This is the week for festive fun, starting with parades in Veneta, Monroe, and Creswell, all featuring holiday cheer, floats, and community spirit. Take a stroll through downtown Springfield during the Springfield Second Friday Art Walk. Visit Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge for special deals on Date Night Wednesdays, and visit Sundance for themed wine tasting on Fridays and Saturdays. What will you do?
December 12
Veneta Light Parade | Enjoy a small-town parade celebrating the season with creatively decorated fire trucks, cars and floats plus holiday-adorned animals as they wind through downtown. Veneta, VenetaEvents
December 12
Strayhorn & Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite | The Jazz Station proudly presents this holiday season’s 3rd Annual Nutcracker Suite performed by their very own Holiday Jazz Orchestra directed by Steve Owen. Jazz Station, thejazzstation.org
December 12
Eugene Symphony’s Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony | Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony is beloved for its achingly beautiful melodies that melt the heart and marked a personal comeback for the composer after a debilitating crisis of confidence. Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto is a landmark of his dark and restless period, here featuring Anthony Ratinov, lauded for “sporting a pianism at the highest level…with admirable dexterity and with stainless precision” (L’Ape Musicale). Opening the concert: a new work by Grammy-nominated composer Anna Clyne. Hult Center, eugenesymphony.org
December 13
Eugene Difficult Music Ensemble Graphic Score Show | Eugene Difficult Music Ensemble (EDME) presents a show of chamber and experimental musicians interpreting graphic scores. They are joined by long-time leaders of the Eugene experimental scene, Chefkirk and Entresol. As a special treat, to end the night, a graphic score will be projected at the back of the stage so that audience members can join the artists and interpret the score together. Graphic scores challenge the traditional sheet music score as they work in a synesthetic space that transcends more traditional forms of written music. ArtCity Studios, edmensemble.org
December 13
Olem Alves | | Friday nights at Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge means great live music and a perfect dinner night out with friends, family, or a special date! Explore the complete lineup of gifted musicians on the Lounge’s online calendar. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge, heartoforegonwine.com
December 13
Springfield Second Friday Art Walk | Tour downtown Springfield to see this month’s curated art exhibits. Participating businesses and storefronts in the historic district along Main Street and on nearby blocks will host live music and artist receptions. This self-guided tour is hosted by Emerald Art Center, a destination of local art exhibits and cultural displays. Visit them for tour directions (and to see their Simpsons exhibit). Downtown Springfield, emeraldartcenter.org
December 13 & 14
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
December 13, 14, & 15
“Oliver!” | Consider yourself at home with “Oliver!”, Lionel Bart’s classic musical based on Charles Dickens’ novel, “Oliver Twist.” The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike. The Shedd, theshedd.org
December 14
Artist’s Holiday Art Show | Roka Walsh offers mixed-media imagery prints and up-cycled wood boxes. Sue Hunnel offers flame-work glass jewelry and trinkets. Janet Nelson offers jewelry, woven scarves, and hats. A wonderful assortment of gift items, as well as hand-made toys! 10 am to 5 pm at 585 Hamilton Street, Springfield
December 14
Monroe Holiday Light Parade | The Monroe Light Parade is presented by the Monroe Rural Fire Protection District. See website for location details. tri-countychamber.com
December 14
Creswell Winter Lights | Enjoy a community celebration with all-day activities welcoming the winter season, including visits with Santa, a holiday marketplace, and a holiday light parade. The festivities culminate with a light parade down Oregon Avenue at 5 pm and live music on Oregon Ave and 1st St. Downtown Creswell, business.creswellchamber.com
December 14 & 15, 21 & 22
28th Annual Victorian Christmas Open House | Heceta Head Lightstation is celebrating 28 years of the Annual Victorian Christmas Open Houses from 4 to 7 pm. The Queen Anne style Keeper’s House will be decorated inside and out with festive Victorian holiday decorations through January 5. Each evening of the open houses local performers will share holiday favorites in the historic Keeper’s House. Santa will be visiting to welcome children of all ages. Cookies and warm drinks will be available. Guests are encouraged to take a nighttime walk to the lighthouse, so bring a flashlight! This is a great opportunity to watch the lighthouse beams rotate overhead, truly a magical experience. Heceta Lighthouse B&B , hecetalighthouse.com
