the celebration was created in 1983 as a way to bring together members of the eugene community for a weekend of music and festivities to celebrate the opening of the $22.5 million hult center for the performing arts. it attracted as many as 57,000 attendees in 2011. the event was originally sponsored by the city, and for a few years had corporate sponsorship of centennial bank. it was managed from 1999 through 2005 by downtown events management, inc. (demi), a eugene-based non-profit corporation. management was awarded to kesey enterprises, a for-profit company, for the 2013 celebration.