Inevitably, at the end of spring term, many students get out of town as fast as they can. Some go off in search of that perfect job or internship. A lucky few may spend their summers backpacking in Europe. And others save rent by moving back in with Mom and Dad.
But for those who are still in town, fewer people around doesn’t have to mean a lousy nightlife.
From downtown to campus, the bars are still attracting regular crowds with drink specials, music and a wide selection of settings to choose from.
And if Tuesday night’s packed house at Joggers Bar & Grill is any indication, those students who are still in town are ready to party.
“School’s over, less stress — I’m going out more,” said senior Ian Lutz, who was out with friends at the downtown karaoke bar.
Joggers pulls in big crowds not only because the bar offers patrons the chance to be a rock star for the night, but also because of the weekly drink specials. These include $1 well drinks from 9-11 p.m. on Tuesdays and an all you-can-eat, all-you-can drink special with a $10 cover charge on Fridays.
Nearby Kokomo’s also draws large crowds with its weekly $1 drink nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays. And the newly opened Club Olympus is drawing people in with daily specials as well, including $1 drinks from 8-11 p.m. on Tuesdays.
At another popular downtown dance club, Diablo’s, ladies get in free on Thursday nights and receive $1 off drinks all night long.
Joey Morales, a doorman for Diablo’s and The Downtown Lounge, said he welcomes the change in the bar’s population over the summer.
“I love it,” he said.
While business slows down some, he said, there continues to be a regular crowd of people who come into the bar. Especially busy nights are Friday and Saturday, when many people come in to dance downstairs at Diablo’s, which is open from Wednesday through Sunday.
Downtown Lounge regular Fran McCargar said the bar scene definitely changes when University students leave for the summer.
“I think it totally cools down over the summer,” she said.
With the students gone, she added, more of the “regular Eugene people” come out.
“Years ago, when I was actually in college, I probably would have liked it less,” she said. “Now, I almost like it better.”
Self-described “seasoned drinker” Bruce Knoll said while he isn’t going out more than usual in the summer, he appreciates the more “mellow” atmosphere around town.

Knoll, a senior, said with the exception of a few downtown bars, the bar scene seems to slow down over the summer. But Knoll said he enjoys the change of pace at his favorite campus bar, Rennie’s Landing.
“Campus is laid back,” he said. “It’s nice.”
While there are fewer students around during the summer, business is still pretty good, said Tim Shipley, a bartender at Taylor’s Bar and Grille.
“It dies a little bit, but it’s not bad,” he said. “A lot of people go to summer school.”
And when the weather’s nice, he added, people tend to drink more.
Some crowd-drawing specials at Taylor’s include $1 well drinks from 9-11 p.m. and $1 microbrew beers from 9-10:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. On Thursday, all domestic beers are $1 for ladies.
Down the street at Max’s Tavern, co-owner Chase Fairbairn said his business drops about 15 percent over the summer. But, he said, because he has a lower cost of labor over the summer, he doesn’t mind the drop in sales too much.
And with many students gone for the summer, he said, the crowd changes as well.
With more graduate students, locals and University professors coming out to the bars over the summer, “you end up with a more interesting class of folk,” he said.
With summer school, he said, many of those attending are serious students — and their intellectual presence often makes for lively bar-room discussion.
“I find that refreshing, actually,” he said. “There’s a lot more interesting conversation.”