Cuthbert Amphitheater
For a full line-up, visit The Cuthbert’s official website.
To buy tickets for concerts in Eugene, visit Ticketswest.com.
If your favorite musician or band makes it to Eugene on their next tour, you probably won’t think twice about which venue they have booked. However, if you are on the fence about casually attending a show with friends or family on your day off, let the Cuthbert Amphitheater be the determining factor in getting you out to enjoy some live music.
Appreciated by locals as one of the few outdoor venues in the area, the Cuthbert’s ambiance is unique to Eugene and reason enough, especially in the summer, to check it out. Eugene is Oregon’s second or third largest (depending on the source) and accommodating city, and it is special to its residents because it maintains a small-town feel in spite of its size. The Cuthbert Amphitheater is in many ways a microcosm of its host city. While it can now welcome 5,000 guests at once after a renovation earlier this year, its location in Alton Baker Park, easy accessibility, and safe atmosphere remind guests that they are not in Anywhere, USA. It has welcomed world-famous stars including Bonnie Raitt, Crosby Stills & Nash, Melissa Etheridge, and Bob Weir, and yet is accessed by bicycle in a matter of minutes from just about anywhere in town. From downtown or campus, walking and cycling are very feasible options. If guests choose to drive instead, the cost of parking is included in the price of tickets, which are always available through Ticketswest. Most performances are general admission only so if you are fanatical about getting close to the stage, be sure to arrive early. Children under four are free and all ages can roam safely and freely about the premises.
If you happen to catch a show in the rain, be prepared to participate as the locals do: without an umbrella (they are not allowed anyway). Also prohibited are strollers, pets and cameras, and alcohol from off-site. Cigarette smoking is allowed in designated areas only, and beer, including microbrews, is served near the entrance gates to those who can produce valid identification. You may be surprised to find a healthy selection of food choices: another reminder that this local venue is proud to call Eugene home. If you are lucky, one of your favorite performers will choose the Cuthbert in its operating season (May – October) and add to your concert-going experience. When you go, don’t forget to take some cash, a big, comfy lawn blanket, sun screen, and a group of fun-loving friends.
Written by Lauren Zavrel for DiscoverEugene.com