Going with the Flow

Organizers of the Beachcombers and Float Expo are pulling out all the stops to celebrate their 40th annual show this year. Excitement was so high that vendor spots sold out in early December, the speaker series features A-list beachcombers, and there are plenty of one-of-a-kind opportunities at this annual festival on the Washington Coast.

Learn about the history of the Beachcombers and Float Expo ›

Every year, a team of beachcombers led by Alan Rammer works for nine months to put this event together. This is Alan's last year as the organizer, so he has used his influence to make this year's event extra special. He tapped Opal Art Glass to create a set of limited-edition commemorative glass floats and glass medallions, which will be available only at the show. The colorful handblown pieces feature the work of Simon Schmitt from Western Australia. Alan says, "Some of the medallions are made with actual silver nitrate and really glow!"

Alan and collector Wendy Rawlins will be helping to sell portions of a historical glass float collection. “Frank and Kim Forster were very active in the early years of this event as well as very supportive advocates,” Alan says. “They beachcombed the Washington and Oregon coasts as well as traded and purchased floats to enhance their collection. Frank passed away 18 years ago, and Kim decided to sell a portion of their collection to fellow collectors who might be looking for that missing piece to enhance their own collections.” Kim wants everyone to have a chance to own a piece of their collection, so families can purchase only one float on Saturday. “On Sunday, folks can come back and buy as many of the remaining floats as they wish.” Each float comes with a certificate of authenticity.

View scenes from past float festivals ›

The keynote speaker at this year's event is one of the world's most renowned glass artists, Ro Purser. He started his career blowing glass floats for fishermen in Northern California in the 1970s before becoming a glass artist. Ro will speak at 4:30 pm on Saturday, followed by a dessert social open to visitors and vendors. Other speakers include John Anderson, Mary Beth Beuke, John Weldon, Alan Rammer, and Cascadia Research. They will speak about beachcombing in the Pacific Northwest and the Gulf Coast, marine mammal studies, sea glass history, and Pacific Northwest sealife. On Sunday at noon, there will be a presentation of awards and a drawing for a Don McMichael oil on canvas painting.

Beachcombers and Glass Float Expo, Ocean Shores Convention Center, Ocean Shores, Washington. Details ›

March 7th, 10 am–4 pm, and March 8th 10 am–3 pm

All photos courtesy of the Beachcombers and Float Expo.

Learn more about beachcombing events around the world featuring sea and beach glass, seashells, fossils, floats, mudlarking and more for beachcombers. Articles ›

View a list of upcoming beachcombing shows, festivals, and events ›

Learn more about floats

Learn more about the history and beauty of floats from around the world. Articles ›

This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 53, the March/April 2026 issue.