The night will be filled with lights, music, entertainment and perhaps one of the largest party crowds Eugene has ever seen.
The Black and Gold Party, sponsored by University club baseball and Ninkasi Brewing Co., is set to be an unforgettable night filled with live music and dance performances, drink specials and free food and transportation. However, it’s the performers who are expected to make the night come alive.
With guests DJ Miles from Los Angeles, local disc jockeys DJ WiKy and DJ Atlas, student rap group Supwitchugirl and the University Jam Squad , the night will not be dull.
University senior Eric Litman is the one behind it all, and his goal is to bring something new to the Eugene party scene. Litman, who is from Southern California, noticed that the Eugene nightlife can be quite repetitive and mundane. Litman has been into party and event planning since he was 13 years old. During his sophomore year at the University, he hosted a concert at WOW Hall but said the regulations and restrictions of the venue were difficult to work with. Since then, he has been looking for a local venue where he could plan the party of his dreams.
“I have been wanting to plan something like this since I was 15. All the parties out here are the same with all the same music, and it’s time to change it up,” Litman said. “I won’t be dee-jaying, but I control the playlists and all I want to do is have people understand there is really good music out there.”
Evan Coller of the club baseball team has worked closely with Litman in planning the party. He said the team was happy to sponsor this event because it was an ideal way to incorporate campus life with bigger Eugene events.
“We want to get as many people from the student body involved as possible, and it is also a great way for our team to fundraise,” Coller said.
Coller said he and Litman have attempted to put on events and parties before, but nothing has ever really worked out as they had planned. They have been looking for a space where they could bring in as many people as possible.
Litman selected Lane County Fairgrounds to host the event. He said the fairgrounds, which allow for a capacity of 3,000 people, are the largest venue in Eugene and will be able to hold the kind of crowd he is looking for.
“We want to be able to bring everyone together like we have wanted to in the past, and now we have the space to do it,” Coller said. “We love to have a good time and enjoy nightlife, and now that we have the facility we are going to go for it.”
Litman said that once he finalized the venue at the fairgrounds, he went right to work planning the event. One thing that he has spent a lot of time on, and something he said is essential to an event like this, is lighting.
“There are going to be lasers and huge light icicles,” Litman said. “The lighting is what is going to make the event pop.”
Litman hand-picked the DJs for the event and said there is a separate stage being built for the DJs to make a surround-sound effect.
DJ Miles, who will drive up to Eugene to participate in the event, promises to bring his experience and L.A. culture all the way to Oregon.
“I live in Orange County, and I deejay in L.A. five nights per week at different night clubs, private events and special shows,” DJ Miles said. “I love what I do, and I love traveling to do shows. I am excited to be a part of the black and gold event and see what Eugene is all about, and hey, I am a Duck fan.”
Not only does this event promise to be something for the community to remember, but it will also contribute to a relevant cause. A portion of party proceeds will be going to the Haiti relief effort.
“After the earthquake in Haiti, weeks later the relief has really slowed down,” Litman said. “The proceeds from this event are going to remind everyone and let them know that there is still support going on.”
Supwitchugirl’s performance is set to hold an element of surprise. Litman said the rappers won’t be performing their hit song “I Love My Ducks,” but will be performing all new music instead.
Not only was the event organized by a University student, it includes many student and local performers, and Litman said the event was designed to really cater to everyone’s needs. The event lasts from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. and is open to guests 18 and older. Additionally, there will be free bus transportation from campus to the fairgrounds.
“It is five-filled hours of entertainment for $15, and it’s a real change of pace for Eugene — something you can’t miss out on,” Litman said.
For Coller, it is going to be the energy of the event that will put it into the Eugene history books.
“I would say the level of energy that is going to be going on is going to be much greater than anything people have seen before. I would compare it to something like the energy in Autzen Stadium,” Coller said. “It is going to be a great night for the city of Eugene to remember and a fun time to let loose and dance in the middle of winter term.”
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