Did you know that the Christmas celebration we know today was “reinvented” during the Victorian Era?
In England, under Oliver Cromwell, the Puritans had rejected all “frippery,” and during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, workers were allowed little time for celebrations of any kind. December 25th had become just another workday.
Clement Moore’s poem, “Twas […]
It’s time to embrace the joy of the season and celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way as only historic Jacksonville can—with Jacksonville’s Victorian Christmas Celebration!
This annual, highly-anticipated event is thanks to much hard work by dedicated individuals who make Victorian Christmas not only possible, but enjoyable for all! Volunteers and chamber members work like elves […]
The McKee Bridge Historical Society is ready for a festive holiday season and will decorate McKee Bridge, the rustic shelter in the picnic grounds, and Star Ranger Station in early December. These sites will be illuminated 24/7 into the New Year. The 5th-Annual Christmas on a Covered Bridge is set for Saturday, December 16, noon […]
12/03/23 UPDATE TO VENUE—We had to change our venue for our Friday night concert due to construction at the Historic Presbyterian Church.
One of our community’s wonderful traditions in this season is the Jacksonville Garden Club’s Holiday Greens Sale. Using fresh holly, pine, and cedar boughs, Club members use their creativity and artistic skills to make lovely table arrangements, baskets, wreaths, and swags decorated with cones, bows and candles. The arrangements bring fragrance and color to decorate […]
“Christmas! Tis the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”~Washington Irving
Nowhere is that genial flame more joyfully felt than in Jacksonville during our festive Victorian Christmas. Once more, this merry old town will resonate with all things bright and captivating.
We begin the annual tradition […]
The beautiful meeting room at New City Hall will become a concert hall on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at 3pm, when Quartet ES, a remarkably talented, internationally known string quartet takes the stage. A little more than a month later, on February 25, The Canellakis-Brown Duo, veteran […]
The Jacksonville Garden Club is preparing to bring some holiday cheer to our homes and businesses! Members use their skills and creativity to make beautiful wreaths, table arrangements, entry baskets, and swags, featuring fresh natural greens and cones, holly, bows, candles and festive decorations. Our lovely wreaths have become very popular, […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Experience a Victorian Christmas this holiday season at the historic Beekman House Museum, located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville, Oregon. This early 1870s residence, home to Jacksonville’s wealthiest pioneer family, is decorated for a 19th Century Christmas celebration, and you’re invited to visit. Between 12 noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday, November […]
MEDFORD, Ore. (Oct. 25, 2023) — After nearly a decade of events and fundraising to support children’s health care programs, Asante Foundation will no longer host Oregon Wine Experience® (OWE). After close evaluation of the overall investment and return, OWE is no longer financially […]
Join us for Jacksonville’s Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday, October 28, 9am-1pm, at the D Street Parking lot near the library. This event is a crucial step in fortifying our community against the threat of wildfires. Here’s what you can expect:
Vegetation Disposal—Residents of Jacksonville are invited to bring branches and other vegetation for chipping […]
Magnolia Hotel owners, Jeff & Niki Bale, want to thank everyone who stayed with them or referred friends and family this summer. They say it’s been encouraging since reopening the Magnolia Hotel last March and they’re planning several exciting community events this fall.
First up is the 1st Annual Community Harvest Party […]
What ghostly tales and phantoms hide behind the curtained windows of Jacksonville’s historical homes? Find out, if you dare, with a nighttime ride on a haunted trolley. This year’s haunted trollies have surprises galore for the unsuspecting rider. Two storylines run through the narrative—one true and one pure fiction, with special […]
October 4, 2023, JACKSONVILLE, Ore. — Now through Sunday, Oct. 29, Windermere Real Estate in Jacksonville will help keep children warm this winter by collecting donations of winter necessities. Each Friday, Windermere real estate brokers will deliver donations to schools after taking them to the cleaners.
The public can help by bringing new or gently […]
Jacksonville OR Friends of Classical Music (JORFCM) is proud to announce its first-annual concert series to be held in the beautiful Assembly Room at New City Hall. JORFCM was formed this year with a singular mission: to bring classical music concerts to Jacksonville in winter. The schedule for winter 2024 has just been announced:
Sunday, January […]
The Rogue Valley Lions Club is pleased to present our first-annual Central Point Wine Walk on Saturday, September 30, from 4-7pm. This fun event is designed so you can enjoy tasting wines of 10 or more local wineries within a 4-block area of downtown Central Point. Each winery will be paired with a Central Point […]
Gather your family and friends and lace up your sneakers. It’s time for the first Jacksonville 1851 Gold Rush Run/Walk in the Jacksonville Woodlands, with 10K, 5K, and 2K course options. The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and co-sponsor Public Lands outdoor store, located at 293 Rossanley Dr. in Medford, are excited to launch this new […]
Supporting a vision to expand programs and access, Jacksonville Community Center (JCC) has recruited Julie Raefield to serve as the new executive director, leading the organization’s ongoing operations and fundraising efforts for the years ahead.
