Eugene is quite a hotbed of activity in the summer. From festivals in the woods to celebrations in the middle of downtown, there’s always something happening in the Emerald City. If you neglected going home for the summer in favor of sticking around town, whether it was to take a few classes or hang in the 541 during the most pleasant time of the year, you couldn’t call yourself a true Eugenian if you don’t check out these four festivals.
The Oregon Country Fair
Located along the banks the Long Tom River near Veneta, the Oregon Country Fair’s tree-covered paths alone are a sight to see. For the last 43 years, the labyrinthine wooded setting comes alive filled with people from all over the Northwest — mostly from Oregon — dressed up as fairies, goblins and many otherworldly characters. Aligning the paths, local venders sell their handmade crafts and delectable foods. With just less than 20 stages and performance areas scattered among the paths, you’re almost guaranteed to walk by one of the hundreds of entertainers and performers. Although there are set stages, it doesn’t limit the entertainment you might see just walking around. For folks unable to drive the out to Veneta, the Country Fair purchased the fare for the entire LTD bus system for the three days of the event, allowing ticket holders to ride any LTD bus free of charge. The Country Fair starts on July 12 and ends July 14.
Lane County Fair
You can never go wrong with filling an event center’s parking lot with amusement rides. With rides titled “kamikaze” and “super orbiter,” any thrill seeker can satisfy an adrenaline fix. If you’re not a fan of feeling of your stomach drop, their are plenty of classic rides — including a 150-foot high ferris wheel. Whenever you’re not reliving your childhood on the carnival rides, there are plenty of festivities scheduled every day and night for you to keep the thrill going. Live music is scheduled for every night on an outdoor stage. Although concert tickets are separate from the general admission fee, the music is always loud enough for you to hear on the top of the ferris wheel. During the day, the Lane County Fair Grounds Center open up the animal areas to the public for anyone who wants a closer look at the creatures competing in the fair. People are also welcome to watch the animal judging or watch a tweaked version of the game horseshoe that’s called redneck games, which involves using a toilet seat as a horseshoe. The Lane County Fair will be going on July 24-28 at the Lane County Fair Grounds.
Whiteaker Block Party
In early August, the Whiteaker district will be putting on its seventh annual block party. The Whiteaker Block Party is a completely volunteer-run event and is free to the public. Residents and businesses within the Whiteaker district — commonly known as the Whit — come together and invite local bands, food and craft vendors to set up a booth for one day party in the summer. The heart of the Whit, located on 2nd and 3rd avenues between Blair Boulevard and Jackson Street shuts down traffic for the massive neighborhood party. While a local band plays their hearts out on one of nine different stages available, you can enjoy freshly poured Ninkasi beer just a few steps away. And just across the street from Ninkasi is the annual block party fashion show. In the past all vendors wouldn’t have to pay to set up a booth but because of the growth in popularity of the event, craft vendors are being asked to pay a booth fee to ensure there will be enough funds for the following years. This year the volunteers are hoping to have approximately 8,000 attendees. The Block party will take place August 3.
Eugene Celebration
The name says it all. Eugene Celebration is just that: A festival meant to honor everything emblematic of the Emerald City. The three-day event features live music, booths hosted by local businesses and a bevy of other activities. The second and third days of the fair are kicked off with two different parades. The Eugene Celebration Parade starts on the corner of 18th Avenue and High Street, cruises north to 11th Avenue before looping back up Pearl Street to finish off on the corner of Pearl and 19th. The pet parade starts Sunday morning. There’s a car show, film festival and, of course, a sustainability village. The Celebration’s main entrance sits on the corner of 10th Avenue and Olive Streets and is bordered by 10th and 8th avenues on the north and south and Charnelton and Broadway streets on the west and east. The Eugene Celebration runs from Aug 23-25.