Special Events

Fall          Winter         spring         summer

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  January                                                                                            

Otter Invitational            

The Otter Invitational is one of the longest standing swim invitationals in the state of Oregon. Originally named the River Road Invitational, this meet attracts teams from throughout the state. 200-300 swimmers ages 5-18 come to participate.  The River Road Swim Club began in 1961 and has maintained status with Oregon Swimming and United States Swimming for 50 years. Come watch!

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  February                                                                                           

Block Kids Competition

Come join us for a morning of fun and excitement! Block Kids is a free event designed for grade school aged children – 1st through 6th grade.  This event introduces children to careers in the construction industry and encourages them to use their imagination to create a structure with a specific set of materials.  It also allows children to explore how and why a structure is built.  Registration is required as space is limited. Registration forms will be available in January on the Science Factory Children’s Museum website at

You can fax, mail or drop off the registration form at the Science Factory.   You will also be able to register in person at the Science Factory. Pick up a flyer at the front office for information on how the competition works.  For more information contact:  Nancy Ograin at 541-935-7065  or

Michael DeRobertis Memorial Couples Classic Run or Walk

Join us on February 10, at 9:30am as once again River Road Park presents the annual “Couples Classic” road run. This classic foot race features a flat, fast, 5K course through the neighborhoods surrounding the park. If you prefer, enter the non-competitive fitness walk. There will be plenty of random drawings, prizes for division winners of the run, and Mo’s clam chowder for all participants. Commemorative T-shirts will be available to pre-registered participants ONLY. Child care will also be available at no charge to all pre-registered participants. Team and individual entries are encouraged.

Self-Defense Seminar

Ages 10+. Learn the basics about self-protection and learn effective self-defense techniques to defend yourself against armed and unarmed attackers.  Physical techniques will include where and how to strike vulnerable targets, escape methods from common grabs, and how to defend against guns, knives and clubs.  Light exercise sessions will be augmented with lectures about specific areas of defense, increasing awareness of dangers, including crime statistics, the law, types of weapons likely to be used, improvising defensive weapons, security and defense in the home, workplace, in the car and when traveling, and rape prevention.  Any aspect of self-defense can be discussed during the seminar.  The seminar is specifically designed for women but is just as useful for men and children (ages 10 and above please).  Attire: wear loose clothing, long pants or sweats preferred, no shoes allowed on gymnastics mat.

Held at River Road Park’s Gymnastics Center, 30043 Leghorn Road in the large gym (across from the Irving Market & Deli).

Presented by the River Road Park Karate, Jujitsu, and Taekwondo course Instructors.

Cost: No Charge, Pre-registration is required as space is limited.  Call Gymnastics office at 541-688-8955 to register.

Valentine Dessert Social

55+. Today we will  enjoy love songs from the Sweet Adeline’s and yummy treats that will have your mouth watering. We’ll have small dessert portions so you can try a bunch of different, delicious treats! Please wear red, pink or white! Your cost includes desserts and hot beverages.

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  March                                                                                                 

Bridge Tournament

55+. Join us for our semi-annual bridge tournament. The entry fee is $5 per person. Reservations can be made by phone or mail. Partners play together throughout the tournament. Partners must make reservations to assure themselves places at a table. Tables will be limited. The tournament will consist of six rounds of five hands each. Partners will be assigned new opponents after each round. Each round needs to be completed in 30 minutes. There will be prizes for the top team scores. 

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Irish Green Celebration @ The Annex
Tonight we celebrate! Come enjoy our 3rd anual event filled with Irish festivities. We’ll begin with a delicious dinner followed up with music that will have your feet a tappin’. Please wear green, your Irish garb or anything that shows some Irish spirit. Your cost includes: a delicious Irish dinner, drinks, dessert and entertainment.  This event will be held at the River Road Annex, 1055 River Road.  Space is limited. Extra parking is available at the church just north of the Annex. 

Bunny Eggstravaganza

Ages 2-7.  Don’t miss the egg-citement...limited to the first 75 children, our trained leaders will provide games, crafts and other spring time activities, followed by the traditional Easter egg hunt! Held indoors at the park. Pre-registration required.

