Event Info
We assume all guests come in enthusiastic support of gays, theys, drag queens, and vaccines. If this doesn’t apply to you, we thank you for staying home.
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Venue and Directions
Location: Mt. Pisgah Arboretum is located along the Coast Fork of the Willamette River, 15 minutes from downtown Eugene. It is inside of Howard Buford Recreation Area, a 2,200-acre park with 17 miles of hiking trails, full of flora, fauna, and a 1,500-foot summit. Please arrive early to hike, birdwatch, jump in the river, and explore!
Directions: Direct your GPS to Mt. Pisgah Arboretum. As you arrive, look for signs for the White Oak Pavilion, where our celebration will be held.
Parking: From 3pm onward, we will have an attendant to provide complementary parking passes for guests. Earlier in the day, parking is $5. The parking lot is a 5-minute walk from the celebration spot on gravel pathways. Please let us know in advance if you’ll need one of the accessible, paved parking spaces located adjacent to the pavilion.
Schedule of Events
Afternoon
4pm
4:30pm
5pm
6pm
Until 10pm
Arrive early to explore the arboretum
Start gathering at celebration site
Brief ceremony
Cocktails, lawn games, art projects, tarot readings, and scavenger hunt
Dinner and entertainment
Dancing, dessert, and relaxing under the stars (afterparty info to come)
Attire
​Wear whatever you want. This is a casual affair. Suggestions include dinosaur onesies, full drag, tie dye and Birkenstocks (the Eugene uniform), your favorite sundress, or hiking clothes from earlier in the day.
Weekend Festivities
​We look forward to showing our friends and families Eugene and spending time with them before and after the celebration. We're organizing the following events for all who would like to join (details are tentative and will be confirmed in July):
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Friday Flower Picking: Come pick flowers for our celebration! Join us at Charles Little & Co, a beautiful U-Pick flower farm minutes from our venue. Stroll among fields of dahlias, sunflowers, and snapdragons with lovely valley views. Meet at the farm at 10am Friday, August 29.
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Welcome Barbecue: We're starting the weekend by welcoming folks at a casual barbecue hosted by Shelly’s Mom. Make some friends, explore the forest, and see our very special family home outside Eugene. 4pm Friday, August 29. See email for details and directions.
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Saturday Morning 5k: Start the day off right with some exercise along the river followed by a first toast. Remember, running is FUN. (At least we’re not, like, making you drink eggnog every mile for 24 hours.) The path is fully accessible and we welcome runners of all paces, walkers, rollers, and those who sit at the start line guarding the champagne. Meet at Owen Rose Garden at 8am on Saturday, August 30.
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Sunday Morning Breakfast Hike: All are welcome on a short hike through the forest for a breakfast picnic atop a local butte. One mile of hiking up 700 feet will bring us to beautiful views in all directions as we toast to this next chapter of life. We’ll carry coffee and pastries for all as part of our training for our next backpacking trip. Meet at Spencer’s Butte trailhead at 10am on Sunday, August 31 and hike at a leisurely pace.
Gifts
A beautiful celebration of queer love is all we want. Your presence and support is the greatest gift. For those wanting to give in another way, here are three local organizations important to us to consider donating to.
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Courageous Kids: A grief support program for kids and teens who've experienced the death of someone close, with weekly support groups and an overnight camp every summer. Shelly has been involved with the program for more than 25 years, initially as a camper and in many volunteer roles since, most recently as a camp leader and board member. Niki is excited to volunteer for the first time this year! Check out news coverage from last year, featuring quotes from Shelly (and a photo of therapy dog Jack in action). The program is currently fundraising for a local grief center, the first standalone location in the program's history. Our donation page is available here.
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Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County: This organization welcomes and provides case management and immigration legal services to refugees, asylum seekers, and other immigrants in our community. The organization is facing urgent need in the face of federal funding cuts for refugee services. Find the donation portal here; be sure to designate your donation for "Restricted: RISP."
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Transponder: A locally based, transgender-founded and led organization that provides support, resources, and education for the trans and gender diverse community and allies. Please read about the range of fantastic services offered, from mental health support to resource connections to community education. Donation information here; you can choose from among some awesome t-shirts in recognition of gifts.