This past weekend, Eugenians from all over the city flocked downtown, which turned into one giant celebration.
The Eugene Celebration began in 1983, as a way to revitalize the downtown area and bring the community in. Twenty-nine years later, the downtown area has changed and the event has evolved into a cornerstone of the Eugene community.
“Some people can look at it just as a party for Eugene,” said Cami White,@@checked@@ festival manager of admissions. “But it’s definitely necessary, there are plenty of people who don’t make it to downtown Eugene often. Downtown is changing and growing. It’s great to bring people down to see those changes and highlight local organizations.”
The event, which took place downtown this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday, had events to attract all different types of people. Three stages and nine different locations offered music and performances.
There was a health and wellness block with hypnotists, chiropractors and acupuncturists. There was also Sustainability Village with booths from The Backyard Farmer to Stove Team International.
Friday’s festivities included music and the Celebration Film Festival, which featured regional, local and student films.
Saturday’s events kicked off with a parade, followed later by the very popular Bed Races.
In this event, local companies assembled teams to battle for a golden bed trophy. Teams raced to one end of the track, switched pajamas and then raced back. An enthusiastic crowd cheered as the beds took off.  Accounting firm Moss Adams won three rounds, but had to compete in a final tiebreaker after some controversial ruling on whether or not competitor Lydon Crane had fully gotten into his pajamas.
After the Bed Races, the Eugene Weekly announced the winner of their Next Big Thing competition. The funkadelic rock band Volifonix won first prize, which included studio time, $500 cash, a video shoot and a photo shoot.
“I feel great,” said Volifonix bassist Elijah Medina. “Everyone’s done a great job and I’m proud of my bandmates.”
The celebration then took a break from music for a preliminary round of the Hot Mama’s Wing Eating Contest. Returning champion Jacob Keeton faced off against Miles Long. The anxious crowd cheered as crispy, spicy wings were brought out to the table in brown in cardboard boxes. The unexpected twist this round was that there would be no milk offered.
In a sweltering 80 degrees, the competitors took of chowing. While Long put up a good fight, Keeton artfully and speedily devoured his wings. The crowd roared with calls of encouragement like “Eat!” and “Down that chicken!” The competitors fist bumped after Keeton was declared the winner.
Sunday’s celebration included the first-ever Beard and Mustache Competition and a continuation of the music and festivities.
The Eugene celebration was entertaining and fun, but it was also something more than that; it brought the Eugene community downtown. Not very many students were present at the festivities, and it was refreshing to see Eugene as a community apart from the University. Locals came out to compete, have fun and remember what makes Eugene the special, quirky place it is.