I grew up in Eugene, but never went to the OCF until a decade or so after I moved away. It's been…read morearound since the 60s or something (long before I was born), but when I was younger I think it was held in a different location before it moved out to its current location in Veneta. It started as a fundraiser for an alternative school but it's now a 503(c). It's always held the first full weekend in July. Once upon a time, it was a drug filled revelry from what I understand, but they've made it significantly more family friendly over the years. Don't get me wrong--you'll still come across a topless woman or walk through a cloud of pot smoke--but it's not as bad as it once was. And as far as unique experiences go, you'd be hard pressed to find another much like this. It was fun but getting a ticket is a little annoying. You can't purchase tickets there; they must be purchased off-site in advance. I guess it's probably great for crowd control or something--though I don't know that they actually limit the number of tickets--but I don't always remember to plan ahead. Oh well, I guess I'd rather they manage the crowd if that's what it's for. Head over to the parking lot of VRC to pick up your ticket and you can also catch the shuttle there too when the fair rolls around. It's great that they have a shuttle since parking around the place is honestly impossible I think. Unless you're camping, perhaps. There's a lot happening at the Fair, so for those who are quickly overstimulated you should be aware. You'll see stilt walkers wandering around. There's planned and/or impromptu parades that weave through the place. There are troubadours and small ensembles that may pop up, or individuals with a band on their back! You may find a juggler or a few wandering. There's activities for children, like puppet shows or face painting. Alcohol is not allowed on the premises, although there are areas where folks can smoke. There are tons of vendors. It's like the Saturday Market on steroids. There was a booth selling the most beautiful masks; capes and wings; art of various mediums... lots of treasures. There are also a nice variety of food vendors. When I went there was a booth that had beignets and they tasted like they came from New Orleans. There was music of various genres; activities both spontaneous and planned. A booth where you could create your own affirmation. The Oregon Country Fair is truly unlike any sort of fair or festival I've ever been to. I was mad at myself for not having visited sometime when I was growing up and living there permanently instead of waiting until 10 years after I'd moved out of state. But I will return with my little one in tow to enjoy this wacky experience all over again.

it's amazing! I went to OCF in 2019 and it truly blew my mind. I loved it. the food was great,…read moreespecially off the waffle. everything was lovely and I cant wait to go back.

The Eugene Celebration is our town's "Farewell to Summer Party," and it, like many small-town…read morefestivals, has changed a lot over the years. The official party weekend is scheduled now at the end of August, but before Labor Day, and is a Friday - Sunday affair. Although the festivities used to stretch farther and wider (to Good Times on the north end, and W.O.W. Hall on the west end), nowadays the partiers are confined to the heart of the downtown blocks, with three - five large-ish stages scattered throughout. Saturday morning of the fest is kicked off with my favorite Eugene event, The Celebration Parade! Here you will see so many things, rich and strange, that even the most through-and through south valley-ites have missed! The parade is capped off with the first public venture of our S.L.U.G. Queen (who was crowned some two weeks earlier at an early August pageant). The parade is free but to get "in," one must purchase a pass. These are $15 for the whole weekend, $8 for Sundays, and some unknown amount for singleton admit on the other days. The music scene is pretty tight for our little town. I've seen the Cherry Poppin' Daddies (of course), Fishbone, They Might be Giants, Blitzen Trapper, Lyrics Born, Misty River, Pinback... All with little to no crowds. The music has stayed strong over the years, but what is waning is all of the local color inside the festival gates. There used to be so many ... oddities... throughout the festival gates, and that is what I really miss. Even the firedancers were absent this year! -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S78m7O7UOQw I'm still a fan though. I mean, what other small town do you know of that puts on a festival so uniquely its own? It's supported entirely off of donations and volunteers and has been getting us to party since 1983! Locals, let's get downtown next year!

I'm giving it three stars for years past…read more This year 1 star. For some reason, there were no Market Place vendors. I have come to Eugene Celebration for maybe three years and I loved the little shops. The shops were a great place to by local gifts and wares. They had plenty of massage, kids, and local exhibitor booths. My friends and I decided to go to the Saturday Marketplace for a few shops, which was nice. The Saturday of the Eugene Celebration is usually busy, but it was dead. I felt bad for the other patrons. I was disappointed. The music we witnessed was okay. Beers were delish. Oakshire, Hop Valley, Ninkasi. Also, they usually have a DISCO BALL cart at night and that was not there, either. Food had some good options. My friend loved her: Cart De Frisco. An old college treat - she claims. Love the Celebration normally, but this year was a bust.

Though it doesn't attract the big international crowd like the Bach Festival, the OFAM, held…read moreannually in August, is probably my favorite music festival in Eugene. Every year they pick a theme, generally related to the American Songbook, with lots of Jazz. They then organize performances by different bands, orchestras and singers at the Shedd. My favorite years wee Cole Port, Irving Berlin, and this year's Hooray for Hollywood! with performances from Casablanca and The Music Man.

It's the fairgrounds! What's not to like? You generally are only gonna come here for entertainment…read moreor because you want to.

What happened to the street fair? It used to be all local vendors making ethnic foods, generally…read morethe same stands you find at the Saturday Market. This year I returned for the first time in three years, and found it transformed into something decidedly carnivalesque. Elephant ears and funnel cakes?? Huh?? Happy to see Red Wagon Creamery there though. Love them! And I can never resist a caramel apple from Larson's.

Every Fall and Spring Terms, the Associated Students of the University of Oregon sponsor a 3 day…read morestreet faire. The East 13th thoroughfare across campus is lined with an assortment of local non-profit info booths, vendors peddling their wares including candles, jewelry, clothing, accessories, posters, tapestries, and street foods. Prices are high, quality is, on average, less than stellar, with a couple of exceptions and gems hidden amongst the goods that seem to have been cloned in 2003 and keep spitting out the same products to offer year after year. The food options are diverse but not terribly exciting or worth the price. Very few vendors offer local or better-than-Sysco ingredients. With the exception of Red Wagon Creamery, and J Tea, I'd rather bring a lunch than waste my cash on unmemorable pad thai, fried rice, vegan and regular philly cheesesteaks, BBQ, funnel cakes, kettle corn, spring rolls, fried plantains, smoothies, snow cones, and the like.

The Oregon Bach Festival is one of Eugene's better claims to fame, celebrating the music Johann…read moreSebastian Bach (though god knows what he has to do with Eugene). Famous German conductor Helmuth Rilling has been organizing the event for years (decades?), in cooperation with the University of Oregon. The festival usually consists of a combination of performances of the work of Bach, and visits by other famous musicians who may or may not perform something Bach-related. Performances are held at the Hult and UofO School of Music, though we've only been to the ones at the Hult. You'll usually find related lectures at the UofO as well, we've been to a number of very interesting talks by visiting music scholars. Keep an eye for the schedule in June/July, you'll undoubtedly find a performance that would interest you!