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This weekend's lineup: ceramic treasures, live demos, and a Battle of the States Bull Riding night.
Good morning. It's Tuesday, September 29. Eugene's calendar is leaning delightfully hands-on: clay under your fingernails, then dust in the air. If you like your weekends equal parts art hunt and arena energy, you're in luck. Alright, here's today's edition of your Eugene Lowdown.
Challenge of Champions Rides Saturday Night
The Coastal Farm & Ranch Challenge of Champions Tour - Battle of the States is scheduled Saturday at the Lane Events Center Livestock Arena. The team Bull Riding event runs 7-9 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Teams of three riders represent states, combine scores, and the top four states advance to a final ride.
Pottery Paradise Pops Up Friday
Your fall decor called, and it wants pottery. Clay Fest returns for its 28th annual show and sale at Lane Events Center Performance Hall, running Friday through Sunday with free admission. Expect nearly 100 Oregon ceramic artists, live demos, and everything from raku and woodfire pieces to garden art and dinnerware.
Lightning Lowdown: Quick News
Classic Rock
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Anthems from decades of Southern rock history ring out under the autumn sky as Lynyrd Skynyrd brings beloved hits and deep-cut favorites to an outdoor Eugene stage for a high-energy fall night.Cuthbert Amphitheater | 7 PM | 2300 Leo Harris Pkwy, Eugene
Tuesday
Folk / Acoustic
A.J. Croce Presents Croce Plays Croce
Stories: Enjoy a heartfelt night of live music as A.J. Croce honors his father's catalog while sharing his own songs, offering fans rich arrangements, memories, and a nostalgic yet fresh concert experience.McDonald Theatre | 8 PM | 1010 Willamette St, Eugene
Tuesday
Kid's Theater
Kids Activities
Bluey's Big Play
Families can share an evening of playful theater as Bluey, Bingo, and their parents turn everyday games into big-stage adventures with colorful puppetry, lively music, and a runtime perfect for younger audiences.Hult Center for the Performing Arts | 6 PM | 1 Eugene
Tuesday
Live Music
Performing Arts
One Mic Open Mic
Conversations, clinking glasses, and live songs create a cozy weeknight hangout where local players rotate through short sets, all centered around one mic and an audience that is there to really listen.Oregon Wine Lab | 5:45 PM | 488 Lincoln St, Eugene
Tuesday
Food & Drink
Farmers Market
Hot Pepper Eating Contest
Heat-lovers can watch brave competitors face 10 escalating pepper rounds, sample sweet-and-spicy local bites, and browse the weekday market for farm-fresh goods, all in a lively downtown setting.Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza | 12 PM | 85 E 8th Ave, Eugene
Tuesday
Kids Activities
Toddler Time
Families can count on a low-key morning outing where small kids explore trampolines, burn off energy, and practice balance and coordination in a space designed specifically for younger jumpers.Get Air Eugene | 10 AM | 4211 W 11th Ave, Eugene
Tuesday
Kids Activities
Jewelry
Tweens: Create Polymer Clay Charms
Creative kids ages 9-12 can explore polymer clay, learn simple techniques, and leave with bright custom charms to take home, all in a relaxed, free after-school session.Downtown Eugene Public Library | 4:30 PM | 100 W 10th Ave, Eugene
Tuesday
Gaming & Trivia
Taco Tuesday Just Bought a Vowel - Come Get in the Game Show
Games unfold across the tables as players sip, snack, and tackle quirky challenges together in an upbeat game show setting that trades stiff trivia vibes for relaxed, social fun and easygoing competition.RoadHouse Billiards & Brew | 7 PM | 2105 W 7th Ave, Eugene
Tuesday
Cooking Class
GrassRoots Garden Food Preservation Workshop - Apple Pie Filling
Culinary enthusiasts can spend a late morning learning how to turn fresh apples into shelf-stable pie filling using safe preservation practices, then relax over a prepared lunch with fellow home food preservers.GrassRoots Garden | 10 AM | 1465 Coburg Rd, Eugene
Wednesday
Trivia
Noche De Trivia
Families can settle in for an easygoing evening of questions, laughter, and lighthearted rivalries as teams match wits over rounds of themed trivia while enjoying craft beverages and Latin-inspired bites.Xicha Brewing | 6 PM | 747 E 32nd Ave, Eugene
Wednesday
Kids Activities
Lego Building
Kids: Lego Creations
Creative kids can unwind after school by experimenting with Lego bricks, trying new ideas, and showing off their latest builds in a relaxed, screen-free setting.Bethel Branch of Eugene Public Library | 2:30 PM | 1990 Echo Hollow Rd, Eugene
