Gallery and performance artists will create and perform on the beaches and in the parks and galleries of Cannon Beach, all with a focus on our natural world during the first annual Earth & Ocean Arts Festival September 20-22.

Festival events incorporate plein air painting, performance art, music and the town's galleries will join in the festivities, hosting special receptions and offering art exhibits celebrating environmental themes. Highlighting the weekend will be performances from New York's Artichoke Dance Company, known for innovative and engaging performances paired with environmental activism and education. The company's previous large-scale projects have addressed plastic pollution mitigation on Coney Island, single-use plastic bags in New York and river revitalization in Los Angeles. The Company will give three performances over the course of the weekend and will be joined by the Tsunami Drummers for their opening performance.

Acoustic guitarist Alice DiMicele will also perform in concert. With 15 albums and 30 plus years of touring under her belt, DeMicele has shared stages with Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez and Steve Winwood and has spearheaded several disaster relief concerts. Other festival activities include a Raku pottery firing on the beach and an interactive presentation on microplastics.

A $50 three-day Festival Pass includes an Earth & Ocean tote bag, wine glass and entry to all events, including a private Saturday night beach reception and concert with Alice DiMicele at the Coaster Theatre on Sunday. Pass holders will be entered into a variety of raffle drawings for prizes including two 2-night stays at a local vacation property, two $300 gift certificates redeemable at any participating Cannon Beach gallery, a boat tour of the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, a guided hike with the North Coast Land Conservancy, dining gift certificates, a whiskey tour and tasting, Kathleen Sheard art glass, Christopher Mathie painting and more.

Members of five environmental non-profits involved in protecting Oregon's North Coast will also join the festival and $25 of the $50 Festival Pass will be directly donated to the participating nonprofit organizations including Friends of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, Friends of Haystack Rock, North Coast Land Conservancy, Sea Turtles Forever and Wildlife Center of the North Coast.

For more festival information, complete schedule and tickets, visit the event website at this link: Cannon Beach Gallery Group.