Oregon State University’s annual graduation event draws in thousands of visitors to the streets and hotels of Corvallis, causing an increase in traffic that benefits the local economy.

OSU’s Commencement Ceremony is a formal graduation ceremony held at Reser Stadium on June 14, where every attending graduate will receive their degree. Friends, family and graduates flood the city in the days leading up to graduation, with OSU anticipating upwards of 24,000 attendees this year.

“The weekend of graduation is the busiest weekend of the year for us and one of the busiest overall weeks of the year,” said Lilia Deffenbacher, one of three owners of Castor, a local sit-down restaurant. “We are about 95% booked for graduation.”

In an email, Corvallis Public Information Officer Patrick Rollens said local businesses are ready to welcome guests for the graduation season. 

“Graduation weekend will be busy but not catastrophic,” Rollens said. He likened the expected population increase to that of a typical football game.

“There’s a lot of foot traffic because of the parents coming into town (and) with students moving out,” said Kourtni Raber, owner of Soul Sisters, a clothing store in downtown Corvallis. “Families are out, a lot of students may be graduating as well, and so they’re wanting to do one last loop around downtown.”

Patrick Magee has owned the long-standing Corvallis candy shop, Burst’s Chocolates, since 1996. While Magee said it is difficult to track the effect graduation weekend has on sales, he compared business during the weekend to other OSU events like Family Weekend or evening football games. 

For Castor, Deffenbacher said graduation weekend “far exceeds the revenue” the restaurant brings in for Family Weekend. Football games, Deffenbacher said, are “hit or miss, depending on what time they are scheduled.”

“In general, graduation weekend is a focal point for the university community, which is a huge driver for our local economy,” Rollens said. “In 2024, the estimated economic impact on Corvallis was more than $500,000.”

Along with an increase in dress sales, Raber said she sees an uptick in the sale of stadium-approved bags leading up to graduation.

“I do get parents who come in and I’m like, ‘Hey, what kind of purse are you bringing in, or bag?’ (and) they’re like, ‘Oh, this bag,’ and I’m like, ‘That’s not going to work,’” Raber said.

Reser Stadium maintains a clear bag policy with a size limit of 12″ x 6″ x 12″ and a two-pocket restriction.

Hotels also see an influx in business during this time of year, with OSU recommending visitors book accommodations well in advance.

“Hotels in the Corvallis area are usually more than 90% occupied on Friday and Saturday nights during graduation weekend,” said Rollens. 

Rollens said bus routes are typically rerouted to avoid congestion, but he does not expect the city to implement any major road closures.

“We just recommend that visitors (and locals) give themselves a little bit of extra time to get around town, particularly if they are driving through campus.”OSU recommends attendees walk or carpool to Reser for Commencement Day to reduce congestion. Beaver Buses will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to shuttle attendees. This map provides information on available parking and shuttle routes.