Southern Oregon Holiday Bucket List
The HOLIDAYS are coming and we couldn't be more excited! Some of our favorite memories have been made this time of year and we are readt to make some more. Since October has already zoomed by and November and December are promising to do the same we have created a bucket list to make sure that you get the most out of the holiday season! Just like in fall, we have included a printable list so that nothing gets missed. Happy Holidays!!
Photo credit: Petali Floral
MAKE A WREATH
One of the seasons time honored traditions is making a wreath at Hanley Farm! They provide all of the supplies, there are activities for the kids, and Santa will even be there! Enjoy the fun on Saturday, November 25th, 11am-3pm . Cost is $15 for Southern Oregon Historical Society members or $20 for non-members.
Photo credit: Antal Ullman
GO CAROLING
Throw on your winter hats, scarves, and coats and stop at your loved friends and families homes and sing out your heart. You can join in with the communities of Ashland and Jacksonville throughout the season if you don’t want to do it on your own. It will become a cherished memory for both your family and those that you are singing to!
BUNDLE UP, DRINK HOT COCOA and CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TOUR
There are a few ways to do this. Jump in your own car and take a little tour of your local neighborhoods. Some of our favorite spots are Cherry Lane and Greystone Court in Medford. You can also go to Nature's Coastal Holiday at Azalea State Park, and the Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights.
GO TO A TREE LIGHTING
Christmas tree lightings aren't just lighting the tree. They are big events with Santa in attendance, hot cocoa drinking, caroling, and other holiday activities. Every town in southern Oregon has their own and we have the where and when's on our Holiday Festivities page. We usually attend at least one, if not two because that is how we roll!
CHRISTMAS TREE HUNTING
So, in the Pierce household we have a fake tree. I know gasp! But that doesn't mean we can't go along with our friends to help them find their perfect tree. We make a day of it, bringing soup or chili along to feed us all and of course hot beverages always need to be involved and sometimes there may even be a little schnapps involved ;) Last year we went and had a blast!
GO TO A CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
Providence Festival of Trees, Rogue Winterfest bring community members together to decorate trees with different themes and then they get auctioned off for charity. There is always a Gala, Holiday Party , and then multiple public viewing days. All of the trees in one place are magical and the children love it!
Photo credit: Antal Ullmann
JACKSONVILLE'S VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
I don't think that their is any other author that has had such an impact on Christmas as Charles Dickens and as I said before, every little town has their Holiday celebrations but there is just something about Jacksonville's Victorian Christmas that makes you feel like you are living in a Charles Dickens novels. The Parade, Trolley Tours, and Father Christmas all complete the nostalgia, it is truly beautiful and memorable. You need to see it for yourself. Our blog gives you the details!
GO TO A CHRISTMAS PARADE
Jacksonville has their Victorian Christmas parade, and Roseburg and Bandon have parades that are held during the day. Then there are the nightime parades in Central Point and Mytrle Creek. Lit up mobile displays that delight the kids in all of us. Our Holiday Festivities page gives you dates, times, and details HERE
ATTEND A HOLIDAY PLAY OR LIVE MUSIC
What is the holidays without the music. Going to a holiday play or going to listen to a choir sing adds just a little something extra to the season. The Oregon Cabaret is on of our favorite places to enjoy the season, but there are so many options to choose from: the Randall, Ross Ragland, Craterian, and Barnstormers Theaters always have seasonal shows to get you in the holiday spirit!
TELL SANTA YOUR CHRISTMAS WISH
Kids, Parents, Grandparents, everyone should Santa their Christmas wishes and he is all over southern Oregon all season long. See my Where’s Santa page to find out where he is!
GO TO A GINGERBREAD COMPETITION
When you walk into Medford’s Gingerbread Jubilee your nose and eyes are delighted with the wonderful scents and sights of the gingerbread competitions.
GO ICE SKATING
Ice skating is fun anytime of year but for some reason it is especially adds to your holiday cheer when you get to skate on an outside rink. Two places you can go in southern Oregon are the Centennial Ice Rink in Ashland or the Bill Collier Ice Rink in Klamath Falls.
GO SLEDDING
Sledding is fun wherever you can find enough snow. At least that is what my kids think! Two of the spots I went to as a teenager and continue the tradition with my own kids are:
Farewell Bend right past Union Creek is another great spot. There are three hills that you have to walk up with varying degrees of incline. Our kids had a great time zooming down the hill sometimes racing. It was crazy up there too, so be ready for a crowd. If you want to skip the crowd I would suggest going during the week. There is one pit toilet so be ready for a line.
Table Mountain at Hyatt Lake was one of my favorite places when I was younger. It's a snow tubing and sledding hill and they even have a warming shelter that you can bring your own wood for.
If you don’t mind paying for a day of snow tubing you can head up to Diamond Lake! They have a tow rope and host cosmic tubing nights and snow parties all season long. Stay up to date on their WEBSITE.
Other options for snow play include Lake of the Woods Resort and Grouse Gap Snow Park.
BUILD A SNOWMAN
When you go sledding don’t forget your snowman building kit. A scarf, hat, rocks for eyes, buttons, and carrot for the nose! Super simple pleasure to add to your holiday fun!
TAKE A RUN
Southern Oregon Turkey Trot Did you know that if you run a 5k you burn 200 calories you can eat more on Thanksgiving and Christmas (or at least that is what I tell myself!)
SERVE A MEAL TO THOSE IN NEED
Giving is the most important part of the season and opportunities are abundant throughout the year but especially welcome around the holidays.
WATCH A HOLIDAY MOVIE
Dress in your PJ's and watch a movie at home, stop into your local library like the Jackson County Library system where they host movie nights all season. or sometimes you can visit your local theater like The Egyptian Theater in Coos Bay who hosts special holiday movie nights! Just check your local movie theaters listings or libraries calendars!'
This is just a small list of what to do in southern Oregon for the holiday season, but we hope it can get you started. Don't forget to download our FREE printable to keep your holiday cheer going straight on through to the New Year! HAPPY HOLIDAYS and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
For all of the Holiday Festivities in Southern Oregon you can go HERE. We also have a page for HOLIDAY BAZAARS.
