The coast comes alive this weekend with the 118th Florence Rhododendron Festival, featuring colorful parades, carnival rides, and vibrant floral displays. In town, Mount Pisgah’s Wildflower & Music Festival combines nature and live music, while the Saturday Market and Whiteaker Sunday Market bring local flavor and handmade finds. Don’t miss Bark in the Park, a fun-filled fundraiser for Greenhill packed with races, vendors, and activities for pups and their people. Sports fans can catch top collegiate athletes at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field, and theatre lovers can get their suspense fix with “Misery” at Very Little Theatre. What will you do?
May 15-18
Florence Rhododendron Festival | Celebrating the abundant, hardy and beloved “rhody” that splashes vibrant colors across the Oregon coastline, this springtime festival is bursting with family-friendly entertainment and activities. Held every third weekend in May for over a hundred years, the Florence Rhododendron Festival draws as many as 10,000 visitors to Historic Old Town Florence. It is one of the longest running flower festivals on the west coast. The coastal R. macrophyllum was the rhododendron that gave Florence its nickname “The City of Rhododendrons.” Today efforts are underway to locate and perpetuate this native plant. Enjoy a family-focused parade, street vendor fair, car show and a carnival with rides and games along the Oregon Coast at the 118th Florence Rhododendron Festival. A spectacular display of hundreds of Rhododendrons will take place at the Florence Events Center to complement live music and showcases of art. Each year boasts a carnival, a Rhododendron Festival Court, a junior parade on Saturday and the main floral parade on Sunday. The event will extend into Historic Old Town with a local craft market and the carnival on Bay Street. florencechamber.com
May 15
Paint with Cats | Join The Cat Lounge for a fun hour full of kitty cuddles and creativity. Admission price includes cat lounge entry, all paint supplies, and a kitty sculpture to take home with you. Sunday, April 20th, 5:30pm; Sunday, April 27th, 1pm, $30 eugenespringfieldcatloung
May 15
Native Plant Gardening at Hendricks Park | Join the volunteer work party every Thursday in the native plant garden at Hendricks Park. Learn about the Willamette Valley native plants and their uses while supporting the garden’s continued growth. Beginner and experienced gardeners welcome, and tasks vary by season. No RSVP required, tools and guidance provided.Thursday, 9am – noon. Recurring weekly on Thursdays. eugene-or.gov
May 15
Men’s Baseball | The University of Oregon baseball team will take on Spokane Indians. PK Park, goducks.com
May 16-18
Big Ten Outdoor Championships | The University of Oregon track and field team will welcome its new conference mates to the Pacific Northwest for the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field. This will mark the 11th time the Ducks have hosted a conference meet at Hayward Field, having last hosted the 2022 Pac-12 Championships. goducks.com
May 16
Misery at Very Little Theatre | Adapted from Stephen King’s novel, Misery tells the story of famous romance writer Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car wreck by his obsessive fan, Annie Wilkes, only to find himself captive and trapped in her remote home. As Paul recovers, Annie reads his latest novel and is furious to learn he has killed off her most beloved character, Misery Chastain. This show is recommended for mature audiences, as it contains adult language and themes. Adults, $22, Thursday-Saturday 7:30pm, Sunday 2:00pm. thevlt.com
May 16
Volunteer Gardening at Owen Rose Garden | Share your passion for roses and gain hands on experience in year-round care of perennial shrubs. Meet by the garage door of the shop at the garden wearing weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. No experience necessary. Depending on the season, help weed, prune and deadhead a variety of roses on Fridays to keep Eugene’s iconic botanical garden looking beautiful. On Wednesdays, help plant their collection of Heritage Roses, along with weeding, mulching, and pruning. Often these rare kind of roses are more disease resistant, have stronger scents and longer blooms than modern rose varieties. Wednesdays and Fridays, 9am – noon. RSVP by contacting the email or phone number provided. [email protected] | eugene-or.gov/calendar.aspx
May 17
Lane County’s Farmers Market | The Lane County Farmers Market is Eugene’s largest farmers market, providing locally grown foods from over 100 farmers and food artisans. The market is year-round, and all items are grown or produced in Oregon. The Saturday Farmers Market is open 10am to 2pm. during February and March, and 9am to 3pm from April to December. They welcome EBT/SNAP users and provide them the opportunity for a $20 Double Up Food Buck match at all markets to be used on fresh produce. See the LCFM Information Booth for more details. Free. 85 E 8th Ave, Eugene
May 17
The Eugene Saturday Market | The Saturday Market is a weekly celebration of local arts and food. Over 250 artisans sell handcrafted goods, amazing international cuisine and live music – this is the perfect place to shop for unique gifts and try unique food. The Saturday Market is the oldest weekly open-air crafts festival in the U.S. It has been operating for 54 years and is open every Saturday 10am- 4pm. The Saturday Market coincides with the Lane County Farmers Market. Parking is available on-street and at nearby garages. Do not miss this iconic Eugene experience. eugenesaturdaymarket.org
May 18
Bark in the Park | One of Greenhill’s biggest fundraisers, Bark in the Park, is returning to Alton Baker Park. Join them as we celebrate our love for pets and raise funds to support the thousands of animals that will come to Greenhill in 2025. This event is a fun, outdoor celebration of four-legged friends with festivities including a 10K, a 5K, a 2K run/walk, activities, vendors, and more! Plus, your dog is invited and kids 12 and under register free. 5K & 10K Run starts at 8:30am, 2K Walk starts at 9:45am. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or vendor, email [email protected]. green-
May 18
Mount Pisgah Wildflower & Music Festival | In partnership with the Emerald Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon and Lane Community College, Mount Pisgah Arboretum is excited to present the 2024 Wildflower Festival! There will be live music featuring local bands, local vendors, the Art in Nature Trail featuring art installations, guided nature walks by local experts and an expansive wildflower display in the White Oak Pavilion featuring over 200 local species. Adults, $12; Children under 12, free. Sunday 10am-5pm. mountpisgaharboretum.org
May 18
Whiteaker Sunday Market | Looking for the perfect Sunday outing? Head over to the Whiteaker Community Market, Eugene’s only Sunday farm and artist market. Located in the scenic Scobert Gardens Park by 4th and Blair in the historic Whiteaker neighborhood, the market will feature live music and over 30 emerging and established small businesses in the community offering farm-fresh produce, artisanal goods, and handmade crafts. New art, craft and maker vendors join each week. Plus, EBT customers can use their Oregon Trail Card to get SNAP tokens to spend on food at the Market and they’ll get up to an additional $20 in Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) to spend on fresh fruit and veggies. Kids under 12 also receive a $5 token to spend on fresh fruits and veggies. Sundays, 10am-3pm, whiteakercommunitymarket.com
