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The YMCA eyes new space, Springfield keeps homes safer, and Eugene Weekly wants kids to draw Earth Day.
Good morning. It's Friday, March 27, 2026. If you need proof spring is here, look no further than fresh plans, fresh paint, and fresh starts. From community-minded building dreams to programs that keep people steady at home, it's a good week to be optimistic. Alright, here's today's edition of your Eugene Lowdown:
📰 LOCAL NEWS LOWDOWN
The Y Dreams Big, Twice
The Eugene Family YMCA is collecting community feedback on two big ideas: developing its former Patterson Street property in South Eugene and adding a new facility in North Eugene. Two Santa Clara-area sites are in the mix. The Patterson concept includes four multi-purpose rooms for licensed childcare and group fitness.
Draw Outside, Save the World
Calling all K-8 doodlers: Eugene Weekly is hosting an Earth Day drawing challenge. Winners get a local bragging right that actually prints - their artwork and names will appear in the newspaper's April 16 Earth Day issue. Kids can draw themselves doing something they love outdoors, something they could do to help the planet, or their favorite wildlife.
Springfield Fixes Homes, Not Just Potholes
For more than 30 years, the city of Springfield has run a home repair program for income-qualified property owners dealing with health and safety issues. Using federal funds, the city hires licensed contractors for repairs and accessibility upgrades - think leaky roofs, plumbing and heating fixes, plus ramps and grab bars. Qualifying homeowners can receive up to $10,000 over five years.
📆 EVENTS LOWDOWN
Friday, 3/27
Classic Rock
Petty Thievery - All Tom Petty, All the Time
Bring your best air guitar and your worst dancing as a crack band rips through Tom Petty hits for three hours of heartland rock, big smiles, and zero musical snobbery.Whirled Pies | 7 PM | 199 W 8th Ave, Eugene
Friday
Electronic
Now That's What I Call A Rave
Glow sticks, guilty-pleasure bangers, and a room full of people belting every chorus louder than the DJ make this rave the unofficial reunion of your old playlists and your current dance moves.WOW Hall | 9 PM | 291 W 8th Ave, Eugene
Friday
Gem & Mineral
Markets & Shopping
Gem Faire
Prepare to be dazzled by more rocks than a geology textbook and more sparkle than a disco ball, as vendors from near and far roll out tables piled high with gems, beads, minerals, and shiny surprises.Lane Events Center | 12 PM | 796 W 13th Ave, Eugene
Friday
Salsa Dancing
Buenas Vibras Havana Nights
Dust off those dance shoes and let the Cuban beats do the talking as you spin, shuffle, and smile your way through a high-energy Latin night that feels more like a mini vacation.Havana Cafe | 8:30 PM | 225 W Broadway, Eugene
Friday
Bluegrass
Caltucky
Dust off your dancing shoes and finger-pickin air guitar skills for a jamgrass throwdown where banjo blurs, fiddle soars, and sitting still becomes the hardest part of the night.Art House | 8 PM | 492 E 13th Ave, Eugene
Friday
Theater Play
Steel Magnolias
Step into a Louisiana salon where the hairspray is strong, the one-liners are stronger, and the friendships can survive anything life throws at them - including big hair, big emotions, and bigger secrets.Opal Center for Arts & Education | 7:30 PM | 513 E Main St, Cottage Grove
Friday
Lecture
Teen Event
Teens Spring Curia Debate Camp
Bring your best ideas, your boldest arguments, and maybe a snack-loving brain. Over two lively days, teens turn spring break into spirited speeches, Curia showdowns, and the kind of confidence teachers actually cheer for.Springfield Public Library | 1 PM | 225 5th St, Springfield
Friday
Cooking Class
Mexican Pozole Rojo Class
Roll up your sleeves, stir a bubbling pot of pozole rojo, and leave proudly clutching containers of leftovers like culinary treasure you slow-cooked yourself in just 90 flavorful minutes.Erin's Table | 3:30 PM | 1203 Willamette St Ste 160, Eugene
Friday
Saturday, 3/28
Live Music
Live Music - Storm Tipton
Bring your best chair-dancing moves and an appreciation for good beer as local artists turn a casual evening into a mini concert you did not have to plan for.Oakshire Commons | 6 PM | 416 Main St, Springfield
Saturday
Contemp Folk
Big Sue Band
Bring your best toe-tapping shoes; the fiddle, banjo, and sweet harmonies might convince them to dance without asking. Your wallet can relax too, because the music comes with a zero-dollar price tag.Gratitude Brewing | 7:30 PM | 540 E 8th Ave, Eugene
Saturday
K-Pop
Dance
K-Pop Event: What Is Your Love Song?
