33rd Annual Holiday Lights at Shore Acres Lights-up the Oregon Coast
By Ingrid Mueller
Published: 11/04/2019

Beginning November 28 festive holiday lights at Shore Acres State Park will illuminate Oregon's South Coast with spectacular displays throughout the 2019 holiday season.

From Thanksgiving until New Year's Eve, Shore Acres State Park lights-up nightly from 4-9:30pm with over a quarter million lights and animated displays. This popular holiday tradition is known for its illuminated sea creatures like colorful puffins, pelicans and a life-size spouting whale at the seven-acre botanical garden. With paved and lighted paths throughout, the walk-thru displays are accessible, and the park has a few wheelchairs available to use. The beautifully decorated Garden House is open nightly, offering hot beverages, punch and cookies. Many evenings, holiday concerts featuring local choirs and musicians are scheduled on the pavilion. Sponsored by the Friends of Shore Acres, Holiday Lights at Shore Acres has been a community tradition in Coos Bay since 1987 and its popularity continues to grow. On average 70,000 visitors from all over the world flock to Shore Acres to enjoy the holiday lights.

Insider Tips to Help Plan Your Visit

Fridays and Saturdays are busy, most often with a waiting line of cars between 6-8pm. To avoid peak traffic times, consider arriving early to enjoy the ocean views and historical displays. Watching the gardens light-up as dusk turns to dark is magical, sparkling transition. There is less traffic on rainy nights and the lights are beautiful in any weather. To alleviate congestion, Oregon State Parks is dangling a small incentive to encourage weekday visits. Sunday through Thursday, after 3pm, park rangers will randomly select vehicles to win an Oregon State Parks branded gift or annual parking pass. Parking is $5 per vehicle, payable with cash or check at the park's entrance. The parking fee is waived for those who display a valid coastal passport, current campground receipt or an annual parking permit. With the exemption of service animals, dogs and other pets are not allowed outside your vehicle at the park. Shore Acres State Park is located at 89039 Cape Arago Highway, about 12 miles southwest of Coos Bay.

For more information call the park at (541) 888-3732 or visit Oregon's Adventure Coast to find some other things to do in Charleston, Coos Bay and North Bend.
33rd Annual Holiday Lights at Shore Acres Lights-up the Oregon Coast