December 15
Chamber Music Amici and #instaballet | The program will include the music of Paganini and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco with two new dance works created by the community and performed live on stage. Wildish Theatre, app.arts-people.com
December 15
Eugene Concert Choir’s Handel’s Messiah | Eugene Concert Choir, orchestra, and four soloists will perform the most enduring, beloved oratorio of all time. Handel’s Messiah is both familiar and ever fresh. In Handel’s lifetime, Messiah was so popular that he created numerous versions of the arias and choruses to achieve the finest performances from the artists who sang in his concerts. Today, with so many variations to choose from, every performance of Messiah is a unique experience molded by the selections of the conductor. Hult Center, eugeneconcertchoir.org
December 18
Date Night at Elizabeth’s | Wednesday nights are now date night at Elizabeth’s! Enjoy 50% off Elizabeth Chambers Cellar wine by the bottle and 50% off select cocktails with the purchase of two entrees from their dinner menu. Reservations are strongly encouraged! Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge, heartoforegonwine.com
Through December 21
“Cats” | Get ready to experience “Cats” like never before! As the groundbreaking musical that revolutionized theater and ignited the megamusical trend, “Cats” continues to captivate audiences around the world. While staging such an iconic show can be a challenge for many theaters, Actors Cabaret is bringing the magic to life in an intimate, unforgettable way. Don’t miss your chance to see “Cats” at Actors Cabaret—where big dreams come to life on a smaller stage. The Jellicle Cats are waiting for YOU! Actors Cabaret, actorscabaret.org
Through December 22
Cottage Theatre’s “The 39 Steps” | Cottage Theatre concludes its 2024 season with a three-weekend run of “The 39 Steps,” an action-packed spoof. Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python, and you have “The 39 Steps,” a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of live theatre! Cottage Theatre, cottagetheatre.org
Through December 22
Oregon Contemporary Theatre’s “Snow Fever: A Karaoke Christmas” | A festive, comedic play that blends holiday cheer with karaoke mayhem, as a group of friends navigate awkward encounters and unexpected revelations at a Christmas party. Oregon Contemporary Theatre, octheatre.org
Through December 23
Photos with Santa at Valley River Center | The magic of the holiday season comes alive with a visit to Santa’s winter wonderland. Santa is located at Center Court. A visit with Santa is always free and photo packages are available for purchase. Valley River Center, valleyrivercenter.com
Through December 24
Holiday Market | Browsing through the festive booths of Holiday Market with friends and family is only part of the magic. Enjoy two stages with live music all day long (10:30 am-6 pm), plus delicious meals and beverages in the International Food Court (located in Evergreen Hall). Gift wrapping is offered by Hope and Safety Alliance for donations in Evergreen Hall, from Nov. 16th until Dec. 15th. Lane Events Center, eugenesaturdaymarket.org
Through December 29
Glow Eugene – a Holiday Light Show & Christmas Market | This indoor family-friendly walk-around festival is an exploration through luminous exhibits. Journey through six different countries, featuring light up landmarks like London’s Tower Bridge, Taj Mahal, and Eiffel Tower. There will be festive live performances, free visits and photo opportunities with Santa, a Merry Maker’s Holiday Market, holiday treats and gourmet foods, and holiday-inspired drinks from a non-alcoholic bar. Additionally there will be a free scavenger hunt passport, indoor playground and crafters corner for the kids. Make some magical holiday memories. Lane Events Center, eugene.glowgardens.com
Through February 2
Calvin and Hobbes | Selections of original art and strips of Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes, 1985-1995. All original art is from the Bill Watterson Deposit Collection, The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, jsma.uoregon.edu
Through December 31
Member Show at New Zone | A special New Zone members show features work limited to 48 inches total circumference. While this sounds small, the creativity and artistry behind it definitely is not! As an added bonus to feasting your eyes on these small gems, they are all priced at less than $100. An opening reception will be held on First Friday, December 6, 5:30-7:30 pm, New Zone Gallery, newzonegallery.org
Through January 25
Adam Grosowsky: New Work – Faces, Landscapes, and Nudes | Karin Clarke Gallery presents Eugene figurative painter Adam Grosowsky’s new work, an outstanding series of oil paintings on canvas. Most are on a grand scale, with some smaller formats also included. Karin Clarke Gallery, karinclarkegallery.com
