Skoolies Rule!

A skoolie is an old school bus that has been converted into a full or part-time living space — basically a re-used and recycled take on an RV. If you are thinking beat-up old hippie bus, think again (no offense to old hippie buses, which are fun, too). These skoolies at The Bus Fair are tiny homes on wheels.

There will be 30 skoolies as well as art and food vendors, a beer garden and other adult beverages at The Bus Fair, in addition to live music and camping. According to organizers Brock Butterfield, a portion of ticket sales will go to Forever Homes, Vehicles for Change, a Medford nonprofit converting school buses into RVs and placing homeless families in them at an RV park for six months.

Butterfield says the majority of beer sales are a fundraiser for local nonprofit trail stewards, GOATS (Greater Oakridge Area Trail Stewards).

He says it all began for him during his career as a professional snowboarder needing cheap and warm way to travel in the winter.

The Bus Fair is Saturday, June 8, in Oakridge; the Skoolie Show is 11 am to 6 pm and live music is 4 pm to 9 pm. Tickets are $15 in advance at thebusfair.com, $20 at the door, kids 12 and under are free.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!