MAYOR'S MESSAGE Closing Out Summer at the Bay Area Fun Festival The Bay Area Fun Festival is here at last, taking place this Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21, in downtown Coos Bay. Each year this tradition brings us together to celebrate our community, our history, and the joy of closing out summer with friends, family, and visitors from near and far. Here’s just a taste of what’s in store this weekend: •Vendor market with local artisans, food, crafts, and more filling Central Avenue •Prefontaine Memorial Run with 10K, 5K, and fun runs Saturday morning •Bay Area Fun Festival parade on Saturday afternoon, this year’s theme is “Sunsets and Sandy Shores” •Cruz the Coos on Saturday evening with hundreds of classic cars cruising downtown •RockFest with live music at 3rd and Central all weekend long •Family activities on Sunday, including kids’ pre-runs and events at Marshfield High School The Bay Area Fun Festival has grown into one of the highlights of the year for our community. It’s more than just a schedule of events—it’s a chance to honor local traditions like the Prefontaine Memorial Run, support our small businesses and artisans, and enjoy the energy that fills our downtown when neighbors and visitors come together. I also want to share an important note about travel. Highway 101 will be closed for construction south of Bandon starting Friday night through Sunday evening, with traffic detoured onto longer routes. To make things easier, many of our local hotels are offering discounts for Sunday night stays. If you can, I encourage you to take advantage of these offers. Staying the extra night means avoiding the detour, getting a good rest, and enjoying just a little more of what Coos Bay has to offer. Finally, I want to thank the Coos Bay Downtown Association for their hard work in putting this event together, and also our dedicated city staff who commit their time and energy each year to making sure the Bay Area Fun Festival is safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone. I hope you’ll join in the festivities, whether you’re running, cruising, shopping, listening to music, or simply cheering from the sidelines. Together, we’ll make this weekend another memorable celebration of life on Oregon’s Adventure Coast. -Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay