Eat local this Thanksgiving!

This celebration is bound to be crumb-licious! For the second year in a row, a fun-filled, family Christmas event with holiday themed activities, food, and music will be hosted at Twin Rocks Friends Camp on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Gingerbread House Party is an open invitation to the community to come partake in the merriment and visit the Twin Rocks campus. “Last year we had 400 guests, it was a really great event that brought the community together. So, we wanted to recreate and grow upon it,” Twin Rocks Development Director Liz Seume said. “This year we’ve expanded our stained glass painting activity, added ornament making, are hosting a modern day nativity play, and have a snow globe photo opportunity.” Entry to the event is free with happenings located inside many of the camp’s buildings. “This is a great time for the community to visit the campus and get to know our organization a bit better,” Seume said.

While many still have turkey dinners on the mind, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum is gearing up for a tree-mendous time that you won’t want to miss. The 21st annual Festival of Trees fundraiser returns this December with an expanded schedule to allow for even more people to enjoy the magic of the season. Festival of Trees includes four events: three, free community celebrations and the traditional Festival Fundraiser Gala and Silent Auction.  “We’re delighted to expand beyond our usual one-night event to create a month-long Christmas celebration to bring together our community and supporters,” Tillamook County Pioneer Museum Director Peyton Tracy said.

Orange you glad it’s Halloween time? This October, the Tillamook Revitalization Association (TRA) will host their annual downtown Tillamook Halloween decorating contest. Businesses are invited to dress up there windows, doorways, or front entrances for the spookiest time of the year.

The flagship steam locomotive for Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OCSR), McCloud River Railroad #25, just turned 100 years old this September. To celebrate, OCSR hosted a weekend-long event (Sept. 20-21) with special excursions including a stopover in Wheeler. “This run’s been exciting because we’ve gone all the way from Garibaldi to Wheeler which is something we don’t normally do. Typically, we only run trips from Rockaway Beach to Wheeler or Rockaway Beach to Garibaldi, but not the entire length of the service railroad to Wheeler,” OCSR Operations Supervisor and General Manager Trevor Park said. “We brought people up here not only to celebrate the #25’s 100th birthday, but also to bring business to Wheeler as we’ll be running up here every single weekend [soon]” The specialty ride from Garibaldi to Wheeler, brought out 200 passengers. 

First it was a fishing settlement. Then a farming and camping area. And now today, a vibrant community on the rural Oregon Coast. The evolution of Neskowin is captured through historic photos in The Neskowin Historical Foundation’s first ever book: “Neskowin: A Book of Found Photos 1880-1970.” The 300+ page, hardback coffee table book takes readers on a visual journey through time featuring photographs of the area’s iconic landscapes such as Proposal Rock and the mysterious Ghost Forest, as well as portraits of the town’s pioneering families.

A lot has changed since the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum’s (TCPM) founding in 1935. New history, exhibits, and staff. But something remains the same: TCPM’s commitment to preserving the history of Tillamook County. As TCPM looks to the future, they’re asking the community to be a part of the process. “The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum Board is deeply committed to ensuring the museum grows alongside our community,” TCPM Board of Directors President Ryan Weber said. “We envision the museum as a vibrant gathering place where neighbors, families, and visitors can come together to connect with the history of our county in meaningful ways.” TCPM is currently developing a five-year strategic plan to help guide the future of the museum. “By embracing museum best practices and creating experiences that are both accessible and relevant to today, we aim to honor the past while inspiring the future,” Weber said. “These are the very reasons we are undertaking a five-year strategic planning process. We want to chart a thoughtful path forward that reflects our community’s voice and ensures the museum remains a place of pride for generations to come.” The public is invited to participate in a community survey about TCPM. The survey can be found at: surveymonkey.com/r/TCPM2025 About the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum Founded in 1935 by Tillamook Oregon pioneers, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum offers 19 display areas that focus on the history of the North Oregon Coast. The museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret the Cultural Heritage of the North Oregon Coast and to foster appreciation and respect of the North Oregon Coast's environment. The current collection includes 55,000 items and 20,000 photographs ranging from prehistoric specimens to modern-day. The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, and free for children under the age of 10. The research library can be accessed by appointment only.

Let’s fall into this autumn season! The Tillamook Forest Center is getting ready for the rainy season with our fall event lineup. In addition to our fall events, the bridge gate at the TFC was chosen to be highlighted as part of the “50 for 50” initiative, started by the Oregon Arts Commission inviting Oregonians to discover 50 selected artworks displayed in public places around Oregon for the 50 th anniversary of the Percent for Art program. Fall Events Have Fun Drawing Fungi! | November 1 st at 1:00 pm Learning to draw mushrooms can be a lot of fun for artists of all levels. Mushrooms offer simple shapes and amazing colors and patterns. Learn how to depict mushrooms using basic shapes, color and light to make your mushrooms look magical. In this workshop, Artist Dorota Haber-Lehigh will explore techniques with graphite pencil, watercolor pencil and colored pencils. We will be drawing from observation, so feel free to bring a non-poisonous mushroom to class (you can find one at a store if you are not a mushroom expert). Rain Festival | November 15 th – 16 th | All Day Rain has come to the Tillamook State Forest, turning trickling streams into roaring rapids - but are you ready to go with the flow? Join us at the Tillamook Forest Center as we plunge into the world of surging rivers, spawning salmon, and the inner workings of watersheds to celebrate the ways in which rain transforms our forests. Holiday Wreath Making | November 28 th - 30 th at 11:00 AM Bring the beauty of the forest home this winter by creating a winter wreath. Participants will use a variety of natural materials that were harvested from our very own state forests. Younger children will also be able to make cone bird feeders. All materials and supplies are included in the cost of the class.