SOUTHERN OREGON HO-HO-HOLIDAY MUST DO'S - A Bucket List

The HOLIDAYS are coming and we couldn't be more excited!  Some of our favorite memories have been made this time of year and we are readt to make some more.  Since October has already zoomed by and November and December are promising to do the same we have created a bucket list to make sure that you get the most out of the holiday season!  Just like in fall, we have included a printable list so that nothing gets missed.  Happy Holidays!!

MAKE A WREATH
One of the seasons time honored traditions Hanley Farm and Shooting Star Nursery in Central Point are both offering Wreath Making Workshops!  Register here for Shooting Star nursery and Petali Floral's Christmas Wreath & Topiary Class.

Photo credit:  Petali Floral

GO CAROLING
Throw on your winter hats, scarves, and coats and stop at your loved friends and families homes and sing out your heart.  It will become a cherished memory for both your family and those that you are singing to!

Photo credit:  Antal Ullman 

BUNDLE UP, DRINK HOT COCOA and CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TOUR
There are a few ways to do this.  Whether you jump in your own car and take a little tour of your local neighborhoods or take advantage of things like the All Aboard Trolley, the whole family is sure to enjoy it.  Some of our favorite spots are Cherry Lane and Greystone Court in Medford.  You can also go to Nature's Coastal Holiday at Azalea State Park, Wildlife Safari Zoolights, Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights, and the Oregon Garden.  They all have awesome light displays. (Watch for our Christmas Lights Tour blog coming in December)

Photo credit;  Allaboard Trolley

GO TO A CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
Christmas tree lightings aren't just lighting the tree.  They are big events with Santa in attendance, hot cocoa drinking, caroling, and other holiday activities.  Every town in southern Oregon has their own and we have the where and when's on our Holiday Festivities page.  We usually attend at least one, if not two because that is how we roll!

CHRISTMAS TREE HUNTING
So, in the Pierce household we have a fake tree.  I know gasp! But that doesn't mean we can't go along with our friends to help them find their perfect tree.  We make a day of it, bringing soup or chili along to feed us all and of course hot beverages always need to be involved and sometimes there may even be a little schnapps involved  ;)  Last year we went and had a blast!

GO TO A CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
Providence Festival of Trees, Rogue Winterfest they all bring together the community to help various causes.  There is always a gala event and then they get opened up to the public for viewing.

Star Wars tree at Providence Festival of Trees

JACKSONVILLE'S VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
I don't think that their is any other author that has had such an impact on Christmas as Charles Dickens and as I said before, every little town has their Holiday celebrations but there is just something about Jacksonville's Victorian Christmas that makes you feel like you are living in a Charles Dickens novels.  The Parade, Trolley Tours, and Father Christmas all complete the nostalgia, it is truly beautiful and memorable.  You need to see it for yourself.  Our blog just gives you the details!

Photo credit:  Antal Ullmann

GO TO A CHRISTMAS PARADE
Jacksonville has their Victorian Christmas parade, and Roseburg and Bandon have parades that are held during the day.  Then there are the nightime parades in Central Point and Mytrle Creek.  Lit up mobile displays that delight the kids in all of us.  Our Holiday Festivities page gives you dates, times, and details here.

ATTEND A HOLIDAY PLAY OR LIVE MUSIC
What is the holidays without the music.  Going to a holiday play or going to listen to a choir sing adds just a little something extra to the season.

SIT ON SANTA'S LAP
Kids, Parents, Granparents, all Adults should tell Santa their Christmas wishes.

ATTEND A GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION
GingerBread Jubilee, Snowflake Festival GingerBread Competition...you just walk in and your nose and eyes are delighted with colorful displays and gingerbread scented air!

GO ICE SKATING
Ice skating is fun anytime of year but for some reason it is especially fun when you get to skate on an outside rink.  Three places you can go are the Centennial Ice Rink in Ashland, Bill Collier Ice Rink in Klamath Falls, and the Oregon Garden in Silverton.

SLEDDDING
Sledding is fun wherever you can find enough snow.  At least that is what my kids think.  There are a few places we like to go.  For FREE we've sledded up  on Wagner Creek Rd in Talent you just need to watch out for vehicles but they are driving pretty slow when it is snowy,  You just have to drive far enough to get to the right spot to set up and you also want to make sure that you have a four wheel drive vehicle!

Farewell Bend right past Union Creek is another great spot.  There are three hills that you have to walk up with varying degrees of incline.  Our kids had a great time zooming down the hill sometimes racing.  It was crazy up there too, so be ready for a crowd.  If you want to skip the crowd I would suggest going during the week.  There is one bathroom so be ready for a line.

Table Mountain at Hyatt Lake was one of my favorite places when I was younger.  It's a snow tubing and sledding hill and they even have a warming shelter that you can bring your own wood for.

BUILD A SNOWMAN
When you go sledding make sure you take your snowman building kit.  A scarf, hat, coal for eyes, buttons, and carrot for the nose!

WATCH A HOLIDAY MOVIE
Dress in your PJ's and watch a movie at home.  Or sometime you can visit your local theater like The Egyptian Theater in Coos Bay!  They will be having fun Christmas movie themed nights for kids and adults!

SERVE A MEAL TO THE HOMELESS
Giving is the most important part of the season and opportunities are abundant thoughout the year but especially welcome around the holidays.  One of our local places to feed the homeless is at Hawthorne Park.  The Compassion Highway Project serves up full meals every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month.  I am determined to get over there with our kiddos to help teach them compassion and empathy.

TAKE A RUN
Southern Oregon Turkey Trot, Medford Ugly Sweater Run, Santa Runs.  Run a 5k burn 200 calories eat more on Thanksgiving and Christmas. ;)

This is just a small list of what to do in southern Oregon for the holiday season, but we hope it can get you started.  Don't forget to download our FREE printable to keep your holiday cheer going straight on through to the New Year!  HAPPY HOLIDAYS and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For all of the Holiday Festivities in Southern Oregon you can go here.  We also have a page for Holiday Bazaars and Holiday Live Music and Theatre.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, and Pinterest