A bake sale will be part of the "Christmas on a Covered Bridge" event, with proceeds going towards the historical society's scholarship program to aid students in the Applegate Valley. 

Twinkling lights, decorated pine trees and holiday cheer will fill McKee Bridge in December as the Applegate Valley community and surrounding visitors make their way to the covered bridge in celebration.

Hosted and organized by the McKee Bridge Historical Society, the “Christmas on a Covered Bridge” event involves a festive decoration of the historic bridge with a community celebration, bake sale and more.

“We started this six years ago because Jackson County is blessed to have a remarkable covered bridge, which is tied for the oldest surviving covered bridge in Oregon,” said Laura Ahearn, president of the McKee Bridge Historical Society.

First built in 1917 — exemplified by a white, circular “1917” sign — the bridge was first constructed as a roadway connecting the Blue Ledge Copper Mine to Jacksonville.

Over time, the bridge has become a symbol of the Applegate Valley and a gathering point for locals, and that community hub will open to all for the holidays.

“It’s formed so much meaning for families, notably here, but throughout Southern Oregon and has one of best swimming holes on the Applegate River, a wonderful picnic ground and a spot of celebration for families throughout Southern Oregon,” Ahearn said.

The sixth annual “Christmas on a Covered Bridge” event is scheduled to start at noon on Saturday, Dec. 14 at McKee Bridge, located at 9161 Upper Applegate Road in Jacksonville.

The event will include plenty to do and see outside the thousands of Christmas lights, eight trees and abundance of garland, as well as the well-decorated community kitchen nearby.

“We have Santa and Mrs. Claus on site with small gifts and photo opportunities and handcrafted gifts on sale,” Ahearn said. “And new this year is the painted rock hunt; some of the rocks earn special prizes, with very generous gift certificates from Ruch Hardware and Sweet-N-Eats Cafe.”

There will also be a mega-bake sale during the event with all kinds of homemade baked goods to check out, purchase and bring home to eat.

“We’ll have pies, decorated cookies, homemade candies, gingerbread Sasquatch cookies — we will have plenty of calories,” Ahearn said.

Attendees to the event are advised to bring cash or checks because there is no cellular service at the location.

The bake sale raises funds for the McKee Bridge Historical Society’s scholarship program, helping to support the education needs of the Applegate Valley youth.

“Applegate students face tough challenges with public schools only going to grade 8 (within the area),” Ahearn said. “It supports school programs to support our local scholars’ highest education aspirations.”

Six years ago, members of the McKee Bridge Historical Society were considering new ways to showcase the bridge and involve the community.

“For decades, we had McKee Bridge Day in the summer and folks started thinking that we needed to do something different; the (historical society’s) board of directors six years ago said ‘let’s try and stand out by making this Christmas event,’” Ahearn said. “We wanted to add something new to attract people back.”

Starting small, the yearly “Christmas on a Covered Bridge” event has continued to grow.

“It’s now become a year-round project for us; as soon as one’s over, we debrief on the next year,” Ahearn said. “It’s been growing 50% year on year in terms of attendance.”

The McKee Bridge Historical Society was established in 1998 in pursuit of repairing and maintaining the bridge.

The nonprofit group was initially founded as an ad hoc group to look out for the preservation of McKee Bridge.

“We continue to work in cooperation with Jackson County to maintain the bridge and get all of required engineering inspections and so on to keep it safe for our community,” Ahearn said.

To learn more about the historical society, “Christmas on a Covered Bridge” or other information, visit mckeebridge.org.