Holiday Happenings
Published 7:00 pm Monday, December 9, 2024
- The Holly Theatre, located at 226 W. Sixth St., Medford, will host its fourth annual “Holly-Days” spectacular from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, with refreshments and live music performed by the A&M Brass Band. The free concert will be held outdoors beneath the Holly’s iconic marquee at Sixth and Holly streets in downtown Medford and feature an array of musical holiday standards. Hot drinks and cookies will be served. Indoor tours of the theater will also be given. The concert will coincide with Medford’s Third Friday Art Walk. For more information, see hollytheatre.org or find Holly Theatre on Facebook.
Holiday celebrations, concerts, performances and more — find your favorite seasonal fun with Go! Rogue’s guide to local holiday events.
Also, be sure to check out our listings for all the happenings in the Rogue Valley, including special events, recurring activities, plays and gallery showings each week.
To submit your event to Go! Rogue, email information to go@rv-times.com.
Holiday Model Train Display: The Medford Garden Railroad Club will showcase a dozen model trains in a variety of holiday scenes and layouts in the storefront formerly occupied by the Eddie Bauer clothing store, on the second floor of the Rogue Valley Mall, 1600 N. Riverside Ave., Medford, during regular mall hours Nov. 29-Dec. 31. See garden-scale trains decked out in lights and decorations and smaller-scale layouts created by club members. Admission is free; donations appreciated. For more information, see facebook.com/medfordrailroadpark.
Selfies with Santa: The Village at Medford Center, 711 Medford Center, will kick off the holiday season with “Selfies with Santa,” from 4 to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 22. There is no cost to take a photo with Santa, but donations are encouraged as the event features a different Santa every week who will be supporting a different local charity. For further information, see thevillagemedfordcenter.com, email rcoy@lbgmgmt.com or call 541-500-2402.
Beekman House Christmas Tour: See how Christmas was celebrated in the late 1800s and learn about holiday tradition origins during guided tours from noon to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 22, at the historic Beekman House, 470 E. California St., Jacksonville. One-hour tours will begin every 20 minutes. Learn the Victorian origins of popular Christmas traditions and about typical Victorian presents the Beekmans exchanged, find the good luck German pickle on the Christmas tree, hear how Clement Moore and Charles Dickens reinvented the holiday, and sample one of Mrs. Beekman’s sugar cookies. Also look for “Mrs. Beekman’s Christmas Bazaar,” which has antiques, collectibles, old-fashioned toys, handcrafts, holiday items and more available for purchase. Admission to the “bazaar” is free. Tickets for the tour are $10, $5 for children ages 12 and younger. Tours are not recommended for children under 6 years, and groups are limited to eight people at a time. You do not need to go on a tour to attend “Mrs. Beekman’s Christmas Bazaar.” For tickets and further information, see historicjacksonville.org/victorian-christmas. Proceeds from both the tours and the bazaar go toward maintenance of Jacksonville’s historic buildings, programs and events. For questions, call 541-245-3650 or email info@historicjacksonville.org.
Jacksonville Victorian Christmas: The annual holiday tradition of a “Victorian Christmas,” can be seen in downtown Jacksonville throughout the holiday season. Residents can catch Father Christmas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1-22, at the U.S. Hotel, 125 California St., Jacksonville. There is no charge for taking your own photos with Santa. Special activities and tours will continue each weekend through mid-December, including trolley rides. For further information, see jacksonvilleoregon.org or call 541-899-8118.
Holiday Trolley Lights Tour: Experience the full magic of Victorian Christmas this December as lights shine bright at up to 35 stops along the Jacksonville Holiday Trolley Lights Tour. Tours last approximately 45 minutes, and feature homes, businesses, historic residences and city landmarks decorated especially for the season. Tickets are $15; reservations required. Hot chocolate and coffee will be served. For tickets and further details, see christmasinjacksonville.com or call 541-899-8118.
Magical Christmas Murals: Downtown Grants Pass will sparkle with the fiber-optic dazzle of 20 musical Christmas murals and giant nutcrackers through New Year’s Day. The murals weigh 400 pounds each and include sound systems that play old-fashioned Christmas music. The murals, created by local artisans, are 12 inches thick, 10 feet tall, 5 feet wide and are wired with miles of fiber-optic cable and thousands of points of lights. A map of mural locations is available in the downtown welcome center.