Raefield recently served as the public information officer and government relations coordinator for Rogue Community College (RCC) […]
The public is invited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Jacksonville Library branch on September 23, from 1-3pm. The Friends of the Library will be on-hand along with honored guests, Dr. Naversen and his wife Jane, and staff, in the Naversen Room. Light refreshments will be served.
The creation of the Jacksonville […]
You love music and like to sing. Maybe you’ve never sung with a performing choir before, or perhaps you have, but not for a while. Either way, we have a great opportunity for you…with NO AUDITION REQUIRED.
This fall, beginning Tuesday, September 12, 2023, Voices of the Applegate, a community chorus, commences its 20th year. We […]
Calling all runners and outdoor enthusiasts—the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a new outdoor event for the whole family! Our 1851 Gold Rush Trail Run/Walk will be held on the morning of Saturday, September 30, 2023 at the Britt Garden Pavilion.
We are proud to have Public Lands as a co-sponsor for this […]
Jacksonville pioneer Peter Britt would be proud to witness the booming success of the local wine industry. In 1858 he decided that wine grapes might do well in the region, along with pears and peaches. He was so right. Swiss-born Peter Britt was drawn by the gold, but excelled as a photographer, horticulturist and lays […]
The formation of Jacksonville OR Friends of Classical Music, a non-profit organization, was first publically announced in the June issue of the Jacksonville Review. We now have a website as shown below. Enter jorfcm.org into your browser or into Google. Current information about concerts, fundraising, and more will be regularly posted. This article is intended […]
Oregon’s premier summer destination for indulging in our state’s top-tier varietal selections and gourmet culinary creations—is fast approaching! With over 100 participating Oregon wineries, Oregon Wine Experience® (OWE) is a five-day charity event benefiting healthcare services for children and families in Southern Oregon and Northern California. The most anticipated wine and food event of the […]
Bonnie Dunlap, a cosmetologist at Jacksonville Beauty Salon has released, “Little White Bird,” a potent testimony of faith. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Bonnie’s new book shares a deeply private experience in hope of empowering others in their understanding and trust of God.
Dunlap shares, “Little White Bird is based on true story about a little […]
Savor the very best of Oregon in the most anticipated wine and food event of the year this August 16-20, just outside of Jacksonville at Stage Pass. Oregon Wine Experience (OWE) is the premier destination for indulging in our state’s world-class varietal selections (with over 100 participating Oregon wineries) and gourmet culinary creations—all in a […]
Center Director Search—The JCC Board has begun the search for a new Center Director. We encourage those in our community to spread the word about this opportunity to take the Center to the next stage of development. Visit the JCC website at www.jacksonvillecommunitycenter.org to see the job […]
Take & Make: Level-Up Your Crafting: Paracord Knotted Keychain, 18+ Yrs, Tuesday, July 11—Try your hand at one of two styles of paracord knotting with a beginner-friendly key-chain craft. Kits contain a key ring, and two colors of cordage, and instructions for 2 styles of keychains, each made up of only one knot repeated. This […]
Every summer, visitors are drawn to the stunning, multi-sensory experience that our Jacksonville area lavender farms provide during their annual festival. The soft fragrance, the fields of fierce violet, along with the many colorful bumblebees and butterflies make the experience worth celebrating. It doesn’t last long…but there’s still time to take in the sights and […]
Everyone likes to play games and Fred is no exception. He likes all games but especially ones he can play with friends like you! Whether it’s sports, chess, or video games, Fred is always up for some friendly competition. With that, we are excited to reveal this year’s Children’s Festival theme…GAME ON!
This innovative 3-day event […]
I was at the lowest point in my life. I had received my Stage 3B Ovarian Cancer diagnosis, had a complete hysterectomy, and was lying in my hospital bed when I said to myself—I’m not going to make it.
I was so depleted of life because of cancer. This was my second diagnosis, my first was […]
Summer’s Spectacular Lavender Blooms—Every June and July, visitors are drawn to the stunning, multi-sensory experience that our Jacksonville area lavender farms provide. The soft fragrance, the fields of fierce violet, along with the many colorful bumblebees and butterflies make the experience worth celebrating. But it only lasts 6 to 8 weeks, so… you have to […]
The Oregon Wine Experience® (OWE), the Asante Foundation’s signature fundraising event and one of the premier food and wine events in the Pacific Northwest, could use your help. Be part of this unique celebration…as a volunteer!
