Craft Shows & Fairs in Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach has organized its entire civic calendar around the arts.
The town of about 1,700 permanent residents supports over 15 art galleries within a few blocks of its downtown Hemlock Street corridor. Three major arts festivals anchor the year — one in spring, one in early summer, one in November.
For a small coastal town, the depth of the handmade and fine arts offering is genuinely unusual.
Cannon Beach's Craft Show Scene
Spring Unveiling Arts Festival runs May 1–3, 2026.It's a gallery weekend — Cannon Beach's 15+ galleries each present new work, debut pieces, and host artist receptions and demonstrations throughout the weekend. It's a celebration of the new season, when galleries refresh their inventory and invite artists to be present in person. Gallery events are free, with optional ticketed receptions and dinners.
Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest on June 20, 2026 is the oldest sandcastle competition in the Pacific Northwest.Dozens of teams — professional sand sculptors, amateur groups, and families — construct elaborate creations on the beach over a single day. It's the town's most popular annual event. Associated weekend activities include a bonfire with music and the Singing Sands 5K Fun Run.
Stormy Weather Arts Festival (November 6–8, 2026) is the most craft-rich of the three events.Running over three days in the shoulder season, it features 50+ events:
- Artist demonstrations
- Gallery shows with special exhibitions
- A spotlight concert and fashion show
- Artist receptions and workshops
- Buskers throughout town
- Special dinners and tastings
Every gallery in town participates. Dozens of artists are on hand. It's designed to draw visitors in November when storm watching replaces beach going — and it has become one of the most anticipated arts weekends on the Oregon Coast.
Cannon Beach Gallery Group coordinates all three major festivals and represents the town's core gallery community. Icefire Glassworks is a working studio where visitors can watch live glassblowing and browse the gallery of finished glass art — one of the few working craft studios operating as a public attraction in Cannon Beach.Throughout summer, plein air events and artist workshops add additional craft programming. Gallery walk-ins are possible any day the galleries are open.
Country Fairs & County Events Near Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach is part of Clatsop County.
Clatsop County Fair takes place each summer in Astoria, about 26 miles north. Traditional county fair with agricultural exhibits, 4-H and FFA participation, entertainment, and commercial vendor booths.Cannon Beach itself is too small to host a county fair format. Its craft and arts activity runs through the gallery and arts festival model instead.
Tillamook County Fair (Tillamook, ~40 miles south) is another option for a traditional county fair experience.Best Times to Visit Cannon Beach for Craft Events
May (Spring Unveiling, May 1–3)Gallery weekend with artist appearances and new exhibitions. Good for connecting directly with the artists behind the work. Coastal spring weather is cool but the galleries are warm.
June (Sandcastle Contest, June 20)The beach is spectacular. Arrive early — the event draws large crowds and parking fills quickly.
Summer (June–September)Galleries at their busiest. Multiple plein air events. Peak tourism with the art always accessible.
November (Stormy Weather, November 6–8)The most concentrated arts event of the year. The weather is part of the experience — dramatic Pacific storms, cozy galleries, 50+ events across three days. Hotel rooms book early; plan well ahead.
DecemberSmall holiday events; galleries wind down but many remain open through Christmas.
Nearby Cities for Craft Shows
The North Oregon Coast has a cluster of arts and craft activity worth exploring together.
- Seaside, Oregon — 7 miles north; Seaside Convention Center events, coastal community markets
- Astoria, Oregon — 26 miles north; Clatsop County Fair, Astoria Sunday Market, fishing-town-turned-arts-town character
- Manzanita, Oregon — 20 miles south; small coastal town with gallery presence and seasonal craft events
- Portland, Oregon — 80 miles east; Portland Saturday Market, Crafty Wonderland, full metro craft event calendar
- Explore all Oregon craft shows →
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best craft shows in Cannon Beach, Oregon?
Cannon Beach's craft activity is centered in its gallery district. The Stormy Weather Arts Festival (November) is the most event-dense weekend of the year — 50+ events across three days, all galleries participating. The Spring Unveiling (May) is the strongest gallery exhibition weekend. Icefire Glassworks operates as a year-round working craft studio and gallery.
When do craft shows happen in Cannon Beach?
The three major festivals are Spring Unveiling (May 1–3, 2026), Sandcastle Contest (June 20, 2026), and Stormy Weather Arts Festival (November 6–8, 2026). Galleries are open year-round. Summer is the busiest season for gallery visits. The Stormy Weather festival makes November an intentional arts travel destination.
Are there country fairs near Cannon Beach?
Clatsop County Fair in Astoria (26 miles north) is the nearest traditional county fair. Tillamook County Fair in Tillamook (about 40 miles south) is another option. Cannon Beach is too small to host a fair of that type itself.
Is there a handmade market scene in Cannon Beach?
Cannon Beach's handmade market is delivered through its gallery ecosystem rather than a traditional craft market format.
With 15+ galleries in a few-block radius — featuring ceramics, glass, jewelry, paintings, fiber arts, sculpture, and photography by Pacific Northwest artists — the town functions as a curated craft shopping destination year-round. Icefire Glassworks adds a working-studio dimension. The Stormy Weather festival concentrates this into three days of gallery events each November.
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