Fun and funky: North Coast’s annual KMUN bash

Fun and funky: North Coast’s annual KMUN bash

Published 6:00 am Monday, August 3, 2026

Eight years in the past the Coaster Theatre Playhouse in Cannon Beach held auditions for the “Wizard of Oz.” Debbie Nelson confirmed as much as check out for the position of Nikko, however no one knew who that was.

Nelson laughed. “Nikko is the head flying monkey. He has a name.”

The stuff of nightmares, Nikko is the chief of the flying monkey henchman troop within the 1939 MGM basic, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy. Nikko serves the Wicked Witch of the West in her quest to seize Dorothy and pals.

At the KMUN block occasion, Nelson was in her creepy-cute flying monkey costume on a piece of Exchange Street beneath the Tillicum House the place KMUN 91.9 FM was internet hosting a road occasion. Hundreds attended, having fun with streets lined with nonprofit informational and interactive cubicles, gigantic bubbles created by the Astoria Bubble Collective, stay music, meals carts and interactive artwork and video games.

This yr Nelson — who’s a board member of the Coaster Theatre — mentioned she plans to “reprise my role of Nikko” on this November’s manufacturing.

On Saturday, Nelson most well-liked to remain in character nimbly dancing round like a monkey. Bun in actual life, “I just retired,” she laughed. “I am actually a grandma and people are surprised when I take off the mask.”

Playfulness apart, Nelson was on a mission to work together with the neighborhood on the block occasion posing for pictures and monkeying round for the digicam. “It’s my hometown and I wished to volunteer domestically. I’m out right here selling ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ she mentioned.

Typewriter poetry

A number of steps away from Nikko, the Latona household watched Asher Finch’s fingers, tipped with violet-lacquered nails, clack away on a small black Remington typewriter. Finch handed a customized poem to the household, created on the spot:

Sprout

Between cement slabs

life thrives in

sprouts,

reminding us to

endure the sudden

KMUN Block Party ‘26

— Asher Finch

Something for everybody

Couple Damian and Kellie Latona, who have been there with their kids, 8-year-old Seneca and 14-year-old Cosimo, have attended the occasion earlier than. “We just have to come to the block party. We just love it. It’s very diverse with lots of fun things to do.”

Across the road close to the stay music stage, station supervisor Mari Bergeron mentioned she noticed a number of comfortable faces and enthusiasm over the course of the afternoon.

“We wanted to do this because people hear us on the radio all the time but they don’t see us,” Bergeron mentioned. “We want to give people an opportunity to talk to us about what they like, what they want to see us improve.” She pointed to the fundraising side of the occasion and the help of nonprofit companions and the neighborhood.

“I’m delighted that we are able to do this. We wanted to have a celebration with our community — and all of our friends.”