  April                                                                                                  

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Propagation Fair

River Road Community Potluck & Propagation Fair Consider a hands-on role supporting this wholly grassroots effort to identify, collect, share and propagate the finest seeds, starts and cuttings in the bioregion. Your active involvement is crucial not only to the success but survival of this unique, visionary effort. Collect and share, apple, pear, peach, plum, fig, & grape, scion with your neighbors. If this is a new endeavor for you please come, participate. The event includes; live music, potluck, seed & plant swap, volunteer grafters & rootstock at a nominal fee. For more info on how to collect & store scion check us out on FB & YouTube “Agrarian Sharing Network” or online: springpropagationfair.com for info and to volunteer contact:

Oregon Xcel State Gymnastics Championships & Spring Fling Invitational

Come watch Oregon’s best gymnasts compete for the state’s bragging rights. River Road Park’s Gymnastics Northwest will be hosting over 300 of Oregon’s top female gymnasts ages 6-18 as they vie for top honors at North Eugene High School, 200 Silver Lane, Eugene. For a complete meet schedule, call Gymnastics Northwest at 541-688-8955.

Blood Drive

Come on over and donate blood. Each single blood donation can help up to three Lane County patients. Donors must be 16 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health.  Contact Lane Blood Center at 541-484-9111 to schedule an appointment.  Please bring photo id. For more information visit

Swim Team Spaghetti Feed & Silent Auction

Come support the River Road Swim Club Spaghetti Feed, Silent Auction and Raffle.  Raffle tickets to try and win 7 nights lodging on Kauai may be purchased from a club member or the Park

District office. All tickets may also be purchased the night of the spaghetti feed.

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  May                                                                                                     

Lively Organic Farms Garden Plant Start Sale

We will have a wide variety of garden vegetable starts and plenty of cut flower starts too!! Desert King fig trees in 3 gal. pots will also be available. Call ahead if you will be needing flats. 541-461-2737. 10% of the proceeds benefit Park District programs.

Mother’s Day Community Breakfast

Kids take your mom (and dad) to breakfast! Come celebrate this special day. We’ll have fun crafts and a delicious breakfast for everyone. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, fruit, milk, juice & coffee. Artie the Art Bus will be here for some additional fun. Donations will be accepted at the door to cover cost of food. Breakfast is open to community members of all ages.

Artie Summer Schedule 

Meet Artie the imagination bus, brought to you by River Road Park and Recreation

District and Imagination International, Inc.  Artie is a mobile art classroom created to bring art into the community.  Free organized art classes at various park locations. Stop by the Park District Office or visit our web site for a copy of Artie’s schedule.  Look for Artie to visit a park near you.

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  June                                                                                                    

Oakshire Fundraiser for Artie

Join us at Oakshire Brewing of Eugene for an evening fundraiser to support our mobile art bus program. $1 from every pint of beer sold will go directly into our summer program. Artie will be out and about every weekday this summer providing free art classes/programs to kids! Stop by and visit Artie and have a pint! Located at 207 Madison St.

School’s Out for the Summer Carnival

Start the summer out with a celebration at River Road Park as we say good bye to the school year and hello to summer! Games and activities will be set up in the park for ages as young as 2 and as old as 11. Join in the fun as our staff launch you into a great summer vacation. No registration is required, just show up and have a great time!

SPECIALTY Youth Camps 

Play School Fun Camp

Summer Daze Camp

Summer Adventure Camp

Junior High Camp

Lego

Gymnastics      

Safe Sitter   

Summer Splash Pass!

FUN! Purchase a youth Summer Splash Pass for unlimited use of our recreation swims.  Splash passes cannot be pro-rated.

  July                                                                                                     

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Thursdays in the Park

Come out and join us at Emerald Park on Thursday nights throughout July and August.  We will feature a different local band each week along with Artie the Art Bus for the kids. Come early and enjoy a delcious bbq dinner. The BBQ is a fundraiser and money collected will support Park programs. So come on out, eat, dance and create at “Thursdays in the Park”! 

Th           6:30-8p               Shelter 1

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55+ BBQ/Potluck

Join us for a fun summer bbq. We cook the main course, provide entertainment and festivities and all you have to do is show up with a  side dish. Please rsvp so we know how many people we will be cooking for. 

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  August                                                                                              

FREE Summer Reading Program!

River Road Santa Clara Volunteer Library               105 Oakleigh Lane       541-607-1882

Come and Join the Fun!! Summer Reading Fun at the River Road Santa Clara Volunteer Library!! Come and learn new things, make new friends, hear stories, and take a free book home forever!  All FREE for kids!  All ages welcome, but programming is geared for ages 5-9! 

Summer Concerts - Satin Love

Grab a blanket or your favorite lawn chair and join us in the park for some great entertainment as we welcome back Satin Love Orchestra to Emerald Park.  Satin Love Orchestra and their disco/funk sound packs every show with as much adrenaline as any party animal can stand. Put on your dancing shoes and joins us for groovin’ good time!

