SEASONAL EVENTS
From the height of the Britt Festival season to our Christmas Parade celebration, Jacksonville and the surrounding area is a great escape any time of year with plenty to do and to see. Below is a sampling of our favorite seasonal activities.
Spring
JACKSONVILLE’S HOME AND GARDEN TOUR
Early May - The Jacksonville Booster Club's Home and Garden Tour this offers a rare chance for the public to get a peek inside the town's much-admired historic residences.
JACKSONVILLE TROLLEY TOURS
May thru October - Enjoy a narrated overview of Jacksonville history which highlights gracious vintage homes and commercial buildings.
APPLEGATE VALLEY WINE TRAIL SPRING UNCORKED BARREL TOUR EVENT
Mid May - 18 wineries in the Applegate participate in this fun, self-guided tour. Each unique winery offers appetizers and wine plus the opportunity to learn more about the wine making craft.
JACKSONVILLE SPRING WINE CRUISE
Mid May - Taste three different wines with one food pairing at each winery location.
USHPA APPLEGATE OPEN
Mid June - The Applegate Valley hosts this national hang-gliding and paragliding championship series event, a sight to see.
ASHLAND INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
April - The Ashland Independent Film Festival celebrates the diversity of human experience through the art of independent film—enriching, educating and inspiring audiences of all ages. Every Spring, over 7000 film lovers gather at the art-deco Varsity Theatre, the Historic Ashland Armory, and other venues to watch over 100 documentary, feature, and short films in five days of high quality independent film. Filmmakers from around the world engage with the audience after each screening and at festival events.
Summer
BRITT MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
The Britt Music and Arts Festival is the Pacific Northwest’s premier outdoor summer performing festival, and Élan is located conveniently at it’s doorstep—the closest traveler’s accommodation to the festival grounds. Visitors enjoy world-class performances in jazz, blues, folk, bluegrass, world, pop, country and classical music. The schedule typically runs from mid-June to early October.
SOUTHERN OREGON LAVENDER FESTIVAL
An amazing lavender experience awaits you in the Applegate Valley. Nestled among the vineyards and tranquil fields are two unique family-run farms offering U-pick lavender flowers, exquisite lavender products & crafts, classes, essential oil distillation, and potted lavender plants.
Autumn
MEET THE PIONEERS
October - The life story enactments of early settlers’ are staged among the tombstones in Jacksonville’s historic and picturesque cemetery. Local actors dress in period costume and tell tales of the town folk who were buried in the the 1800’s. Tickets always sell out— so make your plans early!
HAUNTED TROLLEY TOURS
Late October - The Haunted Trolley Tours are ‘scarily popular’ and bring chilling perspective to Jacksonville’s local history. The tours last for 45 minutes and the decorated trolleys depart on the hour during those evenings that lead up to Halloween. Visit the Jacksonville Visitor Information Center for more information.
Winter
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Late November - The celebration begins with a tree lighting ceremony on the last Saturday in November and continues on weekends through December. Jacksonville is more charming than ever during this time with its shops brightly lit and seasonally decorated. Carolers dressed in period attire sing along the sidewalks of Jacksonville’s historic core while a horse-drawn carriage provides rides about town for shoppers and revelers.
OREGON CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL
Early March - The festival features the dreamy, mouth-watering creations of dozens of West Coast chocolatiers. These food artisans present a variety of fine chocolates and chocolate-inspired products that tease the taste buds of over 1500 visitors. Reserve your suite at Élan and enjoy a scenic 25-30 minute drive to chocolate ecstacy.
ANNUAL OREGON CHEESE FESTIVAL
Mid March - The Oregon Cheese Festival is a farmers market-style event celebrating cheese and everything that goes with it. Sample and purchase local, artisan cheese, specialty foods, beer, wine, and cider from over 100 vendors.
Year-round
JACKSONVILLE WOODLANDS
The Jacksonville Woodlands are a beautifully maintained trail system accessible from town—two of the trailheads are located next to the Britt Festival grounds and Élan. The system consists of over 18 miles of woodland trails within the city limits, yet it’s hard to believe a town is nearby once you step upon the trail.
JACKSONVILLE CEMETERY
Jacksonville’s cemetery was dedicated in 1860, the same year the city was incorporated. The cemetery holds the remains of a variety of religious and ethnic groups. Many of the early pioneers who built Jacksonville are buried on this hilltop. The Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery is a society which actively supports the preservation of the cemetery through education, tours, and annual fundraisers such as the Meet the Pioneers event, performed each fall. Located 3-4 blocks from Élan Guest Suites, the old cemetery offers a scenic look at local history as you enjoy a morning or afternoon walk.