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| Summer Events at a Glance |
Light of Liberty Celebration July 4 Concerts in the Park July 10 & 31 SummerFest July 17-19 Movies in the Park July 28, Aug 11 & 25 Great Outdoor Art Event July 25 'Twelfth Night' Aug. 1 & 2 Back to School Bash Aug. 7 Fiesta Latina Sept. 11 & 12 |
Saturday, July 4
SUB’s Light of Liberty Celebration
Gates open at 4 p.m. • Island Park
$5 in advance, $7 at the gate
Free to:
• active duty Springfield military personnel and immediate families (ID required)
• Springfield veterans
• kids 5 and under
Ditch your street shoes, dig out your flip flops and head to Island Park for Springfield’s best summer surf party. Light of Liberty features music, food, family fun – and, of course, a fabulous fireworks show set to music and reflected over the Willamette River.
This year, Springfield Utility Board and its corporate sponsors are proud to welcome the legendary ‘60s pop band, Herman’s Hermits, starring Peter Noone. Their hits include: “I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” and “I’m Henry VIII, I Am.”
Kids will have plenty to do when they visit our Kid Nation, sponsored by Jerry’s Home Improvement Center. Check out crafts, face painting, a great snake exhibit, magic shows, gymnastics demonstrations and more!
Pick up advance tickets at SUB’s main office in downtown Springfield beginning June 23, or at Jerry’s Home Improvement Center’s Eugene and Springfield locations. All proceeds benefit Project Share, a fund that helps low- and fixed-income Springfield residents with winter heating emergencies.
Bring a picnic and meet your friends for live entertainment under the open sky! Light concessions are available, or bring a picnic. Performers and times are subject to change. Call (541) 736-4544. Please note that alcohol is not permitted in any Willamalane park.
Friday, July 10
The Valley Boys
6:30-8:30 p.m. • Island Park • Free
The Valley Boys play an eclectic blend of ‘50s and ‘60s rock, disco, blues, Top 40 and everything that keeps an audience moving. Their timeless tunes continue to bring in audiences of all ages.
Friday, July 31
Swing Shift
6:30-8:30 p.m. • Island Park • Free
Swing Shift is a big band whose inspiration is the music and driving beat of Count Basie. The band’s five saxophones, eight brass and three-piece rhythm section are today’s version of hard-swinging, big band jazz.
Market Music Series
Fridays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Springfield Farmers’ Market • Main Street between Fifth and Sixth streets
July 3 . . . The Hi-Fi Ramblers
July 24 . . . Lost Highway
Aug. 14 . . . Paradise
Aug. 21 . . . Just Say Yes!
Friday, July 17
Satin Love Orchestra
7:30-9:30 p.m. • Seventh and Main streets • Free
Strap on your metallic pumps: Downtown is going uptown for another fantastic show. This Eugene-based funk group packs the street with as much adrenaline as any party animal can stand!
Saturday, July 18
Summer Barbecue and Riffle Concert
Barbecue dinner 6 p.m. • Riffle Concert 7 p.m. • Free
$6 in advance/$8 at the gate
The Willamalane Adult Activity Center hosts a summer barbecue and concert in Island Park. Dinner tickets may be purchased in advance at any Willamalane facility for $6 before July 14, or for $8 at the gate. After dinner enjoy Riffle, a popular variety band, in a free concert at Island Park.
Sponsored in part by
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Saturday, July 18
Children’s Celebration
10 a.m.–3 p.m. • Island Park
Admission: $5 per person/$15 per family
For one terrific day, everyone’s a kid. Beautiful Island Park is transformed into a child’s world where you can bring your family for a day of hands-on activities and smiles all around. Admission includes wristband good for $1 off play swims at Splash! Lively Park Swim Center or Willamalane Park Swim Center July 18-19.
• Petting zoo
• Carnival games
• Live entertainment
• Crafts
• Concessions
• Face-painting
• And more!
Sponsored in part by
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Sunday, July 19
Pets on Parade
12 p.m. • Island Park • FREE.
Register in advance. Parade route starts at Island Park and continues to downtown Springfield. Registration opens June 1; day-of registration opens at 10:30 a.m. There will be plenty of tail-wagging fun as dogs and other lovable pets parade down the streets of Springfield. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Pet lovers will also enjoy the Paws Place Market at Fifth and Main streets, featuring everything from pet clothing and accessory retailers, to service providers such as veterinarians, animal portraitists, dog walkers, doggie day care providers and more. Leashes are required. Pets are subject to city regulations and Willamalane approval.
PRIZES FOR:
• Best-dressed pet
• Pet and companion look-alike
• Best pet trick
Saturday, July 18
SummerFest Coed Softball Tournament
Bob Artz Park
Celebrate SummerFest with some friendly competition! Teams will be placed in three divisions and play a single round-robin. Teams are then placed in one of three divisions for a single elimination playoff. Format could change depending on the number of teams. No more than two 2008 registered ASA or USSSA C players per team. Open to registered coed teams only; call 736-4544 or visit the Community Recreation Center beginning June 15. Registration closes July 11. Entry fee is $150 per team.
