The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 290 Highway 101, has been reconfigured for your benefit as a visitor to Florence. We have a new area from which our volunteers (let’s hear it for volunteers!) can great you and help you quickly find the information you need for your visit or your move to Florence. The efficiency of space usage in our back office operations is improved too. But what I really am most proud of is that we can now feature a different local artist—or two—each month. Each month the Chamber will feature two- and three-dimensional exhibits by local artists and galleries. Our newest display of local artistry features the coastal photography of Jo Beaudreaux, owner of BeauxArts Fine Art Materials in Florence. Included are scenic portraits of boats and bridges, nature’s textures, and some of the floral beauty of our area. And she’s really very good. Come […]
These beautiful, majestic creatures have recently made yet another appearance in the Siuslaw River here in Oregon’s Coastal Playground. On June 17, local resident Dan Haberly caught an amazing one-minute, 20-seconds of video footage of six or seven orcas about a mile upriver from the mouth of the river. This is the second time a local has documented killer whales in our river this spring. During our 110th Annual Rhododendron Festival (during the third weekend of May each year) other photos showed the giant mammals at nearly the same spot. Last year, local resident Debra Heldt Cordone captured an orca breaching repeatedly in the very same area. We’re working on getting links for you, but you might have luck searching for “Orcas Florence Oregon” on YouTube or Google. Spring migrations bring gray whales in March, followed by dolphins, sharks, and orcas. Apparently word has also gotten out to the ocean […]
Man, that’s gonna be a hard act to follow! With the 110th annual Rhododendron Festival still looming large in the rear view mirror, what comes next? All the fun that Oregon’s Coastal Playground has to offer every summer—and even more events starting in July! Start with fun on our amazing sand dunes, browsing our delightful art galleries and antique shops, riverside shopping and dining, award-winning lodging, beachcombing, wine and craft beer tasting, fine entertainment, and long romantic beach walks at sunset. The next day you can enjoy world-class golf at two fun and challenging 18-hole courses, or visit the iconic Heceta Head Lighthouse, Sea Lion Caves, or Cape Perpetua. There’s always plenty of hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and crabbing too. After all, we are Oregon’s Coastal Playground! And that slogan promises a memorable experience for you, your family, and your friends. Not enough fun to entice you? Maybe you’ll want […]
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 290 Highway 101, features a different local artist each month. Their newest display of local artistry features the coastal photography of Jo Beaudreaux, owner of BeauxArts Fine Art Materials in Florence. Included are scenic portraits of boats and bridges, nature’s textures, and some of the floral beauty of our area. Click here to see the exhibit details! “If you haven’t seen the changes in the Visitor Center yet, now is a great time to come by and see how we’ve re-purposed the space and feature local artist’s work,” says executive director Bettina Hannigan. “Throughout June you’ll see the works of local photographer and arts aficionado Jo Beaudreaux, and see how we’re greeting our out-of-area visitors and local residents to promote the Florence community.” “Florence is a happening place and the arts are strong here,” says Beaudreaux. “By promoting the arts in our […]
A message from the Rhododendron Court. To create excitement about Rhody weekend (it’s almost here!) and to help us raise scholarship money for our graduating senior court, we would like to paint pink, red and yellow Rhodies on business windows all over town. People will notice your windows, know you’re supporting the community and want to do business with you. We’ll generate anticipation about Rhody weekend, and you’ll be helping us immensely. We can paint 1 rhody for $50, 2 rhodies for $100, 3 rhodies for $150, 4 rhodies for $200, etc. The choice is yours! Contact the Chamber office at 541-997-3128 or Wendy Krause at 541-999-7765 Click HERE for details and to sign up.
RHODY FESTIVAL LOGO CONTEST WINNER The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce selected a design submitted by Susan Johnson of Florence as its official logo for the 110th Rhododendron Festival. Johnson, who has submitted winning designs in previous years, will receive a cash award of $250 and a choice of 2017 Rhododendron Festival memorabilia featuring the logo. The design incorporates elements of Florence’s Historic Old Town skyline, rhododendrons, nautical images, and includes the words “Always Ready to Rhody.” The theme integrates the US Coast Guard’s motto Semper Paratus (Always Ready). The Chamber named US Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River in Florence as Grand Marshal for the 110th Rhododendron Festival Parade on May 21, 2017. “We are delighted with the design for its vibrancy, local icons, Coast Guard elements, and its ability to transcend all media,” says Bettina Hannigan, the Chamber’s executive director. “Susan captured what we were looking for to help […]