It’s the week of First Friday ArtWalk, which means art and cultural events happening all over downtown. It’s also “Bike Month” so there are lots of events related to getting out your bike. Plus music and all kinds of other things going on. Find your fun!
May 2
Las Cafeteras | Las Cafeteras have taken the music scene by storm with their infectious live performances and have crossed genre and musical borders. Their electric sound and energy has taken them around the world! Born and raised east of the Los Angeles river, Las Cafeteras are remixing roots music and telling modern day stories. Las Cafeteras create a vibrant musical fusion with a unique East LA sound and positive message. Their Afro-Mexican beats, rhythms, and rhymes deliver inspiring lyrics that document stories of a community seeking love and justice in the concrete jungle of Los Angeles. Hult Center, hultcenter.org
May 2
Thursday Night Run Club | Come join the fun on Thursdays for a community run on the Amazon Trail where they start and finish at Drop Bear 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, silenus_run_club
May 2-4
Mt. Pisgah Plant Sale | The Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah spend thousands of hours annually cultivating native plants for Buford Park restoration and throughout the Willamette Valley. Beginning in spring, while supplies last, they open their doors to the community for you to take home a piece of Buford Park to plant in your own backyard. Mt. Pisgah Arboretum, bufordpark.org
May 3
Florae Animalia Opening Reception | View new work by Claire Burbridge, Matthew Dennison, Marjorie Taylor, and Olga Volchkova, four outstanding Oregon-based artists whose work is inspired by the Northwest flora and fauna. While diverging widely in terms of medium, technique, and approach, they share keen observational skills, an utmost attention to detail combined with imagination and inventiveness, and a willingness to question and investigate through art how we relate to nature. The show is on display from May 1 to June 22 with an opening reception May 3 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm during the First Friday ArtWalk. Karin Clarke Gallery, karinclarkegallery.com
May 3
First Friday ArtWalk | Join Lane Arts Council for the First Friday ArtWalk in Downtown Eugene! ArtWalk is always free! The ArtWalk includes live music and the Artist Marketplace, a pop-up market featuring artists working across a variety of mediums, at the Farmers Market Pavilion (85 E 8th Ave). The May 3 ArtWalk will feature live music from high-energy jazz funk neo soul quintet Natsukashii Soul from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the pavilion. The physical version of the ArtWalk guide will be available to pick up at the Farmers Market Pavilion, as well. Downtown Eugene, lanearts.org
May 3 & 4
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/
May 3 & 4
Quilt Show | The Emerald Valley Quilters presents a quilt show full of over 300 quilts and the featured quilter Ken Casey. There will be vendors, quilts of valor, a small quilt auction, demonstrations, and a build-a-block for charity. Lane Events Center, emeraldvalleyquilters.org
May 3 & 4
Oregon State Hanmadang | The 5th annual Oregon State Hanmadang is an officially sanctioned U.S. Taekwondo Committee tournament that is a non-sparring, skill-based competition. All belt levels and all ranks will be represented as participants exhibit, explore, and compete in the full realm of their martial art training and skills from many disciplines, including Taekwondo, Kung Fu, and Hapkido. Bob Keefer Center, oshanmadang.com
May 3 & 4
Magical Moombah | Har-Dee-Har-Har! The Moombahteers invite everyone to join them for a trip to the beaches . . . yes beaches on different islands all around the world! Look for all kinds of adventures and wonderful songs like “Aloha-Oi,” “Lime In The Coconut,” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” “Huki-Lau,” “Beach Party Bingo,” and more! Come join the Magical Moombah at The Shedd for a great good time! Fun! Contests! Jokes! Lots of songs! Dancing around! And don’t miss the special Magical Moombah Music Box at 11:15 a.m., free with your ticket! The Shedd, theshedd.org
May 3 – 19
Very Little Theatre’s “Constellations” | Very Little Theatre continues with the sixth show of its 94th season, “Constellations,” which follows the relationship of two people who are inextricably linked to one another through time and through multiple parallel universes. Very Little Theatre, thevlt.com
May 4
Star Wars: A New Hope | In honor of May the 4th, return to the movie that started it all: Star Wars: A New Hope. A young Luke Skywalker begins to discover his destiny when, searching for a lost droid, he is saved by reclusive Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi. As a civil war rages in the galaxy, and Rebel forces struggle against the evil Galactic Empire, Luke and Obi-Wan enlist the aid of hotshot pilot, Han Solo. Joined by the quirky droid duo R2-D2 and C-3PO, the unlikely team sets out to rescue Rebel leader Princess Leia and make use of the stolen plans to destroy the Empire’s ultimate weapon. Hult Center, eugenesymphony.org
May 4
Shred Fest | In its effort to fight identity fraud, OCCU is inviting anyone in the community to have their personal documents shredded for free at an event on May 4. The credit union’s annual Shred Fest will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at OCCU’s corporate headquarters, located at 2880 Chad Drive in Eugene. Drop off up to four banker-size boxes of documents containing personal information, like bank statements and tax records. Participants are asked to bring at least one canned food item to be donated to FOOD for Lane County, a local nonprofit fighting hunger in the area. OCCU, myoccu.org
May 4
Lizzie Weber | Discover your new favorite artist during the 10×10 Series, which features performances by talented artists from varying genres. Each show is only $10! Singer-songwriter Lizzie Weber makes soft, yet instrumentally intricate music. Don’t miss this performance on May 4 at 8 p.m. Hult Center, hultcenter.org
May 5
Wheel of Fortune Live! | “America’s Game” comes to Eugene! Contestants are randomly selected from the audience to join the host onstage and spin a replica of the iconic Wheel, solve puzzles, and win incredible prizes like trips to Paris and Hawaii or up to $10,000 in cash. Audience members can join in on the fun with interactive games and puzzles! McDonald Theatre, mcdonaldtheatre.com
Month of May
Exhibits at New Zone Gallery | New Zone will host four exhibits throughout the month of May. An opening reception will be held on First Friday, May 3, from 5:30-7:30pm. Beverages from Hop Valley Brewing and wine from Sundance Wine Cellars. Live music performed by Steve Goodbar. On display is Robin Marks-Fife – “Random Thoughts and Retrospective” showing watercolor paintings from the past as well as new work. Ralf Huber – “Hegemony” is an art installation discussing the preponderant influence of the Western powers; wars fought in the name of democracy and their cost. Contemporary Mosaic Art 2 (CMA2) – Juried Members Exhibition is an international community of mosaic artists featuring 38 mosaic artists from 13 states and 3 countries. ECCO – Students exhibition is a display of art created by the ECCO alternative high school students. New Zone, newzonegallery.org
Month of May
May is Bike Month | Bike Month is back, along with a month filled with fun rides and events. It’s a good time for returning riders to roll those steads out of the garage and for everyone who rides bikes to celebrate together. May is Bike Month showcases the many benefits of biking and encourages more folks to give biking a try. Bike Month has been celebrated in Eugene and Springfield since it was first nationally celebrated in 1956. Visit the website for the full line-up of free rides, workshops, bike-up discounts at local businesses, and prizes for all ages and riding abilities. City of Eugene, webikelane.org
