What Are The Top Things to do in Eugene This Fall?

It's a well-known local secret that fall is one of the best times in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. Bright red, orange and yellow leaves contrast against Oregon's signature evergreens, and crisp, cool and sometimes wet days are often matched with an equal number of clear, sunny skies.

Students return to the University of Oregon and the air is buzzing with fresh excitement. It's harvest time on the South Willamette Valley Food Trail and vineyards in wine country are moving from harvest to crush and preparing for Cellar Season. With families focused on schooling, this is one of the best times to catch beautiful days on the Oregon Coast and in the Cascade Mountains with fewer crowds.

This is a great time to plan a road trip and explore the region. Pack layers, your camera and get ready for a season of enticing culinary offerings, autumn hikes and holiday shopping. Here's our guide to what's happening across the region this season.

Back to School

September

This fall, "Rally in the Alley"! Back to school means University of Oregon football games, student sports and performing arts at the local high schools and University Theatre, afternoons at the library, educational forays to museums and attractions like the Sea Lion Caves, Mount Pisgah and the Cascades Raptor Center. Tap into local resources to round out your student's curriculum while enjoying family time.

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Make Eugene, Cascades & Coast Your Classroom

Enrichment opportunities for homeschooling families are plentiful across the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. If you are looking for educational…

TrackTown USA

September

The Prefontaine Classic will be at Hayward Field this September! Partake in a Eugene tradition honoring the 1970s beloved Oregon track star Steve Prefontaine. Cheer on world class runners and learn about Pre's achievements and role in the community.

Oregon Bounty & Harvest Season

September & October

Fall is a fun time to be a foodie! Farmers markets are still robust with fruits and vegetables and local chefs present autumn-inspired menus. Wildcraft with berry picking and mushrooming. Gather apples and pears from your yard to contribute to local cideries. Fish the mountain rivers for Steelhead and enjoy clam chowder on the coast. Seasonal flavors infuse beer, spirits and coffee offerings. And of course, there are all the baked treats.

: Melanie Ryan Griffin

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Family Friendly Farms Tour

Bring your kids to a farm for u-pick fruit and vegetables or for a special harvest event. Whether picking peaches, crushing apples for cider or taking…

Oregon Fall Foliage

October

Oregon is a destination for fall foliage seekers who come to see the stunning colors set against a backdrop of dark evergreen. Fodor's included the Willamette Valley in its recommended ten "Great Fall Foliage Trips Across the Country".

In a typical year leaves peak mid-October, depending on elevation. Track the progression of colors across the state. Combine autumns color with exploring covered bridges, fall hikes and jet boat tours.

An Eclipse and Dark Skies

October

Alongside fall foliage's dramatic displays is the upcoming "ring of fire" eclipse in mid-October. This daytime phenomenon will appear in the skies of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region for several unforgettable minutes. At night, experience dark sky tours in the more remote areas of the county. Prepare for your outdoor excursions at a Eugene Science Center's planetarium show.

Stars Above Lowell Covered Bridge, Dexter Lake

Stargazing & Sky Watching

Watch the dark skies and stargaze across the region. Get stargazing tips, learn about celestial phenomena and sign up for sky tours.

Halloween

October

Halloween events get spooky with corn mazes, haunted houses and haunted hikes. Take the kids trick or treating at the mall or at special "trunk" or treat. Visit local pumpkin patches for classic autumn traditions from apple cider to hay rides.

Fall on the Oregon Coast

Fall on the Oregon Coast brings a mix of cool, damp days and days filled with bright sunshine. From gaming at the casino to shopping along Bay Street, Florence offers plenty of fun memories in the fall – rain or shine. Order a cup of tea or bowl of warm chowder and stroll Historic Old Town Florence or walk the beach looking for agates. Plan a coastal getaway, stock up on good books and cuddle up by the window to storm watch.

Fall in the Mountains

Mountain biking in Oakridge is still glorious and fishing is fabulous on both the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers. Soak in hot springs, roast marshmallows in the fire ring outside your cabin, search for mushrooms and enjoy the changing fall foliage.

Holiday Shopping

December

Skip Amazon and shop local stores and vendors. This region offers some delightful shopping destinations including antiquing in downtown Springfield and Coburg, novelties in Historic Old Town Florence and downtown Cottage Grove, and mall shopping in Eugene and Springfield. Plus explore the artisan Saturday Market for crafted treasures and the farmers markets and wineries for gourmet gifts.