Choose from a lot of fun things this week like the Eugene Marathon, a guided bird walk, or a festival celebrating the McKenzie River Driftboats. So much to do to enjoy the outdoors and arts and music!
April 25
Silenus Run Club | Come join the fun on Thursdays for a community run on the Amazon Trail where they start and finish at Drop Brewery. Distances vary from 3 to 5 miles. Your pace can be whatever you’re comfortable with! All are welcome to run or walk! Stick around after the run to have a beer with fellow runners. Check their Instagram weekly for special events and community collaborations. Drop Bear Brewery, instagram.com
April 26
Greg Nesler | Friday nights at Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge means great live music and a perfect dinner night out with friends, family, or a special date! A variety of music performances will be showcased on Friday evenings, with some outdoors, weather permitting, though most will be inside the Lounge’s beautiful indoor space. Explore the complete lineup of gifted musicians on the Lounge’s online calendar. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge, heartoforegonwine.com
April 26-28
Eugene Marathon | Celebrate one of America’s premier marathons with thousands of participants, fans, and volunteers from around the globe who will show up on race day for the Eugene Marathon and Half Marathon in TrackTown USA. All your established running events are on the starting block including a 5K and the Kids 1K Duck Dash on Saturday. On Friday and Saturday, explore the Health & Fitness Expo at the Graduate Hotel and 5th Street Alley Marketplace. Hayward Field, eugenemarathon.com
April 25 & 26
Themed Wine Tastings at Sundance Wine Cellars | Sundance Wine Cellars’ free themed wine tastings highlight various wine regions on Fridays, and on Saturdays, they host local and regional wineries. Apart from the weekends, their tasting bar is always open and has free samples of their featured wines. Sundance Wine Cellars has Oregon’s largest selection of wine and is one of the oldest wine retailers in the Willamette Valley. Since 1983, Sundance Wine Cellars has provided an unparalleled selection of wine from Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Sundance Wine Cellars, orwines.com
April 27
Guided Bird Walk | Join a guided bird walk of The Nature Conservancy’s Willow Creek Preserve in Eugene. Willow Creek’s native grasslands, ash woodlands and perennial streams provide the best remaining example of native wet prairie habitats in the southern Willamette Valley. This habitat provides important habitat for migratory birds. This tour will be led by Sophie Linden, TNC’s newest Willamette Basin Steward, and Charlie Quinn, who initiated bird surveys at Willow Creek over 20 years ago and is currently with McKenzie River Trust. This is a great opportunity to see a gem of the Willamette Valley with experts. This event is 18+. Even though it’s free, registration is required. Willow Creek Preserve, preserve.nature.org
April 27
Mckenzie River Wooden Boat Festival | Fishing guides and wooden boat fans gather on the opening day of fishing season to celebrate and learn about McKenzie River history, wildlife, and wooden boats! Come watch the boat parade, participate in fly-fishing demonstrations, meet the local river guides, and enjoy a great lunch. Guides along the McKenzie River have been pioneers of fishing boat design for over a century and have found perfect construction styles and materials that make a McKenzie River Driftboat a well-known term on rivers around the world. Eagle Rock Lodge, mckenziecommunity.org
April 27
Master Gardener Plant Sale | You will find vegetable starts, herbs, beautiful hanging baskets for Mother’s Day, annuals, perennials, native plants, water plants, houseplants, bare root trees, shrubs, and more. They’ll have plants that are propagated and grown by Master Gardeners according to “best practices” put in place by the OSU Extension Department in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Agriculture to help control invasive weeds, pests, and diseases from spreading throughout Oregon gardens. Lane Events Center, extension.oregonstate.edu
April 27
April 27 & 28
