is right smack dab in the middle of it. Of course, we think the best part of […]
They’re watching and waiting for you. Lurking by flower pots, under benches, in doorways, behind public art, by fence posts. And they want to go home with you. Or just to be moved to another location in town. Or go on vacation, only to be left behind at your destination. Who are they? A rock group. Or more correctly, a group of rocks. Painted ones. And they like to have their picture taken and posted to Facebook pages dedicated to their existence. Painted rocks are a phenomenon rapidly growing in popularity. Stones, decorated with anything from photo quality images of nature to faces, flags, animals, or inspirational sayings, are popping up all around town. In fact, more than 500 rocks are estimated to have rolled into Florence in the last several days. Why? Betty Blake, a volunteer at the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, fields inquiries about painted rocks and […]
Voters in a national poll have selected Florence as the country’s second-best small town for adventure. In April, USA Today’s 10Best.com listed Florence as one of their top-20. Florence beat out such tourism heavyweights as Sun Valley, ID; Telluride, CO; Sedona, AZ; Moab, UT; Watkins Glen, NY; Bar Harbor, ME; and Stowe, VT. Florence was beat out by Marquette, WI. The poll allowed voters to vote once per day on as many devices as they wanted for several weeks. Florence started the poll at number 11 and quickly rose to second. The poll closed Monday, May 14. Florence was the only Oregon destination on the list. To make the list, each town had to have a population under 25,000. Florence’s population is just under 9,000. In a similar USA Today poll last year Florence was voted second of the Top 20 Best Small Towns in the Northwest. “We are super […]
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce will present Florence’s annual Independence Day celebration on Wednesday, July 4, with food, fun, and a fabulous fireworks display. Banner Bank is this year’s “Big Bang” sponsor thanks to a $5000 contribution that will underwrite the fireworks display, maintain last year’s 50 percent increase in the size of the display, and cover the cost of fully-synchronized patriotic music played over an outdoor speaker system in Old Town and KCST 106.9 FM. The pyrotechnics will be launched from a barge in the Siuslaw River, near the Port of Siuslaw property. According to Chamber director Bettina Hannigan, this gives more people a better vantage point for viewing the show, and adds depth and drama by allowing the show to reflect off the water. She recommends coming early to the Old Town area to find the best spots for viewing. A growing number of “Special Event Sponsors” […]
Local photographer and owner of BeauxArts Fine Art Materials, Jo Beaudreaux, hopes to take people on an artistic journey to encourage visitors and locals to explore the Central Coast’s nature and its all of its simple and complex beauty. Samples of her work are on display throughout June at the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce’s visitors center, 290 Highway 101 in Florence. Beaudreaux’s work has been displayed at numerous shows and locations across America. She also does commission, commercial, and portrait work. The exhibit, titled “ExplORE” the Coastal Playground is an artistic journey through encaustic and photography. Each snippet is a moment in time to stop, reflect, absorb, and carry on. Beaudreaux also has works up to 24-by-36 inches on display. All pieces are for sale. Beaudreaux serves on the City of Florence’s Public Art Committee, does the 2nd Saturday Gallery Tour of more than 13 local galleries, serves on […]
Responses must conform with the requirements of this Request for Proposal (“RFP”). The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to waive any irregularity in any proposal or to reject any proposal which does not comply with this RFP. Modifications to the RFP, including, but not limited to the scope of work, can be made only by written addendum issued by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. Selection of the proposer will be made solely by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce on criteria determined by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. The use of the term “firm” throughout this document means individual proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation or joint venture. The successful proposer will be required to enter into an Agreement which will include the requirements of this RFP as well as other requirements. The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to reject any proposal(s) […]
More than two dozen pieces of art, including photos, watercolors, ceramics, and sculptures in metal and wood, are part of a new art display at the Florence Chamber of Commerce’s visitors center this month The Chamber features a different local art exhibit each month. Their current display of local artistry features a variety of works by local and Northwest artists from both Sticks and Stones Gallery and The Blue Heron Gallery in Old Town. “Visitors will find a beautiful display and a wide variety of photography, sculpture, and artwork in several mediums by locally-, regionally-, and nationally-acclaimed artists,” says Bettina Hannigan, the chamber’s executive director. “It’s exciting to be invited to participate in the chamber’s monthly exhibit,” says Jack Butler, owner of the Blue Heron Gallery, Sticks and Stones Gallery, and Wind Drift Gallery in Florence. “We appreciate the many ways that the chamber supports Florence’s growing and vibrant arts […]
In Florence, summer lasts until mid-October, according to Bettina Hannigan, executive director for the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. “There is so much to do all season long,” says Hannigan. “Locals and visitors alike enjoy sandboarding and sandcastles, big dune adventures on their own ATV or in a professionally-driven, thrill-a-minute sand rail; kite flying or kiteboarding, or just getting some sand between their toes, or other places, frolicking along mile after mile of open, uncrowded beaches.” The chamber has a free visitor’s guide that details all the ways to shop, eat, stay, and play in Florence. It is available by calling 541-997-3128, visiting FlorenceChamber.com, or by dropping by their visitor’s center at 290 Highway 101. Big Events All Season July 4 brings the annual Old Fashioned Independence Day Celebration. Enjoy music, food, and drink all around town, pie and watermelon eating contests (and other games) in Old Town, and top […]
USA Today’s 10Best.com has listed Florence among some heavyweights such as Sun Valley, ID; Telluride, CO; Sedona, AZ; Moab, UT; Watkins Glen, NY; Bar Harbor, ME; and Stowe, VT. Florence is the only Oregon destination on the list. “Vote early, vote often, and vote daily on every device you own,” says Bettina Hannigan, executive director of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. “Winning this poll would bring some very positive national attention and boost tourism in our area. We’ve risen from 11th to third place, but we’ve got a shot at number one.” In a similar poll last year Florence was voted second of the Top 20 Best Small Towns in the Northwest. “USA Today’s writers already point out that adrenaline junkies flock to Florence for some of the nation’s best sand dunes for buggy rides, sand boarding, hiking, and fat-tire biking. They also list fishing, crabbing, and clamming as […]