There's something inherently 'cool' about music festivals. Maybe it's because they harken back to the free-wheeling '60s; maybe it's because the U.S. has some truly bucket-list-level festivals; maybe it's simply that musicians are just plain cool. So when you take a tiny Oregon town and add in an epic annual music festival, the result is a place that's on the map for the very coolest of reasons. And this is how Jacksonville, a small town in Oregon, quietly (or loudly, in this case) became the coolest place in the Pacific Northwest.
Nestled in the heart of Southern Oregon's Wine Country, Jacksonville is a small town that's big on charm -- and coolness.
Jacksonville's picturesque Historic District is a vision; named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1966. It's the heart of the town, a place for community and congregation.
Jacksonville was founded following the discovery of gold deposits in 1851. The history and integrity of its downtown is something in which the town takes a lot of pride.
Jacksonville is home to less than 3,000 residents, making it one of Oregon's smaller towns.
But each summer, this winsome little town transforms into an epicenter of cool, during the Britt Music & Arts Festival.
The Britt Festival is a seasonal music festival that takes place at Jacksonville's open-air amphitheater.
The festival is named after Peter Britt, a pioneer and owner of the land now used for the eponymous park. A talented photographer who moved to the area in 1852, his photos of 19th century Jacksonville have helped shape the town's preservation efforts and, ultimately, its identity as a historic place.
The site was selected in 1963 because of the acoustic qualities of the surrounding hills.
Since its inception, Britt has been among the premier performing arts festivals in the Pacific Northwest, attracting high-profile national and local acts in music.
The popular music festival has headlined everyone from Jackson Browne to Wilco.
This music festival has really put this Southern Oregon town on the map in a vibrant, relevant way.
In fact, Jacksonville was dubbed “One of America’s Top 10 Coolest Small Towns” by Frommer's, and it's not difficult to see why.
Together, the Britt Festival and Jacksonville's rich history make this one of the coolest, most noteworthy little towns in the PNW.
Visit, and you'll be taken by Jacksonville's effortlessly cool, yet also warm and welcoming, small-town vibes.
The Britt Festivals really put the small town of Jacksonville on the map, but it is just one of the many things that makes it a special and unique place. Learn more about Jacksonville, Oregon, at the town website -- and the annual Britt Music & Arts Festival here.
And if you're looking for another effortlessly cool place to visit in The Beaver State, definitely check out Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival *and* Ashland Independent Film Festival!
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