Celebrate all things “old” and a few things “crafty” in Lincoln City this month.

Visitors can search for treasures on and off the beach during Antique Week, an 11-day antique store extravaganza, held Feb. 5-15. More than 100 antique dealers from nearly a dozen retailers offer special deals and discounts during the citywide event.

“The event originally started at Rocking Horse Antique Mall many years ago,” says Dan Beck, co-owner of The Little Antique Mall, representing 85 dealers from across the Pacific Northwest. “Since February is a slow month for retailers, the idea was to draw visitors to town and boost their sales. Other antique stores caught on, and eventually it has blossomed into a citywide event. Now, Antique Week has taken on a life of its own.”

Of Note

For more information, call the Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau at 541-996-2274 or 800-452-2151. For a full schedule of events, visit oregoncoast.org.

According to Eric Johnson, public relations coordinator for the Lincoln City Visitor and Convention Bureau, February is anecdotally the biggest sales month for many of the city’s antique sales.

“Since the economy tanked in 2004, we have seen bigger crowds every year,” Johnson says. “Many of the retailers will have deep discounts for people to take advantage of. That’s why it’s a great time of year to visit Lincoln City and find a treasure to adorn your home.”

Beck says most retailers in The Little Antique Mall will offer 20 percent off, but some have gone as high as half-off in past events.

says. “Many of the stores in town will extend their hours to accommodate.”

Rick Miner, co-owner of the Rocking Horse mall, encourages folks to come and see what’s available. Rocking Horse Antique Mall started 30 years ago with Miner, his sister, Dot, and his mother, June. June Miner was one of the pioneers and organizers of Antique Week, which has been going on for more than two decades.

Miner says the mall’s 12 dealers will be selling “Beanie Babies, Pyrex, Victorian glass art, jewelry, just a little bit of everything.”

“It’s a great time to buy if you’re into antiques and collectibles,” he says. “All of our dealers will be offering a dis-count. Most will do about 20 percent off.”

Aside from great bargains on everything from art to books to furniture, Johnson says the biggest highlight of Antique Week is the special glass drop.

“We will have 300 antique Japanese glass floats on our beach to commemorate the occasion,” he says. “You can search 7 miles of beach for one of these collector’s items. The floats are hidden by our float fairies during daylight hours and can be found between the tide line and the embankment.”

In days gone by, the Bureau’s website reports visitors searching Oregon’s beaches have found treasures from the Far East, blown glass floats in intriguing shades of green and blue. Used by Japanese fishermen to float their nets, the spheres were as small as 2 inches or as large as 2 feet. The ultimate find for any dedicated beachcomber, the spheres were collected, pol-ished and admired, according to web information.

“Now that fishing vessels around the world use buoyant plastic, a blown glass float is a rare find — except on the beaches of Lincoln City, where more than 2,000 of them are found each winter,” the Bureau says.

During Lincoln City’s promotion, Finder Keepers, floats can be found and kept from mid-October to Memorial Day each year. As part of Antique Week, seekers can look for one of 14 heart-shaped paperweights on Valentine’s Day weekend, Feb. 13-14, as well as the glass floats, Johnson says.

“It should be a lovely occasion,” he adds.

Lucky beachcombers are asked to share photos of their glass treasures via Facebook at facebook.com/LincolnCityOregon or on Twitter @lcvcb and #Finders Keepers.

Johnson says this year is going to be a “back to the basics” approach to the event.

“In years past, there have been too many ancillary events happening during Antique Week that diluted the message,” So for this year, the message is simple: Come to Lincoln City and enjoy 11 days of deals and specials.”

Johnson says he is already getting phone calls from visitors around the country for the Antique Week promotion.

“Since Lincoln City was listed by Country Home Magazine as one of the 10 best undiscovered antique destinations, the word has gotten out,” he says. “Our guests like to coordinate their visit with this promotion. It is always fun to talk to them on the phone and hear their excitement.”