Saturday, May 21st, the Astoria Bicentennial Celebration begins with an Opening Ceremony event commemorating the founding of Astoria 200 years ago. At 10:20 AM there will be a trade re-enactment involving sailing ships and canoes from the Chinook and Grand Ronde Nations, in the Columbia River off of 20th Street. A Chinese Lion Dancer’s Parade will move along the Riverwalk from 9th to the Maritime Museum at 12:15 PM.
The Opening Ceremony will be held on the Plaza of the Columbia River Maritime Museum beginning at 1:00 PM. Visiting dignitaries will arrive on the tall ships, Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain. The Lady Washington will be open for dockside tours later in the day. The opening ceremony events include the posting of the US and Oregon Flags by a USCG Color Guard, presentation of historical US flags by the American Legion, the singing of the National Anthem, a fly over by 2 USCG Helicopters and brief remarks by Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen, Governor John Kitzhaber, Senators and others. The opening ceremonies will last about one hour.
After the opening ceremony the Chinook Nation will stage an exhibition Canoe Race in the river. The race will start at the 17th Street Dock and proceed downriver to abreast of Heritage Square on 10th Street, then turn around and finish in front of the Maritime Museum. The Coast Guard will conduct a helicopter water rescue demonstration at 3:30 PM at the Maritime Museum.
A Heritage Fair will be operating throughout the day at the Transit Center Plaza, between 9th and 10th Streets off of Marine Drive. The fair will have 50 booths, featuring food, entertainment, history, arts and crafts.
Parking near the Opening Ceremonies event and the Heritage Fair is limited, so attendees are encouraged to park in other areas and walk to the events or make use of a shuttle bus that will be provided. Parking in the Maritime Museum parking lot will be by permit only for 100 VIP guests until 12:30 PM, after which time the parking lot will be opened to the general public. Access to, and exit from, the CRMM parking lot will be limited to the 20th Street entrance only. The access/exit driveways at 17th and 18th will be closed during the event. Control of the access and exit points of the CRMM parking lot allows for a smoother and more continuous flow of traffic on Marine Drive. Traffic control personnel will be on hand to assist pedestrians crossing the highway at 17th and Marine Drive.
A Shuttle Bus will be operating between the hours of 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a second bus added between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Parking with shuttle bus service will be available at Astoria High School, the US Bank and City of Astoria parking lots at 9th and Exchange, Daily Astorian at 9th and Exchange, Clatsop County at 8th and Duane, at the State Office Building at 4th and Marine and State Office parking lot at 2nd and Marine. Additional parking areas are available at former Lum’s Auto on Exchange at 16th, Columbia Memorial Hospital east parking area at 20th and Exchange, and CMH Pavilion at 22nd and Exchange. Attendees using these lots or that find parking closer to the event venues may choose to walk. Estimated time for a round trip of the shuttle bus is approximately 40 minutes.
Designated Shuttle Bus Stops
West Bound East Bound
East End Basin – Foot of 36th Astoria High School – 1001 West Marine
CRMM – 17th and Marine 9th at Exchange – for City, County, US Bank
Heritage Fair – 9th and Marine and Daily Astorian parking lots
2nd and Marine – (State Office Building) East End Basin - Foot of 36th
Holiday Inn – Marine Drive and Columbia
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