Ashland’s Annual Festival of Light Celebration is Coming on Friday

The day after Thanksgiving is usually a day for resting and gorging on leftovers, but if you’re an Ashland resident, you know that Friday is another day to get up on your feet and join in on some festivities the Ashland way.

I am, of course, referring to Ashland’s very own special Festival of Light. Ashland will be having its 31st annual parade as lights will take over East Main Street in Ashland Plaza come November 24th. As usual, this will include the Mr. And Mrs. Claus procession from Ashland Public Library and all the way to Ashland Plaza to kick off the Festival of Light celebration.

Make sure you get a lawn chair and a coat out so you can watch the parade, which will start at 5 pm the day of. Elves, reindeer, and children will all help to usher the merry North Pole couple down East Main Street and over to the Brickroom balcony. It’s there that he will greet everyone and proceed to light the town up and start off the season of celebration.

Remember that East Main Street between Water and Gresham will be closed from 3 pm to 7 pm, meaning that if your vehicle is out there after 3, it’s going to get towed. Lithia Way will also be set up for two-way traffic during that same period.

The Festival of Light has been provided to us by the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, as well as Travel Ashland. Their mission is to inspire others from around Oregon to visit and enjoy the festivities, including some events that the chamber and Travel Ashland has been putting up. After all, while the Festival of Light is centered in Ashland, it brings in tons of visitors who like to take part in the events and amenities.

The events that the chamber and Travel Ashland are planning are listed here:

• Saturday, Nov 25th — Small Business Saturday. The Ashland Chamber will be a Small Shop promotion from 10 am to 2 pm at the Ashland Chamber office. The first 100 people to visit to get a game card. Shop at four small businesses (2 must be retail) and bring it back for a $25 gift certificate to spend at a small business in Ashland.
• Friday, Dec 1 — Rogue World Music. RWM will be holding a popup concert on the Brickroom balcony with the American Brass Quintet, holding a full concert the next day.
• Saturday and Sunday, Dec 8-10. The Siskiyou Singers will hold their holiday concerts at Southern Oregon University Recital Hall
• Friday through Sunday, Dec 15-17. Rogue Valley Symphony stages “Home for the Holidays” Bowmer Theatre and the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers hold their concerts, “In Times of Softest Snow,” at the SOU Music Recital Hall.
• Saturday Dec 16 — First Frost. Come to Ashland Rotary Centennial Ice Rink for fun with friends and family