Cannon Beach will kick-off Oregon's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Beach Bill on May 13 with a series of events and activities including visiting state dignitaries and Tad McCall, the son of former Oregon Governor Tom McCall.

Tad McCall, the son of former Oregon Governor Tom McCall will visit Cannon Beach to kick-off Oregon's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Beach Bill. The Beach Bill was the landmark legislation passed by the Oregon Legislature in 1967 that assured Oregon beaches would remain public.

On May 13, 1967, Oregon Governor Tom McCall staged a dramatic media event in Cannon Beach, flying by helicopter to the beach with a team of surveyors and scientists. The ensuing media coverage resulted in overwhelming public demand for the bill that was signed into law later that year.

In addition to McCall, several state dignitaries will attend the celebration that includes a daylong series of events and activities including the creation of a six-foot tall sandcastle on the beach. Other confirmed guests include Oregon State Parks Director Lisa Sumption, incoming Oregon Tourism Commission chairman Ryan Snyder and Oregon Coast Visitors Association Director Marcus Hinz.

The day's activities will include the construction of a six-foot tall sandcastle by a professional sand sculpting team and a guided hiking tour on the beach from Haystack Rock to Silver Point with a professional geologist. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program will present tide pool interpretive programs and have spotting scopes available to assist visitors in watching the Tufted Puffins that nest on Haystack Rock. Many other beach activities are planned throughout the day.

McCall, Sumption and other local and state dignitaries will offer remarks on the historic legislation on the beach in front of the Surfsand Resort near where one of the now iconic Associated Press photos of Governor McCall was taken on that historic day in 1967. Following the presentations, the design plan for a Cannon Beach public art project related to the Beach Bill will be unveiled at the Gower Street beach access. The beach access improvements will include automated lockers where beach accessible wheelchairs will be available for mobility-impaired visitors.

Saturday's festivities also include a presentation and music by Slater Smith of the Portland band, The Weather Machine. The presentation will showcase the band's collaboration with Oregon State Parks, a music video shot on location at nearly 200 Oregon State Parks.

Cannon Beach's Beach Bill anniversary celebration will wrap up with a public bonfire and free s'mores on the beach in front of the Surfsand Resort

Thanks to the Beach Bill, the State of Oregon has what is considered the best legal protection for the public's use of and access to its coastal land.

For more information or a schedule of activities, visit CannonBeach.org