From the Oregon Coast to the mountains, communities in and around the Eugene area celebrate cooler weather with unique festivals, performing arts and spending time in nature. Whether your winter wanderings take you to the Coast for storm watching, into the quiet snowy woods or under the bright lights of a Broadway show, here’s how to make it happen in this part of the Willamette Valley.
Leap Into Eugene’s Performing-Arts Scene
From professional and community theater to comedy, contemporary dance, ballet, jazz, opera, orchestras and more, Eugene’s arts and culture scene is among the broadest and deepest in the state. This season, flagship venue the Hult Center for the Performing Arts will bring a number of Broadway shows to town, including hits like “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Mamma Mia!” and “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.”
For many, Eugene Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” is a December tradition synonymous with the magic of the holiday season. Ballet Fantastique performs on the same stage, nailing this season’s cool-weather lineup, starting with “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” followed by “Christmas in Toyland” and “The Little Mermaid.”
Tapping a deep pool of local talent, Cottage Grove has a thriving, log-established community theater scene. Cornering the Halloween market, the Opal Center for Arts & Education’s upcoming production of “Evil Dead the Musical” is billed as one that both terrifies and delights. Or head for the Cottage Theatre to see classic plays and catch year-round children’s programming in a freshly remodeled space.
Find Vitality and Community in Florence
Pull on your coziest wool sweater and let the wind whip through your hair as you truly experience winter on the Oregon Coast. An excellent vantage point for watching storms roll in is the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center and Day-Use Overlook about 80 miles northwest of Eugene. At 800 feet above sea level, you can safely enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from the wall of picture windows in the visitor center’s main viewing room or on the balcony just outside.
About 11 miles south, take the Heceta Head Lighthouse Trail to the iconic Heceta Head Lighthouse. A half-mile, mostly uphill journey from the shadow of the Cape Creek Bridge leads to the base of this 100-year-old lighthouse, which is rumored to be haunted by a friendly ghost named Rue. Along the way, you’ll pass a gift shop and the original keeper’s quarters (now an operational bed and breakfast).
While the weather may be moody, spirits are high at the Florence Winter Music Festival each year in late January. Participate in an instructional workshop, stomp your feet to one of seven bands or find your own groove during an open jam session. In February celebrate the depth and breadth of the local food and wine scene on the Florence Wine & Chowder Trail, a culinary adventure to find the best seafood chowder, appreciate regional wine and find glass floats on a citywide treasure hunt.
Take a Walk in the Winter Woods
To add some wonderland to your winter, make the short drive into the Cascades for the best snowshoeing, sledding and tubing in the region. Salt Creek Sno-Park, 25 minutes east of Oakridge, has a network of trails and a groomed snowplay area that’s popular with families and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.
Replenish spent calories on the drive back to Eugene with a stop at a pub or an eatery in uptown Oakridge. The burgers, brews and sweet-potato fries at The 3 Legged Crane Pub and Brewhouse pair well with the First Friday Uptown Oakridge Art Walk, a monthly celebration of local art and community in nine nearby unique venues.
You can also drive from Eugene east on Highway 126 to find the McKenzie River Communities, eight small towns stretching along a scenic riverside highway built over what was once a stagecoach track. Head for Belknap Hot Springs Resort for a blissful outdoor soak (you can also book a cabin or lodge room and stay the night), then get a bite at the McKenzie General Store and Obsidian Grill in McKenzie Bridge.
For a less wintry outing at a lower elevation, try the network of trails at Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Stay close to the Willamette River; find the wooden tree swing at the top of the Buford Park North Trailhead; or make the 1.45-mile, 700-foot ascent on the main Summit Trail for sweeping views of the Willamette Valley below.
With 7 miles of family-friendly trails, including portions that are designated as barrier-free and improved for wheelchair access, all individuals now have the opportunity to experience Mount Pisgah’s meadows and forest thanks to the David’s Chair outdoor-mobility program. Visit its website to reserve all-terrain track chairs, available free of charge.
