The leaves are falling like crazy and it looks like the sun has disappeared for it's 7 month sabbatical to the southern hemisphere. University of Oregon has been back in session for close to 2 months already and activity around campus is the norm. 1000's of students slurve in and around campus, making it one of the most vibrant areas of Eugene.

The Saturday Market ends its outdoor year at the end of November and becomes the Holiday Market at the Lane County Fairgrounds until January. We then have to wait until April for Saturday Market days again.

Ohhh, the love of rain is so intense this time of year. Eugene, rain, Eugene, rain. Don't let the rain discourage you though. Look at all the events going on (see below) this month and beyond. This month features some interesting activities, some of which are even held outdoors.

Sports
Football
Oregon is college football mad and Eugene, home of the University of Oregon Ducks, is going mental over the team's qualification for a post-season bowl game. Before that happens, however, there is a local derby between the Ducks and the Oregon State University Beavers.

Passionate, closely fought contests are the norm here, but this year there is some extra spice as both teams have qualified for post-season and there are some serious bragging rights up for grabs. This "Civil War" game has been sold out for longer than anyone can remember, so your best bet is to watch it on the telly in your favourite pub with a pint of microbrew. The game is on November 20th, starting at 3:30pm.

Civil War Relay
Taking place on November 21st, this event is a 50 mile team relay between Eugene (U of O, Autzen Stadium) and Albany (Linn Benton Community College). Five runners, each running five two mile legs make up a team to cover the distance between the two campuses. The event draws 80 to 100 teams each year from throughout the Pacific Northwest. The route is scenic back roads, rural farmland and small communities. The course is mostly flat with some rolling hills. The first runners start off at 6:00am. Expect more than a few haggard and hungover competitors.

Skiing
The official ski season kicks off on Novemver 17th this year. Skiers and snowboarders are hoping for another dose of La Niña that dropped 500 inches of snow last year. Check out these sites of the big snow fields for details of lift tickets, equipment rental and skiing conditions:
Mt Bachelor
Hoodoo Ski Area
Willamette Pass

Culture
B.B. King
The King of the Blues plays at the Hult Center with special guest, Charlie Musselwhite on November 19th. The concert has been sold out for some time however, so you'll need to polish your bargaining skills to get a ticket.

Rozencrantz and Guidenstern Are Dead
By all accounts an extremely funny portrayal of the fringe characters of Shakespeare's Hamlet. The play runs from November 17-December 4 at the Soreng Theatre.

Festivals
Festival of Trees
Christmas comes early to the Willamette Valley on November 25-28 at the Valley River Centre with the Festival of Trees. This two day benefit event for the McKenzie-Willamette Hospital is in its seventh year. So what is it? Well, there will be 53 Christmas trees decorated in the theme of "Peace in the Millennium", that will be auctioned off to the public to raise money for the hospital. There will also be storybook characters, live reindeer, Santa and gingerbread houses to add to the entertainment.

1st Annual, All Ages, City-Wide Karaoke Contest
OK, so it's not really a festival, but it has to be good for a laugh for anyone that fancies themselves as the next Ricky Martin/Mariah Carey. It costs $6 to enter and $3 to watch and the grand prize is $500. It is being held at the WOW hall on W.8th Ave on November 21 from 1pm.

Pure Eugene
Mushroom Walks
Taking place on November 20 at 11am, rain, hail or shine, this free guided nature walk hopes to foster an appreciation of nature. The walk will be through Alton Baker Park.

Rubber Stampers Group
This is a monthly meeting where participants share their knowledge and experience of the art of "rubber stamping". Bring your own supplies and get into it on November 17. Call (541)682-5318 for more details.

So popular is this activity that there is "Holiday Rubber Stamps" event on November 30th. This one is a bit pricey at $15 a ticket, but you can learn all the tricks for creating that holiday rubber stamp masterpiece. Woohoo! Call (541)688-4052 for details.

And finally, if you are into free live music, why not check out "Who Flung Pooh" at the Black Forest Tavern on November 18th. Call (541)344-0816 for details.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.