Oregon Asian Celebration

It’s the Year of the Water Tiger, where, says the Oregon Asian Celebration website, Chinese mythology holds that the water element brings out a person’s emotions more than any of the other zodiac elements. People born in that zodiac year (the last was in 1962) are said to have great interpersonal relationships and are family oriented, the Asian Celebration continues. The Oregon Asian Celebration, partnering with the Obon and Taiko Drumming Festival, will showcase folk art, culture, food and music — with a nod to the Water Tiger, helping people find enthusiasm again for themselves and with others as well rediscovering hope in these challenging times with good health, well-being, and where positive social change is possible. You can find that good health and well-being in cultural dances from various Asian and Pacific Islander ethnic groups, along with instrumental music featuring the koto and gamelan. The Obon & Taiko Festival highlights traditional and contemporary Japanese Obon dances honoring the spirits of ancestors and dearly departed loved ones.

The Asian Festival with the Obon & Taiko Drumming Festival is 10 am to 9 pm Saturday, July 30, at Alton Baker Park. A complete schedule of music and dance events is at AsianCelebration.org. Admission is 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!