In 2019, the titular parade slug that belonged to Eugene’s S.L.U.G Queens died. Kind of. A huge papier-mâché slug carried by 20 to 30 people each year in the Eugene Parade, she tragically fell to her death on Beltline Road while being transported back to the secret lair where she spends her days.
“She crashed and burned,” former S.L.U.G. Queen Jenette Kime said. “We thought she went to slug heaven.”
Eugenians loved the papier-mâché slug, and terrible months of mourning ensued. Think of people breaking down in the streets, looking for a grave to throw themselves onto but unable to find one. Because, in reality, the slug lived on!
“Peter Defazio is a judge at the BRiGHT PARADE this year, and he said he’d like to get the slug out,” Kime said. “I said she’s dead and has been disposed of, burned in a ritual. But he said no, she’s in a warehouse, so call this guy.”
A wild goose chase ensued. Kime called one guy, who told her to call another, which went on and on until eventually she recovered the slug head in a warehouse on Fifth Street. Kime and her fellow former S.L.U.G. Queens are parading the head on an E-Trike this year, aiming to raise money to build a new slug.
This is the second year of the parade, an after-dark celebration organized by Kime and Jerril Nilson, another former S.L.U.G. Queen. To Kime and Nilson, the BRiGHT PARADE is the newest iteration of the Eugene Celebration, a parade that’s been happening in the city since 1983. The parade offers Eugenians a way to experience community and "LiGHTEN UP," as per the theme this year.
Kime and Nilson both have long histories with parades in Eugene. Nilson has participated in the Eugene celebration since 1983, first as a graphic designer and then as a Ricky , a well-known group of parade enthusiasts in the '80s.
Kime moved to Eugene in September of 1998 and attended the parade as one of her first events in town. She was immediately hooked and participated in the parade as a marshal and a performer in the coming years.
Kime and Nilson met through the Eugene Celebration and went on to solidify their friendship through “S.L.U.G. Queen stuff.” Kime was in Nilson’s flash mob when she was running for S.L.U.G. Queen, a memory they both cherish.
Both were sad when the original Eugene Celebration ended in 2014. Since then, there have been a myriad of events trying to reunite the city in the same way the celebration did. Kime and Nilson, adamant event organizers and volunteers, founded the BRiGHT PARADE to carry on Eugene's parade legacy.
“Parades bring the diverse people of Eugene together under the theme of being Eugene," Nilson said. "It's all about Eugene's quirk."
There are lots of reasons to participate in a parade. Participating in a parade is a way to be creative, a way to meet new people, a way to try new things. Nilson said the BRiGHT PARADE is a great way for businesses to spread their message in a joyful, human way.
“It’s about being a walking human billboard of awesomeness,” Nilson said. “You can see the people behind the business, not just a graphic on a screen. They might be your neighbor or your grandma.”
It was important to Nilson for the BRiGHT PARADE to be held downtown and after dark. Nilson has a background working at Burning Man and has noticed illuminated parades spreading across the country in recent years.
“People are still not certain about the downtown area, so we thought let's go back to our roots and be downtown, and have it be illuminated,” Nilson said.
Nilson and Kime said the BRiGHT PARADE went well last year and are excited to show what’s in store for the 2024 version. Eventgoers can expect illuminated entries, joyous marchers and a good time from the parade itself. There will be food trucks, dancing and photos at the afterparty.
“We’re excited to watch everyone be together in a space, our streets, and stick their toes into the pool of creativity,” Nilson said. “We’re hoping to bring a sense of joy and awe to ourselves as we parade, and to those who are watching us.”
The BRiGHT PARADE will be held in downtown Eugene at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Twenty-eight unique, human-powered entries will march down Eighth Street, up Lincoln Street, down 11th Street and finish on Pearl Street. The afterparty will be held from 8:30 to 11 p.m. in the Farmers Market Pavilion. Eugenians can visit the BRiGHT PARADE website for more information on the event.
Samantha Pierotti is the food, drinks, and "things to do" reporter at the Register-Guard. With tips on local happenings or restaurants, email her at spierotti@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Slugs, sparkles, neon lights: What to expect from Eugene's 2024 BRiGHT PARADE
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