Looking for an excuse to get away to one of A1’s fabulous beach house rentals? Lincoln City, Oregon residents are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Finders Keepers, a tradition in which “Float Fairies” hide blown-glass floats along the city’s beaches in a nod to the colorful spheres that used to float ashore from Japanese fishing boats in the days of yore. The “20 on the 20th” celebration kicks off on February 20th with a special drop of 20 limited edition glass floats, which will be a recurring event on the 20th of each month until May. If you’re itching to get away to Lincoln City’s 7½ miles of beautiful coastline, there’s never been a better time to book your beach vacation rentals! Lincoln City is waiting to share this special tradition with you.
20 Years of Glass Floats on the Beach
Although Finders Keepers was first imagined by a local blown-glass artist in 1997, it was not until 1999 that Lincoln City sponsored the initial season of glass floats on the beach. The artist was inspired by tales and images of lustrous, blue and green, blown-glass floats that used to wash up on Oregon’s shores from Japanese fishing crews that used them to keep their nets afloat. The project was meant to mark the coming millennium and attracted tourists from across the country. Now, 20 years on, the tradition has cemented itself as a part of Lincoln City’s unique local culture and is sure to remain so for many years to come.
What to Expect on the Hunt for Glass Floats
The glass floats hidden on Lincoln City’s beaches are meant to be found, with their bright colors and inconspicuous positioning below the beach embankment and above the high tide line. The Float Fairies come along several times a day during daylight hours between October and May to place blown-glass floats made by local artisans in fairly conspicuous spots where visitors like you might find them. Barring extreme and unsafe weather conditions, these drops go on as scheduled rain or shine, and there are also special drops to commemorate holidays and other celebrations. If you’re lucky enough to find one, just make sure to register it online through the Explore Lincoln City website. You’ll be able to register your float with its unique number, learn about the artist, and get a Certificate of Authenticity.
More Special Glass Float Drops in 2019
The fairies drop a few floats every day during Finders Keepers season, and 20 limited edition Explore Lincoln City floats will be dropped on the 20th of each month for the rest of the season, so there’s always a chance to get your hands on one. There are a few other special drop dates to look out for as well if you’re thinking of booking a vacation home or one of A1’s cozy beach condo rentals. Lincoln City Float Fairies will be doing a special drop of 50 pink, red, and white floats February 16-17 for Valentine’s Day; 300 extra floats between March 23rd and April 7th for Spring Break; 50 Earth floats April 21-22 for Earth Day; 50 extra floats May 11-12 for Mother’s Day; and 50 red, white, and blue floats May 25-27 for Memorial Day. Even if you don’t find a glass float on the beach, there are many galleries and blown-glass studios in Lincoln City where you can purchase an unnumbered glass float or other piece of beautiful glass art. It’s all part of the fun and a good excuse to visit this awe-inspiring stretch of coastline in Lincoln City, Oregon.