  September                                                                                    

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Sugar Beets Concert

Come celebrate the end of summer with The Sugar Beets. Woven from the foot-stomping traditions of Bluegrass, Celtic and old time fiddle to music to worlds of Motown, Gospel, Country, Folk and Pop, The Sugar Beets have been moving audiences all over the northwest with original tunes and fresh and inspiring sounds.

Parking is limited for the concerts. Please carpool, bike or walk to the park if you can.  Additional parking is available at both Howard Elementary School and Kelly Middle School.

Bridge Tournament

55+. Join us for our semi-annual bridge tournament. The entry fee is $5 per person. Reservations can be made by phone or mail. Partners play together throughout the tournament. Partners must make reservations to assure themselves places at a table. Tables will be limited. The tournament will consist of six rounds of five hands each. Partners will be assigned new opponents after each round. Each round needs to be completed in 30 minutes. There will be prizes for the top team scores. 

OSU Extension Fall Festival - Free Event!

Lane County Master Gardeners invite ALL to celebrate a day full of fall harvest fun including music and kid’s activities.  Sample free, fresh-pressed apple cider; taste over 20 varieties of tomatoes; attend gardening workshops; browse the garden books; and look for items for sale including garlic and bulbs, as well as fruit trees and other plants.  Fall is also planting time in the Willamette Valley!

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  October                                                                                           

Eugene Garden Club presents a Standard Flower Show

Come join us for a beautiful flower arrangement show in the multi-purpose room at Emerald Park.  The show is free and open to the public.  If you would like to enter a flower arrangement or some horticultural arrangement from your garden we encourage you to call Sharon Wilson,  (541) 747-8479 for more information.  Entries must be made in advance by September 30th.

Flu Shot Clinic   

It’s that time of the year! Time to get your flu shot, folks. Today we’re teaming up with our local River Road Health Mart Pharmacy to make it easy for you to get your shot. We do not need you to register prior to coming in that day. Appointments are first come first serve.  If you are not certain whether your insurance covers your flu shot or if you have other questions regarding the shot, please call the pharmacy staff directly at River Road Health Mart Pharmacy 541-636-3522. Please bring your insurance card with you on the 7th so the insurance company can be billed directly.

HOWL-O-WEEN Haunt

Need a safe alternative to trick or treating? The Park is the safe place for you! Come join us for our spook-tacular night of frightful events. We’ll have everything from a costume contest to various spooky games, to creepy cuisine! Kids and parents are invited to come howl with us in your craziest costumes for a thrilling night of fun! Game and activity tickets sold for 25 cents.

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  November                                                                                        

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Holiday Food Drive (Nov.-Dec.)

Help those less fortunate than yourself this holiday season by bringing in canned food items. We want this season to be plentiful for all! Our goal is to collect a massive amount of food during the months of November and December! We can accept canned goods and/or cash donations at any time. Your contribution will be distributed by FISH (Friends in service to humanity). Place food items in collection totes located throughout the Park District. Cash donation? See main office.

11/1-12/31         Bring in non perishables

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  December                                                                                        

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Holiday Bazaar

Visit the 9th annual River Road Holiday Market!  This year’s show is going to be bigger and better than ever! More vendors means more holiday shopping for you. Registration is first come, first serve and limited so call 541-688-4052 to sign up now. A fantastic selection of handmade gifts, made by local artists at affordable prices - what more could you ask for? You’ll find something for everyone on your holiday list! See you there! 

Held at River Road Park.

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Santa’s Smorgasborg A Community Breakfast Celebration!

Food, fun and friends! It’s time for the community to come together and celebrate  because it’s a wonderful life! Come see Santa, enjoy holiday music and the bling, bling of all our holiday decorations.  It’s a holiday breakfast! All ages young and old are welcome! Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, milk, juice & coffee. Donations will be accepted at the door to cover cost of food.  Breakfast is open to all community members.

Holiday Afternoon Tea

Today is about getting into the holiday spirit. We begin with a holiday afternoon tea where you will enjoy an assortment of teas, finger sandwiches, scones and fresh fruit. The Greater Eugene Chorus will then take us on a holiday musical journey so prepare for a magical time. Your cost includes: a holiday afternoon tea and songs.

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Breakfast with Santa @ Gymnastics NW

Come have breakfast with Santa at Gymnastics Northwest! Includes breakfast, picture and open gym.

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