The W.O.W. Hall, also stylized as WOW Hall, (AKA Community Center for the Performing Arts) is a performing arts venue in Eugene, Oregon, United States.

Venue: W.O.W. Hall
Town: Eugene, US

The W.O.W. Hall, also stylized as WOW Hall, (AKA Community Center for the Performing Arts) is a performing arts venue in Eugene, Oregon, United States. The lot was bought in 1906 by the Woodmen of the World (W.O.W.) lodge, and later in 1932 they built the current structure, which was the most expensive building built in Eugene that year at $8,000. The hall was installed with a floating hard maple dance floor to be used for square dancing and ballroom dancing. In 1975, the hall was up for sale and was in danger of being demolished. Eventually, patrons of the hall organized to form the Committee to Secure a Westside Community Center for the Performing Arts. They got a first option to purchase the lease for the hall when it went up for sale in December of that year. A multi-day community fundraiser event welcoming many local performers and a film festival was held at the WOW Hall in 1975 in hopes of raising funds to acquire the structure, which compiled sufficient income to acquire the property lease. In 1983 the committee was able to buy the property and burned the lease in celebration. The WOW Hall is a 501c3 nonprofit organization listed as the Community Center for the Performing Arts, overseen by a board of directors, with events operated by community volunteers and a small staff. Serving as an all-ages concert venue and community center for decades, the venue has become a beloved mainstay of the Eugene community and a renowned venue for both local bands to develop their audience and national touring acts to perform. It also regularly hosts community meetings, dance, and education programs. The WOW Hall has hosted early performances for artists that would go on to iconic careers such as Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Fugazi, Black Flag, Brandi Carlile, SZA, Chappell Roan, A.F.I., Dead Kennedys, Fear, Black Eyed Peas, and The Avett Brothers among many others; as well as local Eugene acts that have gone on to earn global acclaim like Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Tra