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The Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to hosting the annual Bohemia Mining Days festival in Cottage Grove, Oregon. We also engage in educational activities and participate in other local events to bring our rich local history to life. This annual festival celebrates the rich history and vibrant energy of the region, bringing together locals and visitors in a fun-filled wild west-themed setting.
This year, Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days was one for the books. From the Slabtown vs. Lemati Feud Games to the Grand Miners Parade, the spirit of Cottage Grove was alive and thriving.
Every successful festival is built on the dedication of volunteers — and in 2025, one person truly stood out. Emily KayLyn brought unmatched heart, hustle, and positive energy to this year’s Bohemia Mining Days. Whether they were solving problems, lifting others up, or simply showing up when it mattered most, their spirit embodied the best of our community.
Thank you, Emily, for helping make the magic happen. You are the reason this festival thrives.
Thursday, July 17
4:15 PM
Thursday, July 17
5:00 PM
Thursday, July 17
6:00 PM
Thursday, July 17
7:30 PM
Friday, July 18
12:00 PM
Friday, July 18
12:30 PM
Friday, July 18
2:30 PM
Friday, July 18
4:00 PM
Friday, July 18
6:00 PM
Friday, July 18
8:00 PM
Saturday, July 19
9:00 AM
Saturday, July 19
11:00 AM
Saturday, July 19
12:30 PM
Saturday, July 19
2:30 PM
Saturday, July 19
4:00 PM
Saturday, July 19
6:00 PM
Saturday, July 19
8:00 PM
Thursday, July 17
6:00 PM
Friday, July 18
ALL DAY
Friday, July 18
12:30 PM
Friday, July 18
7:30 PM
Saturday, July 19
ALL DAY
Saturday, July 19
12:00 PM
Saturday, July 19
2:00 PM
Saturday, July 19
2:30 PM
Here’s the complete schedule of all events, performances, and special activities from Bohemia Mining Days 2025.
Main Event
4:00 PM
Welcome by Celebration Coordinator Matthew Hewlett (aka The Jailer)
Location: Main Stage
Main Event
4:00 PM
Beer Garden 21+ Only
Location: Beer Garden
Live Music
4:15 PM - 5:00 PM
Stage: Stage A
Live Music
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Stage: Stage A
Main Event
5:00 PM
Enjoy a hearty miner’s-style dinner with steak, cornbread, and more on Thursday from 5–7 PM at the Chuckwagon Area — reserve your seat now!
Location: Coiner Park, Chuckwagon Area
Festival Event
6:00 PM
Location: Main Stage
Live Music
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Stage: Stage B
Live Music
7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Stage: Stage A
Main Event
10:00 PM
Festival Closes for the night
Location: Coiner Park, Cottage Grove
Main Event
10:00 AM
Food, Live Music, Kid Zone, Bohemia City Saloon & Vendors
Location: Coiner Park, Cottage Grove
Festival Event
All Day
Keep an eye out for Jay the Magician as he roams through Bohemia City! With sleight of hand and surprise performances around every corner, you never know when the magic will appear!
Location: Bohemia City, Coiner Park
Main Event
11:00 AM
Sign-Ups:
Register at Bohemia City Hall (Info Booth)
Thursday: All Day
Friday: Until 10:45 AM
Friday, July 18 – Round One
11:00 AM – Feud Games Arena (Coiner Park)
Bohemia Deputies
Fuse Winder
Outhouse Cornhole
Digging in the Dark
Location: Coiner Park
Live Music
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Paul “Buck”, manager, songwriter, entertainer of Internationally acclaimed, The New Christy Minstrels is “blowing in the Wind through the 60’s folk scene. Read More
Stage: Stage A
Festival Event
12:30 PM
It’s Slabtown vs. Lemati in the ultimate dessert showdown!
5 contestants from each town compete to be crowned champion.
Same-day sign-up at Bohemia City Hall (Info Booth), with preference for those in costume.
Winner gets bragging rights, prizes, and the chance to pie someone in the face!
Location: Gazebo, Coiner Park
Live Music
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Stage: Stage B
Live Music
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Forest Mountain Lion is a musician originally from Cottage Grove. Read More
Stage: Stage B
Live Music
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Stage: Stage A
Live Music
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Stage: Stage A
Offsite Event
7:00 PM
Come see the feud that made “going postal” popular in Slabtown vs. Lemati, a melodrama by Keith Kessler. Directed by Jennifer Mandeville Schultz. Choreography by Darcy Rust. Read More
Location: 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove
Festival Event
7:30 PM
Think you’ve got the best Old West look in town?
