Announcing a new date for Eugene PRIDE in 2025!

We are excited to announce a new date for Eugene PRIDE in 2025! Save the date – Saturday, June 28th for our annual Pride Festival. 

Why are we making this change?  For the last 15 years, we have held our Pride Festival on the second Saturday in August at Alton Baker Park.  We have been operating under the impression that this was “our weekend” and that we would have full use of Alton Baker during this time.  After last year’s challenges with parking, we have learned that we do not have the level of guaranteed access to the park that we are accustomed to, and that the operators of the Cuthbert Amphitheater have “first right of refusal” and will exercise that right to refuse access to large areas of parking in Alton Baker for use during our event. 

Additionally, our partners at Queer Eugene News have been conducting a poll of the community, and the response has been overwhelming in support of holding the event in June rather than August.  We hear you!  This date will move our event to Pride Month and honor Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, and the other trans women of color, drag queens, and lesbians who launched the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement at Stonewall on this date 56 years ago next June. 

Finally, the risk of wildfire smoke increases each year during August as effects of climate change become apparent, and some in our community, especially those with disabilities, are unable to attend an outdoor event during a day with poor air quality.  We must face the reality that August is no longer the 80-degree, blue sky, perfect outdoor festival weather that we are accustomed to in the South Willamette Valley. 

Where will Pride be held in 2025? We are evaluating several potential locations, and we will have an announcement on where we will be holding next year’s festival soon.  Potential locations include Alton Baker Park and the Lane Events Center; although other sites are being evaluated, as well.  The board and planning committee will closely evaluate the costs, pros, and cons, as well as our ability to safely hold an event at each location.  We expect to announce the location by the end of the year.  Stay tuned! 

How can I get involved in planning the 2025 Festival? If you’d like to be involved in planning next year’s festival, our first planning meeting will be held at 4pm on Sunday, November 10th, at our new community center, The Lavender Network – 440 Maxwell Rd. Eugene, OR.   Join us to be a part of the next chapter of our beloved event!  The planning meeting will be hybrid, and a Zoom link will be posted on our website. 

We look forward to hosting the Festival in Pride Month next year!