Ten-days of pickleball, paragliding, roasted peppers, poetry and more!

A Greater Applegate is proud to present Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair Week 2025. This is a ten-day celebration of community spirit and local culture across the Applegate Valley.

The event  runs from September 19–28, 2025.

The Fair features food events, live music, and outdoor activities like paragliding, paddling, bicycling and a dark sky event. There will also be an art show and harvest festival. Full event listings and links to ticketed events can be found at www.agreaterapplegate.org

The Applegate Valley may be split across two separate counties—Jackson and Josephine—but its residents feel united by their shared watershed and rural lifestyle. The name “Jacksaphine County,”  coined by Grants Pass resident Ernest Adam, speaks to this feeling.

“This is Place-Making at its very best,” says A Greater Applegate’s Executive Director, Megan Fehrman.

The rural community building non-profit (often referred to as “AGA”) is sponsoring the week of events.

Here is the 2025 event line-up

MOULIN RUCH!
Friday, September 19, 4-8 PM (Longsword Vineyard)
During this lovely opening night, you can drink wine and watch paraglider pilots land in costume, enjoy a PG-13 burlesque show, jugglers, bocce ball and music in a vineyard setting.
Fun fact: Did you know the Applegate Valley is a world-renowned paragliding destination? See www.rvhpa.org for details!

PASTRIES AND PADDLING
Saturday, September 20, 9:30-11:30 AM (Applegate Lake)
Join the Applegate Paddling Club for a relaxed morning on the water with canoes, kayaks, and SUPs, followed by coffee and pastries on shore. Boats and gear available to borrow.
Fun fact: Did you know that under Applegate Lake was a community once known as Watkins? The town was inundated by the Army Corps of Engineers when they built a dam for flood control in 1980.

HARVEST FESTIVAL
Saturday, Sept 20, 1-7 PM (Upper Applegate Grange)
An afternoon of community connection with local food, vendors, and seasonal celebrations.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the Upper Applegate Grange closed in 2011, but is currently being revitalized by a group of enthusiastic community members?

SUNDAY FUNDAY
Sunday, September 21, 1-5 PM (Apricity Vineyard)
A neighborhood bike ride through Jerome Prairie followed by a casual afternoon gathering with music, wine, and community in the vineyard.
Fun fact: Did you know ducks and chickens roam the vineyards at Apricity to forage insects and fertilize the soil?

PEPPER ROAST
Monday, September 22, 5-7:30 PM (Williams Farmers Market)
Farmer Patrick roasts hatch and sweet peppers from Red Buttes Farm, alongside local produce, breads, and treats. Dinner and drinks by Williams Monday Hub. SNAP & DUFB accepted.
Fun fact: Did you know that the Hatch Pepper is named after the Hatch Valley in New Mexico where it thrives in the former floodplain of the Rio Grande Valley?

APPLEGATE AFTER DARK
Tuesday, September 23, 7-10 PM (Provolt Recreation Site)
A night exploring the “Twilight Zone: Birds, Bats, and Beyond” with a bat walk, moth demonstrations, and guided astronomy and astrophotography under the night sky.
Fun fact: Did you know that preserving dark skies is becoming a global movement? In fact, eastern Oregon’s Lake County was recently declared the Largest Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world! Applegate After Dark is our local dark sky advocacy group.

DOWNTOWN TAKEOVER
Wednesday, September 24, 5-7:30 PM (Applegate Evening Market)
An expanded community market with local makers, food, and music filling downtown Applegate.
Fun Fact: Did you know Downtown Applegate will soon have its own art gallery?

BAR-B-QUE
Friday, September 26, 4-7:30 PM (Salant Family Ranch) Tickets required.
Enjoy ranch-raised burgers, sides, and drinks while connecting with neighbors. Includes live music by Electric Eel and a pie auction. $30 ticket includes meal and drink.
Fun fact: Did you know that Salant Ranch is a “closed loop” ranch? This means the cattle are on-site from birth to harvest–which is very rare in the U.S.  beef industry.

PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
Saturday, September 27, 10 AM-1 PM (Wood Racquet Ranch) Registration required.
The first-ever Applegate Open pickleball tournament, a double-elimination competition on custom courts along the river. $30 entry covers a team of two and lunch.
Fun fact: Did you know the holes in a pickleball slow it down, reduce bounce and make the game easier to play?

POETRY FOR THE PEOPLE
Saturday, September 27, 3-5 PM (Red Lily Vineyard)
A gathering of poets and spoken word artists sharing work in the vineyard.
Fun fact: Did you know that Red Lily was named after the Bolander’s Lily, a rare red wildflower native to the Siskiyou Mountains? The name also honors the owner’s daughter, named Lily.

MUSIC FESTIVAL
Saturday, September 27, 12:30 PM- 3:30 PM (Applegate Library)
An afternoon of live performances celebrating community music-making.
Fun Fact: Did you know this annual library music festival features diverse instruments and genres?

HARVEST FAIR
Saturday, September 27, 3 PM-10 PM (Pacifica Gardens)
A seasonal celebration with food, music, and festivities in a stunning natural setting.
Fun Fact: Did you know Pacifica Gardens was once owned by the musician Steve Miller?

ART IN THE VINEYARD
Sunday, September 28, 11AM-5PM (Wooldridge Creek Winery)
The week concludes with a showcase of local art, food, and wine at Wooldridge Creek Winery.
Fun fact: Did you know Wooldridge Creek Winery is also a creamery? They make Fromage Blanc, Bloomy Rind cheeses and aged cheeses.

About the Fair
Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair Week is organized by A Greater Applegate with support from local farmers, wineries, businesses, and community groups. The festival is designed to highlight the people, places, and creativity that make the Applegate Valley unique.

For tickets, registration, and a full schedule, visit www.agreaterapplegate.org