Warm up your fan chants and wrist flicks for a whirlwind of K-pop dance, DIY decor, raffles, and photo-card trading where playlists are loud, crafts are cute, and everyone argues about the best love song.Unity School of Dance | 4 PM | 543 W Centennial Blvd, Springfield
Saturday
Opera
Trouble in Tahiti
Escape to the suburbs where the lawn is perfect, the smiles are polished, and the marriage is one wrong word from meltdown, all set to snappy jazz and soaring operatic drama.Wildish Community Theater | 7 PM | 630 Main St, Springfield
Saturday
Food & Drink
Causes & Charity
2026 Great Jell-O Jamboree
Prepare for a night where the art jiggles, the cocktails wobble, and the only thing firmer than the Jello molds is the support for local artists and teens learning the ropes.Maude Kerns Art Center | 5 PM | 1910 E 15th Ave, Eugene
Saturday
Kids Activities
Lecture
Thunderegg 61st Birthday
Dig into the geology of Oregon without getting your shoes muddy as rock lovers share thunderegg tales, a themed storytime, and hands-on specimens that turn a regular Saturday into a rock hounds holiday.Springfield Public Library | 11 AM | 225 5th St, Springfield
Saturday
Craft & Workshop
Printmaking
March Stamp Social
Swap scrolling for carving as you turn a plain 2 x 3 inch block into your new favorite stamp, then cover paper, fabric, and anything else you bring with freshly printed, one-of-a-kind designs.Whiteaker Printmakers | 2 PM | 1328 W 2nd Ave, Eugene
Saturday
Blues
The Brisbane Project
Bring your best air-guitar moves and your loosest hips for a blues-soaked, Texas-rock-fueled night where solos sizzle, grooves hit hard, and sitting still is basically not an option.Mac's Restaurant | 8 PM | 1626 Willamette St, Eugene
Saturday
Sunday, 3/29
Karaoke
Karaoke with DJ Johnben
Warm up those vocal cords and your courage; with DJ Johnben at the controls, every shower singer gets a moment to feel like a rock star for a song or two.Happy Hours | 8 PM | 645 River Rd, Eugene
Sunday
Bingo
Family Game
Family Bingo
Forget bedtime stories for one night and chase bingo instead, with prizes, playful mischief, and kids teaching grown-ups how to cheer properly when that winning number finally drops.Drop Bear Brewery | 5:30 PM | 2690 Willamette St, Eugene
Sunday
Traditional Folk
Traditional Irish Music Session
Fiddles are tuning, bodhrans are thumping, and toes will not behave themselves. Pull up a chair, sip something tasty, and let a swirl of jigs and reels turn your Sunday into a mini getaway.Friendly Garden | 4 PM | 2758 Friendly St, Eugene
Sunday
Live Music
Open Mic with Amblin
Bring your guitar, your voice, or just your clapping hands as neighbors turn a Sunday evening into a rotating playlist of surprise acts, brave first-timers, and seasoned regulars chasing that perfect crowd moment.PublicHouse | 5:30 PM | 418 A St, Springfield
Sunday
Theater Play
History
The Revolutionists
Sharpen your wit and brace for beheadings as four fierce women tackle tyranny, argue about art, and prove that revolution, like comedy, is all about timing and who gets the last line.Very Little Theatre | 2 PM | 2350 Hilyard St, Eugene
Sunday
Comedy Show
Film Screening
A Spring Variety Show
Laugh at standup, gasp at magic, groove to live tunes, and judge a one-minute film showdown. If your attention span is short and your sense of humor is big, this spring celebration is your sweet spot.Art House | 7 PM | 492 E 13th Ave, Eugene
Sunday
Pop
Solo Sunday With Melody Jordan
Bring your feelings and your air guitar: expect sing-along classics, heartfelt originals, and at least one moment where you pretend a cover was written just for you.The Axe and Fiddle | 6 PM | 657 E Main St, Cottage Grove
Sunday
Monday, 3/30
Indie Rock
Jeff Tweedy
Bring your best listening ears and maybe a few Wilco lyrics to hum along as Jeff Tweedy turns a quiet Eugene evening into a master class in songs, stories, and delightfully dry charm.The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts | 7:30 PM | 868 High St, Eugene
Monday
Film Screening
Family Movie
Movies in the Market
Pack your coziest layers and your cheesiest rom-com quotes. The hardest part of the night is deciding whether the real love story is on-screen or between you and your snacks.5th Street Market Alley | 5:30 PM | 296 E 5th Ave, Eugene
Monday
Pub Quiz
Pop Culture
Deadhead Trivia Night
Dust off those set lists in your brain and prove you know your Shakedown Street from your Terrapin Station while swapping guesses, laughs, and maybe a friendly argument over deep-cut lyrics.Whirled Pies | 6 PM | 199 W 8th Ave, Eugene
Monday
Bingo
Happy Hour
Monday Bingo Night with Jen Jay
Mondays get a glow-up with cards, calls, and comedy as Jen Jay hosts free bingo, hands out prizes, and proves that lucky numbers pair perfectly with pints and snacks.Gratitude Brewing | 6:30 PM | 540 E 8th Ave, Eugene
Monday
Seasonal
Pets & Nature
Pet Night with the Bunny
Bring the pet, forget the selfie struggle. Let the Bunny and pro photographers handle the posing while you simply smile, squeak a toy, and pretend your camera roll is not already full of pet pics.Valley River Center | 4 PM | 293 Valley River Ctr, Eugene
Monday
Cribbage
Eugene Cribbage
Shuffle up, count your fifteens, and chase that perfect 29 as you play four lively cribbage games with fellow card nerds. Expect friendly banter, surprise skunks, and bragging rights backed by gift cards.The Annex Eugene | 6:30 PM | 1236 Kincaid St, Eugene
Monday
Active
Outdoors
Beginner Night - Rock Climbing
Leave the ground, not your sense of humor, as you test new heights with free gear, pro tips, and plenty of beginner-friendly routes that turn nervous first attempts into proud high-fives.Crux Rock Climbing Gym | 6 PM | 401 W 3rd Ave, Eugene
Monday
Spring energy, but make it local: safer homes, bigger plans, and kids drawing the future one marker at a time. Thanks for spending a few minutes with us today. If you know someone who would love a quick, upbeat Eugene-Springfield catch-up, please share this newsletter and bring them along.
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