Bay City Arts Center February First Friday Gallery Opening & Music Event Saturday: A Winter Glimpse of the Beloved Ocean Celebration – Feb. 6 & 7

Join local communities and visitors alike this February and experience the spirit of the beloved annual Ocean Celebration—traditionally held each August at Cape Lookout—through two special events at the Bay City Arts Center. The events highlight the work of Eduardo Cruz, a self-taught mixed-media artist, performer, and the founder of Huehca Omeyocan, the cultural group behind the “Ocean Celebration”.

Taking place on Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7, the events offer two distinct ways to engage—through visual art and live performance. Attendees are welcome to join one or both events to celebrate Eduardo’s artwork, experience cultural performance, and learn more about the Ocean Celebration’s decade-long legacy as it approaches its 10th anniversary in 2026.

On Friday, February 6, Eduardo Cruz will be featured as February’s Artist of the Month during the Bay City Arts Center’s First Friday gallery opening. The exhibit will showcase his visually striking wood-burning artwork, alongside cultural artifacts from the Ocean Celebration.The evening will also include participation from local environmental partners who help organize the celebration—such as Friends of Netarts Bay WEBS and Oregon Shores—highlighting the powerful intersection of art, culture, and environmental stewardship.

The celebration continues on Saturday, February 7, with a ticketed live performance at the Bay City Arts Center. Huehca Omeyocan, led by Eduardo Cruz, will present an Ancestral Music & Dance Celebration, featuring traditional drumming, Aztec dance, and interactive audience participation. “This immersive experience honors the living traditions of Anahuac (Mesoamerican) culture,” says Cruz. “The performance includes a beautifully curated display of instruments and artifacts from cultures across Mesoamérica, inviting audiences to engage, immerse, and connect with the rhythms and stories of these ancestral traditions.”

Together, these two events offer a rare winter opportunity to experience the creativity, cultural depth, and community partnerships that have made the Ocean Celebration a meaningful annual tradition on the Oregon coast.

Event Details

Gallery Opening: Friday, February 6, 5-7 p.m., 2026
Live Performance: Saturday, February 7, 6-8:30 p.m., 2026
Tickets for Saturday’s live performance are $20. For more information and to purchase tickets online go to: netartsbaywebs.org/events or https://www.baycityartscenter.com
Location: Bay City Arts Center, 5680 A Street, Bay City, OR 97107