Eugene Weekly : Calendar : 7.19.07

Art, music, science, technology and imagination collide this weekend at Corvallis' 19th annual da Vinci Days, a unique festival that nicely complements the town's intellectual vibrancy and all-around creativity. Friday evening features the kickoff to the weekend-long film festival, a Geekapalooza workshop and the Kinetic Sculpture Race (KSR) contestants (pictured) strutting their stuff in the Kinetic Challenge Art & Pageantry. On Saturday, the KSR begins in earnest with a parade, road race and sand dune challenge. Later that evening, A Midsummer Night's 10k/5k Run offers a chance to burn off those calories from the Mangiamo Bistro food court while Carl Wieman gives the keynote address on "Bose-Einstein Condensation: Quantam Weirdness at the Lowest Temperature in the Universe." Also of note, Led Zeppelin-cover band Stairway Denied rocks the stage one last time (they were a highlight of last year's fest and this is their final show; don't miss it). Sunday features the KSR mud bog challenge and river run down the Willamette while the rest of the festival's exhibits, competitions, demos and tours continue throughout the day. In the true spirit of kinetics, we recommend biking between the five venues spread across Corvallis (hey, you can even ride alongside the KSR as it makes its way to the Benton County Fairgrounds). However, if you can't bring your bike, shuttle buses run about every 20 minutes. Oh, and did we forget to mention Pink Martini headlines Friday night? Must've slipped our minds … See Corvallis listings.

EugSo many festivals and celebrations this weekend: Where to start? If you're not in Veneta for Faerieworlds or in Corvallis for da Vinci, might as well check out the smoother, more earthy block parties in the Whiteaker neighborhood. Yes, there's two. More towards the Willamette is the Whiteaker Neighborhood River Festival held at Maurie Jacobs Park on Friday. Test out a kayak, drum up a song at the family drumming area, hear stories or get wet on the giant slip-n-slide. The (relatively) drier experience is at the three-day Emerald Empire HempFest at Washington-Jefferson Park (good location in case of rain!). The Cannabis plant (pictured above) is celebrated in all its legal splendor: textiles, paper, medicine, food, fuel and, uh, "inspiration." There's a $2-$5 suggested donation to enter, but nobody will be turned away. See Friday Calendar.

WHow big is this weekend in the book world? BIG. There just aren't words, for those of us who've been following a certain boy wizard's adventures for the last decade, to explain how momentous the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is. It's the end of an era — well, not really, since there are two movies to go. Still, it's the end of a story we've been following ever so closely, discussing, dissecting and debating what it all means, what the horcruxes are, where the final battle will take place. For some of us, the upcoming release date means we'll be sleepless all weekend, desperate to finish. The excitement starts Friday night as bookstores gear up for Potter's Last Release with the now-traditional midnight release parties. At Books Without Borders, the fun includes a costume contest, the Hogwarts School Pictures photo booth, games, music, fan films, a raffle, fun with Lord Leebrick Theatre Company and more. Borders, Barnes & Noble and the UO Bookstore will also have HP parties; Borders' Grand Hallows Ball features activities, prizes, costumes and souvenirs, the UO Bookstore claims it has "Lane County's biggest Independent Muggle Book Release Party" and B&N brings Sir ReadALot and Marcus Ambrosius to their costume party. Whatever you do, remember one thing: There's a special place in hell for those who spoil the ending for others! See Friday Calendar.