Prepare to be Dazzled at Ashland’s 24th Annual Festival of Lights — November 29th!

The Festival of Lights in Ashland! This wildly popular celebration is the epitome of small-town charm, with caroling and other live music on the Plaza, a festive Santa Parade and the spectacular Grand Illumination.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will lead the parade, which starts at 5 p.m, heading west from the library to the Plaza. Once at the Plaza, the Claus couple and their elves will ascend to a balcony overlooking the Plaza and flip the switch to turn on more than one million lights on the Christmas tree and historic buildings in the heart of town.

Depending on the weather, the event is expected to attract as many as 15,000 people. It’s guaranteed to create dazzling memories of a small-town holiday that’s increasingly rare today, and it also opens up a season of gift shopping amid Ashland’s many eclectic stores. The goods include everything from original fine art to treasures from Morocco, upscale men’s and women’s clothing, fine jewelry, exotic salts and spices, hard-to-find luxury bedding and linens, original fine jewelry and gems, toys for all ages, outdoor gear and much more.

After the Grand Illumination, the Claus couple will head for Santa’s Workshop in the Black Swan Theater at Main and Pioneer, where they will listen to the wish lists of hopeful youngsters and pose for pictures, as elves and reindeer (costumed human volunteers) prance about, directing traffic. Ashland restaurants always gear up for a big night, starting right after the parade, so it’s wise to make your reservations ahead of time.

Yuletide caroling starts on this day and continues on weekends throughout the downtown area, right up until the last weekend before Christmas. Decorations throughout downtown include wreaths with LED lights and garland, refurbished historic red lanterns and holiday banners. At the south end of town, 30 huge snowflakes greet the visitor on Hwy 99.

SCHEDULE:
Music on the Plaza State 1-5 pm
Parade 5 pm
Grand Illumination 5:45 pm
Santa’s Workshop 5-8 pm

Savor A Victorian Christmas & Parade in Jacksonville — November 30 & December 7
A beloved tradition in the Rogue Valley, this cheerful, old-timey event begins with the Community Caroling & Tree Lighting on Shop Small Saturday, November 30, when strolling carolers in vintage costumes entertain shoppers downtown and the Jolly Holly Trolley offers rides on a short loop around town with on-off service. The town is decorated in all-natural greenery and white lights to add to the atmosphere of times past.

The annual parade downtown is set for the following Saturday, December 7, and this event kicks off the weekend festivities through December 22. Father Christmas will be holding court in the Dan McGeorge Photo Gallery at 155 N. 3rd St., so be sure to bring your camera to take family photos. Additionally, local restaurants and tasting rooms will offer special holiday fare. 

SCHEDULE
Nov. 30, 5 pm Community Caroling & Tree Lighting 3rd Street between California & C Streets
Dec. 7, 10 am Parade along California Street

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