Location: Main Stage
Offsite Event
7:30 PM
During The Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days Festival, join us for a live multimedia presentation of The Story of Opal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart, the whimsical childhood diary of controversial Cottage Grove legend Opal Whiteley. Read More
Location: Opal Center for Arts & Education. 513 E Main St, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Live Music
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Windy Ridge is a four-piece ensemble whose threads are deeply woven into the fabric of Cottage Grove’s music history. Read More
Stage: Stage A
Offsite Event
8:00 PM
The Gold Rush is a twilight 5K run or walk through lovely Cottage Grove. It starts in the center of town and travels down Main Street and then River Road, following the scenic Willamette Coast Fork River. Read More
Location: Between 5th & 6th on Washington Ave
Main Event
10:00 PM
Festival Closes for the night
Location: Coiner Park, Cottage Grove
Live Music
Offsite Event
9:45 AM
Free for all the young and young at heart! Read More
Location: Corner of Main Street & 10th Street
Main Event
10:00 AM
Food, Live Music, Kid Zone, Bohemia City Saloon & Vendors
Location: Coiner Park, Cottage Grove
Main Event
10:00 AM
Watch the parade ride up from 10th st, up to Gateway St!
Location: Main Street
Festival Event
All Day
Keep an eye out for Jay the Magician as he roams through Bohemia City! With sleight of hand and surprise performances around every corner, you never know when the magic will appear!
Location: Bohemia City, Coiner Park
Live Music
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The One More Time Marching Band (OMT) has been a Eugene-area institution since 1986. Read More
Stage: Stage A
Offsite Event
11:00 AM
Corner of 6th and Quincy, Cottage Grove Read More
Location: Corner of 6th and Quincy, Cottage Grove
Festival Event
12:00 PM
Dress as your favorite pioneer or miner and join us at the gazebo at 11:30 AM for check-in and a short questionnaire. The contest begins at 12 PM on the Heritage Stage. Open to ages 4–10. Winners receive a sash, crown, and prize package!
Location: Heritage Stage
Live Music
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Larry Barkemeyer and Jeff Boyle grew up in and around Cottage Grove, Oregon... Read More
Stage: Stage A
Main Event
1:00 PM
Kids’ Beard & Mustache Game (just for fun)
Two Towns Tug o’ War
Location: Coiner Park
Festival Event
2:00 PM
Location: Gazebo, Coiner Park
Festival Event
2:30 PM
Location: Basketball Court
Live Music
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Stage: Stage B
Live Music
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Stage: Stage A
Main Event
5:30 PM
Join us as we crown this years Feud winner between Slabtown & Lemati Gang.
Who will take the title - Slabtown or Lemati?
Location: Main Stage
Live Music
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Stage: Stage B
Offsite Event
7:00 PM
Come see the feud that made “going postal” popular in Slabtown vs. Lemati, a melodrama by Keith Kessler. Directed by Jennifer Mandeville Schultz. Choreography by Darcy Rust. Read More
Location: 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove
Offsite Event
7:30 PM
During The Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days Festival, join us for a live multimedia presentation of The Story of Opal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart, the whimsical childhood diary of controversial Cottage Grove legend Opal Whiteley. Read More
Location: Opal Center for Arts & Education. 513 E Main St, Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Live Music
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Stage: Stage A
Main Event
10:00 PM
See You Next Year!
Location: Coiner Park, Cottage Grove
Offsite Event
6:00 AM
Don't miss the 61st Miners Breakfast on The Mountain in the historic Bohemia Mining District. Read More
Location: Bohemia Saddle Park (near Fairview Lookout) Bohemia Mining District (38 miles SE of Cottage Grove)
Slabtown and Lemati battled it out in old-fashioned competitions all weekend, but this year’s victor was Lemati — proving once again that blue runs strong!
Lemati came out on top in the community vote, and the winner of the physical Feud Games was Reagan Roeder, a sixth grader from Cottage Grove. Representing the next generation of fierce competitors, Reagan was also honored as South Valley Athletics’ middle school champion.
“I was the only girl there,” Roeder said. “I only got beat by two boys, both in high school.” According to Merryday, she had a mean hook shot that helped her dominate the field.
What a parade! Huge thanks to every group that showed up with spirit, creativity, and community pride. The judges had some tough choices this year, but the results are in!
