The Jacksonville Victorian Christmas Festival In Oregon Is Straight Out Of A Hallmark Christmas Movie
The holidays in Oregon are a magical time, full of festive fun that’s both traditional and wholly unique to the Beaver State. Take the Jacksonville Victorian Christmas Festival, for example. Each year, this historic Old West town in southern Oregon holds its annual Victorian Christmas festival, a magical celebration of the holidays that’s about as charming as it gets. If you’re looking for your very own Hallmark Christmas movie moment in Oregon, bundle up and head to Jacksonville this holiday season!
Jacksonville is a small town just west of Medford in southern Oregon. With a population of just under 3,000, it's one of Oregon's smaller towns.
Each year as the holiday season approaches, the town starts decking its halls and adorning its city streets with twinkling lights, festive decor, and, yes, boughs of holly, for the annual Victorian Christmas festival.
This delightful event begins right after Thanksgiving with a tree lighting ceremony and live entertainment, including carolers dressed in period costume, befitting of the Victorian Christmas theme.
The festivities continue with a huge, city-wide parade. It's during this time that Father Christmas arrives in Jacksonville, and the holidays really begin.
Father Christmas stays in Jacksonville until just before Christmas, when he has to head back to the North Pole to get everything in order. There's no charge to visit and have your photo taken with him--and believe us when we say that he's the real deal.
Other festivities include live entertainment and music, open hours at the beautifully decorated Beekman House Museum, and holiday shopping at the town's local businesses. There's even a trolly ride that winds through the lit-up streets of Jacksonville's downtown!
During the holidays, it's important to give back, too. Jacksonville hosts a toy drive in December, which is a great way to give back during this season.
Have you been to the Jacksonville Victorian Christmas Festival before? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience. This only-in-Oregon Christmas festival is happening now through December, with lots of activities and festive fun for the entire family.
Looking for more enchanting places to visit this holiday season in Oregon? Check out these magical Christmas towns.
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Address: 16619 S Bradley Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045, USA
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I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.