International Women’s Wellness Day | In honor of International Women’s Wellness Day, Driftwood Shores is hosting the inaugural Oregon Coast Expo. This gathering aims to foster physical, mental and emotional well-being, along with some fun. Marvel as sand-spinner Karen Chalmers weaves intricate beach labyrinths each morning. Try your hand at the array of workshops—from the soothing tones of singing bowls to enlightening herbal chats—led by holistic practitioners and wellness mavens, and explore offerings from exhibitors showcasing natural products and holistic services. Experience tranquil morning and evening yoga sessions set against the serene backdrop of the ocean. The expo and workshops are open to not only women, but to all, and are family friendly. Driftwood Shores Resort, womensevents.com
April 28
Farm Brewery Brunch | Choose from a tasty array of brunch menu items, including frittatas, a West Indian breakfast, buttermilk waffles, and more. There are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. Sip on Hentze Farm Brewing’s flavorful hard seltzers, or try their non-alcoholic berry lemonade. This is a Sunday brunch at Yardy Rum Bar to support Hentze Farm Brewing. They will have giveaways and all ticket holders will be automatically entered into a special raffle. Yardy Rum Bar, hentzefamilyfarm.com
April 28
Secret Society Sideshow of Wonders | Every last Saturday, visit Old Nick’s Pub for magic and illusion! Once a month the greatest illusionists, magicians, and mentalists gather to perform the impossible on demand. Show up at 11 a.m. to order brunch and have sleight of hand performed for your table. At noon the stage show begins with a rotating cast of the Willamette Valley’s premiere magical merry makers. Old Nick’s, oldnicks, com
April 28
Eugene Concert Choir & Orchestra Presents: Carmina Burana & Walpurgis Night | The Eugene Concert Choir’s season of musical travels concludes in Germany with two great pagan masterworks. Revel in the powerful songs of love, drink, and the unrelenting force of the ever-turning wheel of fate, as archived by the scribes of the Buren Monastery in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and get swept away by the magical whimsy of the wild Witches’ Chorus in Mendelssohn’s Die erste Walpurgisnacht. These thrilling works will bring the Eugene Concert Choir’s 49th season to a breathtaking and spectacular finale. Hult Center, eugeneconcertchoir.org
Through April 28
Cottage Theatre’s “Brigadoon” | Cottage Theatre’s “Brigadoon” opens on April 5. Its 2024 season continues with a 4-weekend run of “Brigadoon,” the Highlands tale where time stops and love blooms. This popular 1947 musical runs from April 5–28. Cottage Theatre, cottagetheatre.org
Through April 28
Eugene Emeralds | The Eugene Emeralds Minor League Baseball team will play six games against the Vancouver Canadians. Recurring daily through April 21. After that, the Ems take on the Hillsboro Hops on recurring games from April 23-28. PK Park, eugenecascadescoast.org
April 30
Cottage Grove Art Walk | Downtown Historic Cottage Grove is home to friendly, unique shops who support local art and provide light refreshments to Art Walk guests as they travel along quaint Main Street. Enjoy a beautiful evening filled with arts, crafts, music and fun. Some of the businesses you can expect to find are The Crafty Mercantile, Opal Center, Kalapuya Books, Bookmine, Covered Bridge Brewing, and many more. Cottage Grove, cottagegroveartwalk
Through April 30
“From Wolf Country” Exhibit By Ronan Donovan At New Zone Gallery | View fine art photography by National Geographic explorer and conservation photographer Ronan Donovan highlighting conservation issues to help reframe some of the stuck narratives around modern humans and the non-human world. Join the Opening Reception during the First Friday ArtWalk on April 5, starting at 5:30pm. In addition to the eclectic mix of art created by the New Zone members, also enjoy beverages by Hop Valley Brewing, wine by Sundance Cellars and live music. On display through April 30. New Zone Gallery, newzonegallery.org
May 1
Science Knight Out with Michael Hahn: “Boosting Performance and Improving Human Health – How Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning are Changing the Game” | The 2024 community lecture will take place in downtown Eugene in the Jaqua Concert Hall at The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts. Science Knight Out is a free community science lecture that is open to the public and is sponsored by the University of Oregon Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. The annual event supports the mission of the Knight Campus of science advancing society and the goal of engaging the public in the excitement and creativity of scientific research. The Shedd, knightcampus.uoregon.edu