🎖️ Grand Nugget Award
What an incredible turnout for this year’s Bohemia Mining Days Costume Contest! Our winners are:
And let me tell you — Mila and her siblings absolutely stole the show. The moment her name was called, she lit up with pure joy. Dressed in her pink cowboy hat and bandana, she brought energy, heart, and enthusiasm to the stage. Her excitement captured everyone’s hearts. She was the moment — and it’s kids like her that remind us why we do this festival.
As for the men’s contest, I did make a little mix-up and originally announced Oliver as the winner. But to be fair, he and his two friends brought an amazing, imaginative backstory that truly stuck with me. Even with the hiccup, the awards landed in the right hands — and I’m so proud of the creativity we saw across the board.
Huge thanks to everyone who dressed up, participated, and helped bring Bohemia’s past to life. The spirit of Bohemia lives on through each of you!
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This year’s facial hair contest brought the frontier flavor to life once again. From rugged mountain men to eccentric inventors, everyone came ready to impress — and they did not disappoint.
Ten fearless contestants were selected to take on the delicious challenge of devouring a chocolate pudding pie from Slabtown Coffee, with brownie points (well, not really) for showing up in western wear. Under the gazebo, six men and four women took their places as Merryday counted them down. Each was armed with a spoon, a napkin, a water bottle, and a trash bag — the essentials for pie glory.
Ray Perdue came out swinging and was halfway through his pie at the 1:30 mark, but it was Tobi D’Amore who shocked the crowd by finishing his entire pie in just 3 minutes and 22 seconds. He celebrated with the chicken dance while shouting, “My stomach hurts.”
Tobi then earned the right to pie anyone he wanted in the face — and he chose none other than Executive Director Matthew Hewlett. With whipped cream dripping down his face, Hewlett smiled and took it like a champ. That’s the spirit!
Medals, prizes, and sticky smiles were awarded to our winners, but every contestant walked away with full bellies and high praise. Huge thanks to Slabtown Coffee for supplying the pies and to everyone who cheered them on!
A massive thank you to Kyle Kishen Construction for fabricating the incredible façade walls that brought Bohemia City back to life for Bohemia Mining Days 2025! Kyle’s craftsmanship, generosity, and dedication played a vital role in transforming the festival grounds and creating an unforgettable experience for our community. His work truly made this year’s event a success.
When you need a contractor in Cottage Grove, OR, rely on Kyle Kishen Construction. With years of experience in home additions, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and more, Kyle and his team have the expertise and resources to get the job done right — all while providing excellent service and affordable rates.
For top-quality construction services, call on Kyle Kishen Construction — a trusted name in Cottage Grove, OR.
A huge shoutout to everyone who brought extra spirit and flair to their booths at this year’s Bohemia Mining Days! It was amazing to see vendors go the extra mile to “play the part” and help create an immersive frontier atmosphere.
We want to give a big thank you to Chris at Backroad Custom Laser Cutting for generously donating the custom-made awards — your craftsmanship helps us honor creativity in style! ✨
And of course, thank you to Dana Merryday for serving as our booth judge and putting in the time and care to make sure great work didn’t go unnoticed, even amid the festival hustle.
Single Item: 24 flavors shaved ice with toppings
Full Menu: Yakisoba noodles, fried rice, teriyaki chicken, spring rolls, steam buns, Strawberry, mango, and original lemonade, Water
Single Item: Sweet & Salty, Caramel, Caramel Apple, Jalapeño Sweet & Salty, Butter, No Sugar
Single Item: Savory Bubble Waffles , Sweet Bubble Waffles, Boba Tea, Flavored Frozen Lemonade
Full Menu: Elephant Ears, Funnel Cakes, Giant Curly Fries, Corn Dogs, Soda, Bottled Water
Full Menu: Smoked Mac and Cheese, Tri-tip Sandwich, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Bates Burger, Sesame Ginger Coleslaw, Fries, Cowboy Sandwich , 1/2 Tri-tip sandwich, Add Bacon, Cheese, or Grilled Onions, Strawberry Lemonade
Single Item: We are a mobile coffee shop so all kinds of different drinks and snack foods
Full Menu: 5 different hot doggs, nachos, pretzels, corn dogs, drinks
Commercial/Resale: 4x6 photos, maybe some beard oil and haircare products, and other stuff
Arts/Crafts (Handmade): All things crystals, including but not limited to medicine bags, home decor, smudging sticks, rainbow bug makers (aka suncatchers), bracelets, wands, hair sticks, flower pots
Non-Profit/Kid Zone (Fundraising): Gun Raffle and calendar for conservation.