Saturday, July 18
Springfield Cruz
Show & Shine, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. • Cruz 7 to 10 p.m. • Downtown Springfield
Come see the lineup of classic cars at the Show & Shine, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at Briggs Middle School, 2350 Yolanda Ave. Awards will be presented at 3:30 p.m. Then, catch the Cruz through downtown Springfield from 7 to 10 p.m. Call 746-4620 for information.
Sunday, July 19
Island Party at Island Park
1-4 p.m. • Island Park • $5 admission
An afternoon of ukulele and Hawaiian music on the river, capped with the highly entertaining Swingin’ Marmalukeys. Wear your Hawaiian shirts and muumuus and have some fun! Proceeds benefit the Center for Community Counseling.
New! Bring your blanket and lawn chairs for a movie under the stars.There is no better place to be this summer than your neighborhood park as Willamalane presents three outdoor movies on the big screen. Entertainment is free and concessions are available for purchase.
| Sponsored in part by | |
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Tuesday, July 28
‘Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa’
8 p.m. • Willamalane Park • Free
The zany zoo creatures of Madagascar are back with a crazy escape plan that just might work. New York Zoo animals Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo are still stranded after leaving the island only to land in the wilderness of Africa. The zoo-raised crew is finally among their own kind but will have to decide if Central Park is a better place after all in this hilarious animated adventure. Rated PG.
Saturday, Aug. 1
‘Ice Age 2: Meltdown’
Saturday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. • Ruff Park, off 66th St.
After surviving the big freeze, Manny, Sid and Diego have returned in Ice Age 2 to overcome a new natural disaster - the meltdown. The heroes have their work cut out for them as they struggle to rescue their friends from an impending flood.
Sponsored in part by Friends of Ruff Park
Tuesday, Aug. 11
‘Night at the Museum’
8 p.m.32nd Street • Community Sports Park • Free
The new night watchman (Ben Stiller) at New York’s Museum of Natural History discovers that guarding the museum is no easy feat in this fantasy comedy. When an Egyptian spell brings the artifacts and wax figures of the museum to life, Larry (Stiller) must keep his wits to stay alive and make sure that not a single museum piece leaves the building. Full of colorful characters including a two-ton Tyrannosaurus Rex, a bratty Capuchin monkey and a wax replica of President Roosevelt (Robin Williams), “Night at the Museum” is a fun film for audiences of all ages. Rated PG.
Tuesday, Aug. 25
‘Horton Hears a Who’
8 p.m. • Island Park • Free
When imaginative elephant Horton (voiced by Jim Carrey) hears a cry from a speck of dust in the jungle, he uncovers the tiny world of Whoville in this animated adaptation of a Dr. Seuss classic. Determined to protect the Whos, Horton must convince his neighbors that the microscopic world truly exists. Watch as this unlikely hero proves that “a person is a person no matter how small.” Rated G.
Saturday, July 25
Great Outdoor Arts Event
8 a.m.-3 p.m. • Island Park • Free
Young and old are invited to discover the beauty, colors and designs of nature with art activities; watch other artists create art; or enjoy performances by the Oregon Brass Society and Breakdown Dance Company. Bring your own picnic and enjoy a great day in the park. Brush up for the big event with a Plein Air Workshop offered by the Adult Activity Center July 7-10.
Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1 & 2
‘Twelfth Night’
6-8 p.m. • Island Park • Free
The Roving Park Players perform the comedy by William Shakespeare at the stage on the north end of the park.
Friday, Aug. 7
Back-to-School Bash
A benefit concert featuring The Essentials
6:30 p.m. • Thurston High School, 333 58th St. • Donations accepted (info below)
Gear up for another exciting school year at the second annual Back-to-School Bash to benefit area schoolchildren. Donate a backpack or school supplies for Springfield students. Kids will enjoy fun games, crafts and prizes.
Light concessions will be available. Come on out to Thurston Park and bask in the last glow of summer. The Essentials, a large and loud soul band with fresh ideas and deep roots, is a collaboration of 10 recent graduates of the University of Oregon School of Music. Covers of such artists as Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, and Chicago join originals written by the group to make up the band’s sound — a mixture of tight rhythm, heavy brass and soulful vocals.
The Essentials is the 2009 Register-Guard Reader’s Choice Best Band in its area, as well as the No. 1-rated dance band in Oregon on Gigmasters.com. The Essentials has performed at dozens of nightclubs on the West Coast from San Francisco to Seattle, headlined festivals and appeared at numerous college events and football games. The band has opened for such household names as Leon Russell and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies.
Sept. 11-12
Fiesta Latina
Island Park • Admission TBA
Viva La Fiesta! This celebration of Latin music, food, art and dance spices up Island Park.
Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while meeting the artists.
Brushdance
The art of local Chinese brush painters.
Reception . . . 4/1 . . . W . . . 5-7pm . . . Free
Show . . . 4/1-5/28 . . . Regular center hours . . . Free
The Art of Calligraphy
The blending of images and words.
Reception . . . 6/3 . . . W . . . 5-7pm . . . Free
Show . . . 6/3-7/30 . . . Regular center hours . . . Free
In the Open Air
The Plein Air Painters of Eugene-Springfield.
Reception . . . 8/5 . . . W . . . 5-7pm . . . Free
Show . . . 8/5-10/1. . . Regular center hours. . . Free