Wednesday
Bluegrass
Performing Arts
Open Bluegrass Jam Session
Strings gather and voices rise for a casual bluegrass jam that invites players to pull out their acoustic instruments, share a few tunes, and unwind with friendly local pickers on a Wednesday evening.Gratitude Brewing | 6 PM | 540 E 8th Ave, Eugene
Wednesday
Metal
Holywatr: Deo Gratias Tour
Riffs, breakdowns, and big choruses collide when Holywatr stops in Eugene on the Deo Gratias Tour, offering fans an intimate, all-ages show with a national-level production vibe and an enthusiastic crowd.WOW Hall | 8 PM | 291 W 8th Ave, Eugene
Wednesday
Craft & Workshop
Cycling
Basic Bike Maintenance - Fenders
Cycling families looking to ride more confidently can spend an evening learning simple maintenance skills, getting guidance from friendly mechanics, and giving their bikes some attention before the next outing together.Shift Community Cycles | 6 PM | 811 W 6th Ave, Eugene
Wednesday
Bingo
Bingo with Ty Connor
Lively cards, friendly calls, and easygoing competition make this weekly bingo evening an inviting midweek break, whether you are meeting friends or just looking for low-key fun after work.Beergarden | 7 PM | 777 W 6th Ave, Eugene
Wednesday
R&B / Soul
LowDown Brass Band & the Gold Souls
Rhythms from Chicago and Sacramento collide in a tight, funky double bill where big horns, rich vocals, and deep pocket grooves turn a Thursday night into a full-on dance-floor celebration.Blairally Vintage Arcade | 9 PM | 245 Blair Blvd, Eugene
Thursday
Metal
Hard Rock
Kal-El with Goya & Volume
Thunderous guitars, swirling psych tones, and desert-heavy grooves turn this late-night bill into a full-body experience, pairing an international headliner with two cult-favorite doom acts for a packed, high-energy club show.John Henry's | 9 PM | 881 Willamette St, Eugene
Thursday
Comedy Show
The Hour of Friendship
Conversations spark easily when you are guided through quirky icebreakers, then treated to a live comedy show that keeps the energy light, welcoming, and perfect for anyone looking to expand their social circle.The Annex | 7 PM | 1236 Kincaid St, Eugene
Thursday
Classical
Classical Meets Electronic
Harmonies from electrified clarinet and classical trio fill the room with adventurous sounds, inviting listeners into a cozy, focused concert of new compositions and imaginative, game-inspired music-making.Art House | 7:30 PM | 492 E 13th Ave, Eugene
Thursday
Traditional Folk
Fog Holler
Strings fly, banjo rolls, and harmonies cut through the room as Fog Holler proves bluegrass can be both high-energy and razor sharp, all without a single electric guitar in sight.The Jazz Station | 7:30 PM | 124 W Broadway, Eugene
Thursday
Opening Event
(Kin)etic: Exhibition Opening
Creativity fills a beloved Victorian landmark as regional textile artists transform its parlors and halls into a layered conversation between modern craft and local history during a relaxed early-evening reception.Shelton McMurphey Johnson House | 4 PM | 303 Willamette St, Eugene
Thursday
Gaming & Trivia
Trading Cards
Pokemon League
Players of all ages can enjoy a relaxed two-hour Pokemon trading card game meetup, where casual games, friendly opponents, and free prize packs create an easy way to practice decks and meet local fans.Addictive Behaviors | 4 PM | 26 E 11th Ave, Eugene
Thursday
Here's a sampling of happy hours around The Emerald City. Tell them Eugene Lowdown sent you!
The Coburg Mercantile Mon-Fri 3-6pm
$1 off draft beer • $2 off wine • $12 charcuterie plates
PLAY Eugene Mon-Fri 11:30am-4pm
$2 off all draft beers • $45/hour Golf Happy Hour
The Good Times Mon-Fri 2-5pm
$1 off wine/bottled beer • $2 off draft beer • $4 pot stickers/eggrolls • $6 wings/crispy pork
The Horsehead Daily open-9pm
$2.25 PBR • $2.50 Bud/Bud Light • $3.50 micro brews • $1 off wells
Starlight Lounge Daily 4pm-midnight
$5 cocktails
McMenamins North Bank Daily 3-6pm + 10-11pm
$1 off draft beer/cider/wine/wells • $2 off cocktails/flights • $11.50 Smash Hit Burger • $16 seasame seared ahi
Offers sometimes change. Please check before you go. Cheers! 😊
 | This week in 1861The first Oregon State Fair was held near Oregon City on October 1, 1861. |
Thanks for reading this edition of the Eugene Lowdown. Hope you found a timely plan for the week ahead, from Clay Fest to Saturday night's Challenge of Champions Tour. If you know someone who'd appreciate these local picks, please share or forward the newsletter.
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