Arts/Crafts (Handmade): Bracelets, Keychains and Earrings
Arts/Crafts (Handmade): Tie dyed clothing and textiles: tshirts, hoodies, tanks, dresses, sarongs, and canvas bags. Bleach dyed, rain dyed, and direct tie dyed
Pre-prepared edibles: 4-inch bundt cakes in four to six flavors
Arts/Crafts (Handmade): Hand crafted oddities and textile art. This includes bone and insect art, tooth and bone jewelry, wet specimens, beaded sun catchers, scented soy and beeswax candles, molded pillar candles, weird pins and stickers, printed T-shirts, fabric hoods and hats, seining bundles, natural spell bath salts, fine art prints, magnets, preserves animal parts (rabbits feet/ears, tails), mini oddities, loose bones, oddity grab bags, and D&D novelty potion bottles.
Arts/Crafts (Handmade): Crystals, tapestries, tie die, leather bound journals, crystal sun catchers, jewelry, stickers, patches, sunbrellas, purses
Commercial/Resale: Books I've authored (5 titles that encompass fantasy, science fiction, horror, and poetry)
Here are the other wonderful vendors and food booths who helped make 2025 so memorable:
We also gratefully acknowledge the following sponsors who gave as well:
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised $102,518.00 out of our $150,000.00 goal. While we didn’t reach our full target, we still made the 2025 festival happen — and it was incredible.
But to keep this tradition alive for years to come, we need your continued support. Your donation now helps lay the foundation for the 2026 Bohemia Mining Days.
Support the 2026 FestivalWe’d love to hear about your experience at Bohemia Mining Days 2025! Whether you volunteered, visited, performed, or just strolled through, your feedback helps shape the future of the festival.
Behind every magical moment of Bohemia Mining Days is a dedicated group of organizers, builders, and creative minds who make it all happen. Meet the team that brought the 2025 festival to life:
Administrative Coordinator
Art Show Coordinator
Art Show Coordinator
Dunk Tank / Metal Work Fabricator
Dunk Tank / Metalwork Coordinator
Entertainment Coordinator
Executive Director
I got my start at Bohemia Mining Days in 2019 with the Jail Cell Photobooth and helped with the Art Show we hosted that year. Each year since, the Jail Cell Photobooth has been a favorite among the citizens of Cottage Grove. In 2024, I stepped up to lead the Spirit of BMD celebration to ensure the event continued. Now, I am the Executive Director of Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating Cottage Grove's history, fostering community engagement, and inspiring future leaders through the annual festival and year-round initiatives.
Facade Wall Sign Painter
Feud Games Coordinator
Financial Coordinator
Historian & Content Curator
Disston Dave A passion for history and the natural world. Moved here during the pandemic and fell in love with the wilds the woodlands around Cottage Grove. Currently homesteading and exploring while undertaking the title of Bohemia City Marshal. Disston Dave - Historian - Guide - Prospector & Gold Digger - Winemaker - Bohemia City Marshal - History Liaison for Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days
Info Booth Coordinator
Kid Zone Coordinator
Kid Zone Coordinator
Logistics Coordinator
Logistics Support
Parade Coordinator
Joelie has spent years as the Grand Miners Parade coordinator, bringing dedication and experience to Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days. Her deep passion for Cottage Groves history makes her an invaluable part of the festival.
Parade Support
Parade Support
Parking Coordinator
Publicity Coordinator
Sanitation Coordinator
Stage Manager
The Mining Vault Co-Host
Vendor Coordinator
Cathy, our fantastic vendor coordinator, has previously worked with Bohemia Mining Days and is a perfect fit for the role. However, she’s ready to pass the torch and train a new coordinator to take over her responsibilities. If you think you’d be a great fit, send us a message!
Vendor Support
Donna joined Bohemia Mining Days as a vendor in 2024 and quickly discovered a passion for supporting the vendor team. With 21 years of experience in the Forest Service and a deep love for our town, she’s been a longtime attendee and is excited to contribute even more this year.
Volunteer Coordinator
“From the laughter of kids in costume to the echo of parade drums down Main Street, Bohemia Mining Days 2025 was a living love letter to Cottage Grove’s heritage. We struck gold again — not just in our traditions, but in the people who showed up to celebrate them. The spirit of Bohemia isn’t just in the past — it’s right here, alive in every smile, every story, and every shared moment.”