Join in on the fun and give back to the cause through hundreds of volunteer opportunities available this August! All […]
I recently came across Jacksonville writer Frank DeLuca’s new book, A Field Guide to Humans: Enriching Relationships through the Enneagram. The Enneagram is a model that combines ancient wisdom with modern psychology to assign numbers one through nine to different personality types. Frank‘s book is about how to use this tool to improve our relationships […]
Author Brenda Novak is on the road in her “Bookstream”—an Airstream Traveling Bookstore & Mini Coffee Shop—for a national book tour to promote the publication of her 75th book, The Seaside Library. On Sunday May 28, at 1pm, Rebel Heart Books will be hosting her stop in Jacksonville, at Bigham Knoll where she […]
The community is invited to attend the first meeting of a newly-formed group, Citizens for a Safer Jacksonville, which is hoping to stop the speeders. The meeting will be on Wednesday, May 24, 4:30-6:00pm, at the Naversen Room at the Jacksonville Library. The focus is currently on the speeding and safety issues facing pedestrians in […]
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a national Firewise campaign to raise awareness and reduce risks from wildfires. Jacksonville is vulnerable to wildfires due to many homes being located in close proximity to woodlands and forests. Because of severe drought and upcoming extremely hot weather, this summer and early fall promise to be a bad year […]
After a long, chilly winter, who isn’t yearning for spring? With flowering trees and wildflowers in the woods, we are all welcoming the warmer weather and beauty of this season in the Rogue Valley. Our thoughts turn to plantings for gardens and celebrating spring with bouquets and goodies. In that spirit, the Jacksonville Garden Club’s […]
The Jackson County Master Gardener™ Association is proud to announce the 2023 Spring Garden Fair on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 9am-3pm, at the OSU Extension, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point.
The largest gardening event in Southern Oregon, this year marks the return of many perennial vendors who have stood by through the COVID years. Plant […]
On Saturday, April 29, from noon-4:00pm, join the Applegate Community, Ruch Outdoor Community School, A Greater Applegate, and the Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council to celebrate a new mural installation and a new metal art installation at Cantrall-Buckley Park. Meet the artists, funding partners, community leaders, volunteers and students while picnicking, touring and socializing.
For the […]
Jacksonville resident Peter E. Yeager recently published Searching for Sanctuary: The Journey Home. Yeager’s poems track his life from growing up in New Jersey through retirement in Oregon. Poet and poetry editor Amy Miller calls the book, “part poetic memoir, part travelogue of the soul.”
With emotional honesty, Peter explores family, friendships, courtship, marriage, divorce, and […]
MEDFORD, OR — 04/06/23 – Britt Music & Arts Festival is excited to announce several more concerts for the 2023 Britt Presents season, adding more music and comedy performances to the previously announced lineup. First released at an announcement party in Jacksonville, Oregon, this announcement introduces a wide range of musical acts and comedians, from […]
After three long years, Voices of the Applegate will present an evening of song, including lyrics by Longfellow, Shakespeare, and others that will soothe and energize your soul.
Performances will be held at the Historic Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, 405 E. California Street at 7:00pm on Friday, April 14, 2023, and at The Lindsay (Applegate River Ranch […]
The Jacksonville Garden Club’s annual Spring Sale will be held in downtown Jacksonville on Saturday, May 13, 2023, 10am-3pm, in the alcove next to the Post Office. Club members create beautiful arrangements from fresh-cut spring flowers in a range of prices—for Mother’s Day or a nice gift to yourself or a friend. Potted plants, spring […]
After three long years, Voices of the Applegate will present an evening of song, including lyrics by Longfellow, Shakespeare, and others that will soothe and energize your soul.
Performances will be held at the Historic Presbyterian Church, Jacksonville, 405 E. California Street at 7:00pm on Friday, April 14, and at The Lindsay (Applegate River Ranch House), […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR — Britt Music & Arts Festival is excited to announce the first installment of Britt Presents music & comedy concerts for the 2023 summer season. The first of two season announcements, this group of shows features a wide array of musical artists, including first-time-to-Britt country artists Kelsea Ballerini and Elle King, plus returning artists Diana […]
The public is invited to an open house to celebrate the re-opening of the renovated Magnolia Inn, now the Magnolia Hotel. Over the last few months, new owners,
Jeff and Nikki Bale, have been busy converting the previous owner’s living area into three additional guest rooms, opening walls and adding access for guests to the backyard. […]
The swallows have returned, and spring bulbs pop with color. Wildflowers pepper the woodland trails, and the general feelings of restlessness and excitement can only be blamed on spring fever, a tolerable malady. Spring is here at last—a time to celebrate life and the creative flow.
Saturday, March 18, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce is bringing […]
MEDFORD, OR — The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces its 2023 season, anchoring Oregon’s Britt Music and Arts Festival with three weeks of exciting open-air programming in historic Jacksonville, Oregon. Under the inspirational leadership of Music Director […]
In December of 2014, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). As the Neurologist explained my options, my wife Kerry rubbed my back in an attempt to soften the blow. It didn’t work! The doctors words were inaudible to me. I looked into Kerry eyes and whispered, “I knew it was Parkinson’s.” I was now […]