There’s something inherently ‘cool’ about music festivals. Maybe it’s because they harken back to the free-wheeling ’60s; maybe it’s because the U.S. has some truly bucket-list-level festivals; maybe it’s simply that musicians are just plain cool. So when you take a tiny Oregon town and add in an epic annual music festival, the result is a place that’s on the map for the very coolest of reasons. And this is how Jacksonville, a small town in Oregon, quietly (or loudly, in this case) became the coolest place in the Pacific Northwest.
Nestled in the heart of Southern Oregon’s Wine Country, Jacksonville is a small town that’s big on charm – and coolness.
Rogue Valley Wine Country/Facebook
Jacksonville’s picturesque Historic District is a vision; named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1966. It’s the heart of the town, a place for community and congregation.
Jacksonville Oregon/Facebook
Jacksonville was founded following the discovery of gold deposits in 1851. The history and integrity of its downtown is something in which the town takes a lot of pride.
John Elk/The Image Bank Collection via Getty Images
Jacksonville is home to less than 3,000 residents, making it one of Oregon’s smaller towns.
Jasperdo/Flickr
But each summer, this winsome little town transforms into an epicenter of cool, during the Britt Music & Arts Festival.
Jasperdo/Flickr
The Britt Festival is a seasonal music festival that takes place at Jacksonville’s open-air amphitheater.
Britt Pavillion - view 1. Photo by Al Case
The festival is named after Peter Britt, a pioneer and owner of the land now used for the eponymous park. A talented photographer who moved to the area in 1852, his photos of 19th century Jacksonville have helped shape the town’s preservation efforts and, ultimately, its identity as a historic place.
Peter Britt Photograph Collection at Southern Oregon University/Wikimedia Commons
The site was selected in 1963 because of the acoustic qualities of the surrounding hills.
nathaniel nicholson/Google Local
Since its inception, Britt has been among the premier performing arts festivals in the Pacific Northwest, attracting high-profile national and local acts in music.
Al Case/Flickr
The popular music festival has headlined everyone from Jackson Browne to Wilco.
Britt Music & Arts Festival/Facebook
This music festival has really put this Southern Oregon town on the map in a vibrant, relevant way.
Al Case/Flickr
In fact, Jacksonville was dubbed “One of America’s Top 10 Coolest Small Towns” by Frommer’s, and it’s not difficult to see why.
Al Case/Flickr
Together, the Britt Festival and Jacksonville’s rich history make this one of the coolest, most noteworthy little towns in the PNW.
Jasperdo/Flickr
Visit, and you’ll be taken by Jacksonville’s effortlessly cool, yet also warm and welcoming, small-town vibes.
Al Case/Flickr
The Britt Festivals really put the small town of Jacksonville on the map, but it is just one of the many things that makes it a special and unique place. Learn more about Jacksonville, Oregon, at the town website — and the annual Britt Music & Arts Festival here.
Rogue Valley Wine Country/Facebook
Jacksonville Oregon/Facebook
John Elk/The Image Bank Collection via Getty Images
Jasperdo/Flickr
Britt Pavillion - view 1. Photo by Al Case
Peter Britt Photograph Collection at Southern Oregon University/Wikimedia Commons
nathaniel nicholson/Google Local
Al Case/Flickr
Britt Music & Arts Festival/Facebook
And if you’re looking for another effortlessly cool place to visit in The Beaver State, definitely check out Ashland, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Ashland Independent Film Festival!
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Address: Jacksonville, OR 97530, USA
