1. Hippy Is A Compliment, Thank You Very Much
Outsiders may say that Eugene is full of hippies, but locals wear that supposed insult as a badge of pride by celebrating their hippie culture in various festivals (and also day-to-day life) throughout the year.
2. Women Dream Of Being A SLUG
Poking fun at beauty pageants, locals select one woman to become the SLUG Queen—Society for the Legitimization of the Ubiquitous Gastropod—for her flamboyant costume and quick wit.
The SLUG queen becomes the unofficial ambassador of the city. And in another departure from your standard beauty queens? They're encouraged to "bribe early and bribe often."
3. It Never Rains In Autzen Stadium
No matter what the actual forecast says, before any home football game for the University of Oregon ducks, famous announcer Don Essig will let the crowd know that "It never rains in Autzen Stadium."
That water coming from the sky? It's just liquid sunshine.
4. No, They Didn't Say Snowboarding
You didn't hear them incorrectly—they really did say "sandboarding." Eugeners travel to the stunning Oregon Coast with snowboards in tow to sandboard on the largest span of coastal sand dunes in the country.
5. Umbrellas Are A Joke
There's one tell-tale sign that will differentiate a tourist from a Eugene local: umbrellas. No matter how much rain is falling, most locals never pull out an umbrella. After all, a little water never hurt anyone.
6. That’s Not Jay-Z's Symbol. Locals Are Just Throwing Up Their Own
In Eugene, the Ducks are everything. You'll see locals throwing up the "O" in support of their home team from the U of O.
And just to show how much they love their Ducks: Autzen Stadium's official capacity is 54,000, but it has routinely sold out over capacity for every game since 2002 at 59,000. That's dedication.
7. There's This Guy Named Frog And He Sells Jokes…
When you're passing by 13th Street near the U of O campus, you're going to come across a bearded man named Frog, who has become as much a part of the local landscape as the college itself.
He sells the funniest joke books you've ever heard of—so he says. But if you're in a hurry, you can always tell him you already have all the joke books, and it won't be a lie because you probably do.
8. You've Never Seen Beauty Like The Cascades
Come wintertime, all of Eugene hits the slopes in the Cascade Mountains for some of the most incredible views they've ever seen—not to mention, some pretty incredible skiing and snowboarding to boot.
9. Everyone Has An Opinion About Flooring
If you live in Eugene, chances are you have a very strong opinion about the floor in the in the Matthew Knight Arena, which is designed to look like you're lost in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, looking skyward.
Interesting, for sure, but practical, maybe not, as many basketball fans have complained about the glare the court gives off.
10. There's The County Fair And Then There's The Country Fair
The Oregon Country Fair is held in Veneta, but it’s such a big deal for Eugeners, they have a direct shuttle to the fairgrounds. This is a three-day, magical hippie festival complete with costumes, food vendors, and activities.
Of course, it's in honor of sustainability and reducing waste, so no plastic flatware allowed.
11. No, They're Not Talking About The Caribbean
One bar-filled four block area in Downtown is nicknamed "Barmuda" because it's populated by college students looking for a drink in one of the several favorite hotspots—The Horsehead, Starlight Lounge, and Davis, to name a couple. Just make sure you can find your way out of this Barmuda Triangle.
12. You're Not Going To Need That Car
Put down that gas pump and turn off your engines. Eugene is highly committed to bicycling as the main mode of transportation. It’s been recognized as one of the very best bike-friendly cities in the whole country, with a percentage of cyclists nearly 13 times the national average.
13. When Eugeners Say Green, They Don't Mean The Color
The majority of locals eschew cars for bicycles, buy fresh, local produce rather than apples and oranges from a mass-produced grocery store, and are always finding new and innovative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
14. Saturday Means A Trip To The Market
Speaking of fresh, local produce, every Eugene resident knows that there's one place to get all the best there is to offer: Eugene's Saturday Market. Everyone selling at the market must create or grow their own products.
15. Why Yes, Eugene Does Look Familiar
You're not imagining things; you have seen Eugene before. Most notably, the University of Oregon campus was used as the location for 1978's National Lampoon's Animal House.
