Pacific City Dory Days—originally known as the Dory Derbies—was started in 1959 by Paul Hanneman, who from 1965 to 1990 served in the Oregon House of Representatives and famously sponsored Oregon’s landmark “bottle bill.” As communities across Oregon celebrated the state’s centennial in 1959, Hanneman thought Pacific City should have something of its own to celebrate it's unique local history. Thus a legend was born.

Today Dory Days is weekend-long, village-wide, multi-generation family tradition. Many of the families that participate in the parade have been for decades. Passing the tradition on to their children, and grandchildren. Visitors come from near and far to enjoy the parade, view vintage dory boats, eat fresh dory-caught fish, and buy local artisan wares.