Far enough away from the city to serve as a retreat, yet close enough to be connected to Oregon’s largest arts and culture center, Manzanita and the Nehalem Bay area in general are brimming with artists.

Whether you are an artist or an art lover, you can find inspiration in the Three Villages.

Start with The Manzanita Art Walk Guide. This handy guide connects art enthusiasts to those who create art in and around Manzanita. Because Manzanita is made for walking, it allows you to discover and enjoy our communities’ wide variety of art and artists at your own pace. You can pick one up at the Manzanita Visitors Center and get tips on how to plan your walking tour.

Manzanita’s Hoffman Center For The Arts is a community arts center located downtown. There you can find a wide variety of workshops taught by knowledgeable, creative artists. The center also hosts live musical performances, film screenings and readings from nationally recognized authors as well as an ongoing clay program and writing lounge which, for a small drop-in fee, are open to the public.

Manzanita is home to several fine art galleries and a bookstore that offers everything from the classics to bestsellers to work by up-and-coming authors. There’s even an outdoor area, Hoffman Gardens, just across the street. There, you can take in a variety of seasonal events, including Hoffman Center’s summer music schedule.

At any given moment, there is an exhibit hanging in the North County Recreation District Gallery in Nehalem for all to see. NCRD is also home to the newly remodeled Performing Arts Theater where you can find a variety of programs such as concerts, talent shows, and theatrical productions.

There are several galleries in the area that showcase local artists and the Manzanita Farmers Market is a great opportunity to see some of them in person.