Lithia Artisans Holiday Market: Local artists will display and sell handcrafted items — clothing, jewelry, arts and crafts, home goods and more — during the 18th annual Lithia Artisans Holiday Market, Friday through Sunday, Dec. 20-22, at the Medford National Guard Armory, 1701 S. Pacific Highway, Medford. Also look for live music, food trucks and other holiday festivities. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For further information, see lithiaartisansmarket.com.
Holly-Days: The Holly Theatre, located at 226 W. Sixth St., Medford, will host its fifth annual “Holly-Days” spectacular from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, inside the restored Olsrud Family Grand Auditorium. Live music will be performed by the A&M Brass Band. The free concert will feature an array of musical holiday standards. Hot drinks and cookies will be served. Tours of the theater will also be given; Spanish language tours will be available at 6 p.m. The event will coincide with Medford’s Third Friday Art Walk. For more information, see hollytheatre.org or find Holly Theatre on Facebook.
Southern Oregon Repertory Singers: The 70-voice Southern Oregon Repertory Singers will present its holiday concert, “All the Stars Looked Down,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at United Church of Christ, 1801 E. Jackson St., Medford; and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22, in the Music Recital Hall, 450 S. Mountain Ave., on the Southern Oregon University campus in Ashland. Under the leadership of Paul French, the Rep Singers will weave together an array of musical pieces that focus on peace and joy. Hear familiar holiday favorites as well as two new carol arrangements written by the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers’ Composer-in-Residence, Jodi French. Guest instrumentalists will join the choir to perform music from around the world. Tickets range from $15 to $45, discounted tickets available for students and Oregon Trail cardholders. For tickets and further information, see repsingers.org or call 541-552-0900.
Christmas at the Wood House: Enjoy a vintage Christmas atmosphere from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Old Wood House, 12988 Highway 62, Eagle Point. The event features tours of the historic property, visits with Santa, refreshments and more. Admission is free; donations accepted. See oldwoodhouse.org.
Winter Fest: Gold Hill will hold its annual Winter Fest from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Gold Hill IOOF Hall, 483 Fourth Ave. This family-friendly event will include snacks and numerous holiday themed crafts and activities such as Snowball Toss and Gingerbread Golf and more. For further information, see candogoldhill.org or find CanDo Gold Hill on Facebook.
Tomaseen Foley’s ‘A Celtic Christmas’: For more than 20 years, native Irishman (and Talent resident) Tomáseen Foley has brought his unique brand of storytelling magic to captivate holiday theatergoers in packed houses throughout the U.S. With warmth and humor, he and a dazzling tribe of world-class performers carry audiences back in time to a wintry night in an Irish “rambling house” where traditional song, dance, music and stories bring a community together for one wondrous evening. You don’t have to be Irish to appreciate this moving and intimate show that reminds us all of the power and joy of the ancient art of storytelling. This holiday treasure is set for 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, at the Craterian Theater, 23 S. Central Ave., Medford. Tickets are $45-$39, and $34-$28 for ages 22 and younger. Tickets and further information are available at craterian.org, at the box office, or by calling 541-779-3000.
Ashland Hanukkah Celebration: The Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Oregon will hold its 21st annual Hanukkah celebration on the first night of Hanukkah beginning at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 25, at the Plaza in downtown Ashland. Events begin with the ceremony of lighting of a 10-foot menorah. The festivities will include local dignitaries, the Great Chocolate Coin Drop, live music, latkes and doughnuts for sale, singing of traditional Hanukkah songs and more. This event will be held regardless of weather conditions; security will be present. For further information, see chabadofashland.org or call 541-482-2778.
Holiday Open House at Hanley Farm: Take a step back in time as costumed docents guide you through Southern Oregon Historical Society’s historic Hanley Farm home and bring history to life with holiday tales and stories about the Hanley family and farm life during this annual event. The 1857 Hanley Farmhouse will be decked out for the holidays with rooms depicting the holiday trends of the 1860s, 1880s, 1920s, 1940s and 1960s. Visitors can expect to see over 150 years of Christmas decor, toys and fashions from the Hanley Collection. Tours begin every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at 1053 Hanley Road, Central Point. Tickets are $10, $5 for children 12 and younger. For tickets and further information see sohs.org, call 541-622-2025 or email at info@sohs.org.