16. All The Kids Grow Up Wanting To Run Like Pre
Eugene's favorite son has left a lasting mark on the whole city. World-class long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine, who tragically was killed in a car crash in 1975, built Eugene into the Track and Field Capital of the World.
17. Eugeners Keep World Records Hidden Away
OfficeMax sponsored Steve Milton and his 6-year-old son to build the world's largest rubber band ball by giving the family more than 175,000 rubber bands. Though it has its place in the Guinness Book of World Records, it's hiding away in the Milton family garage, as rumors go.
18. Eugeners Knows How To Just Do It
You won't see any Adidas or Reebok on Eugene runners. The city is famously home to the Nike corporation, and residents all sport the iconic swoosh on their athletic wear.
19. Eugeners Really Do Live The Sweet Life
Eugene locals have that sweet tooth, but they're in luck because there are perfect places to satisfy any sugary craving.
The magical Voodoo Doughnut is a local favorite, especially with its bacon maple bar, and Sweet Life Patisserie can really hit the spot with a wide selection of cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, and other treats.
20. Don't Mess With Craft Beer
Like elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, craft beer is an institution in Eugene. And this is never truer than during February's KLCC Microbrew Festival, where local favorites like Hop Valley Brewing Company and Rogue Public House showcase their best stuff.
21. College Campuses Aren't Just College Campuses
Expect nothing less from a city like Eugene—the U of O isn't just your ordinary college campus, it's also an official arboretum. So students and locals can grab their homework or favorite book and relax under one of more than 500 species of trees. Or if they're feeling active, there are hiking and biking trails on campus as well.
22. There's No Time Limit To Your Mexican Food Cravings
When locals are leaving a bar or event late at night and they have a craving for cheesy, spicy goodness, they can always turn to Burrito Boy, which comes through by serving Mexican favorites 24 hours a day.
23. The Best Ice Cream Is Royalty
Imagine eight entirely different chocolate ice cream flavors from which to choose. Eugene locals don't have to imagine, because they have Prince Puckler's, the only ice cream joint that matters.
24. You Can Get Anything You Want From This Local Legend
Selling things like flags, hair dye, and prints of Jack Nicholson's face from “The Shining”, local legend Lazar Makyadath has kept the iconic Lazar's Bazar open for more than 40 years. And locals know him personally, especially after that time he ran for mayor.
25. Friendly Street Is A Real Thing
No, it's not just a nickname. There really is a street in Eugene called Friendly Street. Aside from friendly locals, it's also home to the Friendly Street Market, where residents can get some killer deli sandwiches for lunch.
26. Eugeners Literally Turn Water Into Wine
All that rain in Eugene has at least one major benefit: Rain helps the plant life, which means great grape growth, which means top-notch wine.
There are more than a dozen excellent wineries in town, and you never have to feel guilty about imbibing because part of the wine tax in the state goes to a charity raising awareness for mental health concerns.
27. Papa Knows His Soul Food
Biscuits and gravy. Fried chicken. Barbecue. These are the very definition of soul food. And no one knows that like Papa. His food joint started out as a food cart, and it’s since grown to be one of the favorite restaurants in Eugene.
28. It's Not Hard To Find Waldo Lake
Eugene residents are known to take a trip to the absolutely stunning and huge Waldo Lake nestled in the Cascade Mountains for a day trip of boating and fishing.
29. Sometimes The Snow Is For Show
In the heart of downtown Eugene is the Fifth Street Public Market, where locals can find unique fashion boutiques, restaurants, toy companies, and so much more.
But visitors are in for a surprise when snow starts falling from the sky that was never in the forecast. Friday and Saturday nights has real snow floating down on shoppers.
30. You? You're Probably Overdressed
When Eugene locals say "dress up," they usually mean in costume, not in suit and tie. Here, Birkenstocks and tie-dye tends to be a perfectly acceptable outfit for any day, fancy or not.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Eugene? Tell us in the comments below! 
