University of Oregon students, welcome to
Ducks Downtown
Saturday, September 26th
brought to you by
The University of Oregon and Downtown Eugene are proud to present Ducks Downtown, a full day celebration showing incoming students, their families, and the greater Eugene community everything downtown Eugene has to offer.
Grab a few of the new friends you’ve made during the Week of Welcome and come downtown for food, entertainment, shopping and more! From strolls along the Willamette River to catching live music at one of many incredible venues, there’s something for every Duck to explore and experience.
And if you can’t make it, no worries 🤙. Nearly everything happening at Ducks Downtown can be found in downtown Eugene every single Saturday the whole year round.
The Ducks Downtown Lineup
Taste of TrackTown
All day
brought to you by
The culinary tour of downtown Eugene returns! It’s the perfect opportunity to sample James Beard award-winning restaurants, find your new daily coffee stop, and explore the bountiful Lane County Farmers Market!
Just $5 gets you a small plate from over 25 participating restaurants, coffee shops, cafés and more, all day long.
Duck Around Downtown
10am–2pm
Ride the EmX to the Eugene Station to enjoy Ducks Downtown! Stop by Rosa Parks Plaza at the Lane Transit District Downtown Eugene Station between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for free LTD swag, a live DJ, and more.
Kesey Square Vintage Market
10am–6pm
brought to you by
11 of Eugene’s favorite vintage vendors are gathering in Kesey Square from 10–6. Thrift your back-to-school wardrobe and explore the many retail vintage shops in downtown Eugene every day!
Oregon Ducks Football
Watch Party
3:30pm
brought to you by
Graduate by Hilton Eugene is hosting a watch party for the Oregon v. USC game. Watch the game from the Trophy Room, Poindexter Cafe, or in the Top Golf Suites. Synced audio and visual will ensure every space is getting up-to-the-second coverage!
The hotel has created a specialty menu featuring Ducks- and USC-themed cocktails. Aperol will be offering Aperol Spritz tastings and swag to guests. The outdoor patio will also be open.
Tailgating starts at 3:30 for kickoff at 4:30. Hop to the BRiGHT Parade after the game wraps up, or stick around until close!
The BRiGHT Parade
7:30pm
Get Lit, 3pm–7pm
brought to you by
The Eugene BRiGHT Parade showcases the best in illuminated human- and electric-powered art! This year’s theme is KiNDNESS! as our community celebrates choosing kindness, being together and experiencing awe-inspiring moments of joy.
Before the BRiGHT Parade takes to the streets, bring your lights, and your friends, to the Hult Center to deck yourself out with face painting, light-up hat building (while supplies last), and free “Be Kind” signs you can carry along the parade route and then take home or back to the dorm as a fine yard or window display. Free parking in the Hult Center garage.
Stick around for this free and fun event, and join in the after-party at the Farmers Market Pavilion. More details here.
Discounts at Your Favorite Downtown Retailers
Whether you need back-to-school clothes and shoes, books, a new stylist for your next four years, houseplants for your dorm or a bike to get around, you’ll find it all—and more—in downtown Eugene. Get the lay of the land and a few things that just can’t wait during Ducks Downtown to score discounts at participating shops.
Be sure to bring your student ID!
- Ebb & Flow Boutique – 20% off one order, sale items excluded
- gilt+gossamer – $10 off your purchase of $50 or more
- High Street Tonics – One free drink off the elixir menu
- Hult Center – Use code AJDUCKS27 for $39 tickets for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday evening performances of & Juliet at HultCenter.org. Valid through Oct. 2nd. Show dates Oct. 6–11.
- Krismatic Salon – 20% off of all services with Eclectic Beauty by Jesse, 25% off of all services with reb3lhair (hair by John), 25% off of tattoos by El Grillo, $150 off of filler and $200 photo facials with youthful spirit aesthetics, and 20% off of lash sets and nail sets with Bobbi
- Lane County Farmers Market – a free local honey stick at the information table
- Passionflower Design – 15% off any one regular-priced item
- Porterhouse Clothing & Supply – 20% off any one item
- Shirley Kay Fine Art & Apparel – 20% off of any boutique item
Performing Arts in Downtown Eugene
Downtown Eugene hosts the best performing arts that the city has to offer.
Many of our incredible venues have shows Saturday, and of course, they’re bringing concerts, stand-up, theater and more to Eugene all year long.
Several venues offer discounted tickets to students year-round, so be sure to keep an eye out for shows on the cheap.
Saturday’s Shows
- Spring Awakening! at Oregon Contemporary Theatre
- Pink Spotlight Karaoke for a Cause at The Shedd
- Don Latarski & Quintessential at The Jazz Station
- Groundation at WOW Hall
- Sondheim on Sondheim at Actors Cabaret
The Full Schedule
| Event | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Taste of TrackTown | Restaurant hours vary | See map on website |
| Lane County Farmers Market | 9am–2pm | Farmers Market Pavilion |
| Lane Transit District’s Duck Around Downtown | 10am–2pm | Downtown Eugene LTD Station |
| Eugene Saturday Market | 10am–4pm | Park Blocks |
| Kesey Square Vintage Market | 10am–6pm | Kesey Square |
| Oregon Ducks Football Watch Party | 3:30pm tailgate, 4:30pm kickoff | Graduate by Hilton Eugene |
| University of Oregon School of Music & Dance Art Cart | 12pm–4pm | Summit Bank |
| BRiGHT Parade | 7:30pm | Preview the route |
Arriving
Downtown Eugene is easily accessible from the University of Oregon campus. No car? No problem.
On Foot
The view of the Willamette from the South Bank Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path is quintessential Eugene. You can get from Matthew Knight Arena to Kesey Square in about 30 minutes, but we encourage a more leisurely stroll.
Bike
Hop on your bike or rent one of the blue Peace Health bikes for what is probably the fastest way to get downtown. Take the 13th Avenue and High Street “bike highways” to get from the Duck Store to the Farmers Market in about 8 minutes.
LTD
LTD is Eugene’s bus system, and its hub is in the center of downtown Eugene! Fare is free for University of Oregon students. Board the EMX (Emerald Express) at Dads’ Gate Station and get to the Downtown Station in about 9 minutes.
Drive
And if you need a car to haul your latest dorm purchase, you can park for free in any City of Eugene parking garage on Saturdays! Find parking structures here, and inquire with individual businesses about on-site parking and parking validation.
Your Downtown Eugene Team
An incredible collection of partners are working every day to ensure your visit to downtown Eugene is clean, safe, and most importantly, fun! It truly takes a village. Keep an eye out for our hard-working Downtown Ambassadors team as you explore the streets of downtown.
Click here to learn more about the many teams that help keep downtown Eugene a space that everyone can enjoy.