New York Jewish Pop Up Deli: The Chabad Jewish Center will host a New York-style deli from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at the Chabad Center, 1474 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. Authentic New York deli classics such as pastrami sandwiches will be served along with latkes and doughnuts. Also look for Hanukkah music, games of dreidel and more. Other menu items include matzah ball soup and kugel. Advance registration required. For further information or to register, see chabadofashland.org or call 541-482-2778.
Horse-drawn Wagon Ride: Fish Lake Resort offers horse-drawn wagon rides at Fish Lake Resort, Highway 140, mile marker 30, Saturday through Wednesday, Dec. 28-Jan. 1. Time slots are limited. Cost is $20 for adults, $10 for kids 6-14 and free for children 5 and under. Children’s crafts and other activities are held weekends in December, $5 per child. Christmas tree permits are $5. Snowshoe rentals are available. For more information, call 541-949-8500 or visit fishlakeresort.net.
Hanukkah Faire: The Havurah Synagogue will host its annual Hanukkah Faire at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at the synagogue, 185 N. Mountain Ave., Ashland. Hot potato latkes, a traditional Hanukkah treat, will be for sale with all the trimmings. The festivities include children’s activities and a Hanukkah gift shop. Rabbi David Zaslow will lead a communal candle lighting and songs (everyone is invited to bring their own menorah), followed by a Hanukkah story by master storyteller Debra Zaslow. The fair is open to all. Admission is free. For further details, call 541-488-7716.
Medford Hanukkah Celebration: The Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Oregon will hold its annual Hanukkah celebration at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, at the Village at the Medford Center, 711 Medford Center. Events begin with the ceremony of lighting a 10-foot menorah. The festivities will include local dignitaries, live music, latkes and doughnuts for sale, singing of traditional Hanukkah songs and more. This event will be held regardless of weather conditions; security will be present. For further information, see chabadofashland.org or call 541-482-2778.
Grants Pass Hanukkah Party: The Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Oregon will hold its annual Hanukkah celebration at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, in the Waterfront Pavilion, at Riverside Park, 304 E. Park St., Grants Pass. Events begin with the ceremony of lighting a 6-foot menorah. The festivities will include local dignitaries, live music, latkes and doughnuts for sale, singing of traditional Hanukkah songs and more. This event will be held regardless of weather conditions; security will be present. For further information, see chabadofashland.org or call 541-482-2778.
Community Labyrinth Walk: Ashland’s free 26th Community Labyrinth Walk to the New Year will be held from 3:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, and resume from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday Jan. 1, in Wesley Hall at Ashland First United Methodist Church, 175 N. Main St., Ashland. Six altars will be dedicated to the four directions as well as the divine feminine and the divine masculine. There will be two additional altars: one honoring childhood, and an interactive altar honoring community. Members of the public are invited to contribute small objects, pictures, and items from nature to adorn the community altar. At 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, Elizabeth Austin, professionally trained labyrinth facilitator and owner of the portable canvas, will provide an opportunity to learn about labyrinths and for the community to assist in the unfolding of the three-piece, four-quadrant, 110-pound canvas replica of the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France. All welcome; donations accepted. For further information, see facebook.com/AshlandSacredWalkToNewYear.
NYE Good Vibes: Celebrate the new year and dance the night away to tunes by DJ Samuel Lawrence, Free Creatures, True Loves, Balkan Bump, and special guests beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the Historic Ashland Armory, 208 Oak St., Ashland. The event will also feature a dance performance by Sara Zelenika and visuals by Kendall, live painting, vendors, a photo booth, full bar, food and more. Tickets are $55 in advance, $65 day of show. Must be 21 or older to attend. For tickets and further details, see liveatthearmory.com or call 541-488-7001.
Scout Troops’ Christmas Tree Recycling: Ashland Scout Troops 112, 8112 and the Ashland Lions Club’s Christmas Tree Recycling is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 11. It is recommended that trees are left curbside the night of Friday, Jan. 10. The recycled trees are chipped and used throughout parks in Ashland. Boy Scout Troop 112 was first chartered in 1915 and is the oldest Boy Scout Troop in the state of Oregon. For more information about Troop 112 and 8112, see troop112.com or call 503-884-6903.