If you haven't gone, you should. Took a solo trip down, saw a play and just loved it. I'll be backread more

I learned about the Oregon Shakespeare festival in Ashland, OR by chance. Because my wife is a…read morehuge, huge fan of MacBeth...I moved heaven and earth to attend the last weekends presentation of MacBeth. We literally drove 1000 miles, round trip, to see the performance. It was amazing ! They added their own flourishes and inspiration to bring to life the tragedy unlike we've (my wife and I) ever seen on stage. It was complete! I only say this because some stage renditions minimize the witches...not so in this professional world class production! In addition to every word in the play...there was an amazing use of lights, sound effects, and in some instances dance. Did I mention, the acting was amazing!? World class!! As I mentioned, I learned about the festival very late in the season which starts mid-late spring every year. There were other Shakespeare plays being brought to life...in a theater that looked like the Globe...there were monologues in an outdoor area in front of the two theaters...there was a lot going on and a lot we missed because of how unprepared our visit was. Our goals was to see MacBeth which we accomplished but we missed a lot! In my opinion, it's best to plan a visit as a 4 day weekend. One of my motivations for attending this year is that MacBeth isn't produced every year, according to my friend to told me about the festival in the first place...all of Shakespeares work is explored here and on rotation...for example my favorite, Hamlet hasn't been produced in over 10yrs according to the lovely folks at the official souvenir shop of the festival...Romeo and Juliet not since 2018....they told us not to expect a MacBeth production for at least 8yrs! If you're on the west coast and you love Shakespeare and want to see works other than the tragedies on stage...I doubt you'll find a better organization/venue/location that wholeheartedly embraces Shakespeare than the town of Ashland and the the University of Southern Oregon! On last note, everyone from the ushers to those at the refreshment stand in our theater were nothing but lovely. I could say that about everyone in town as well. Just a great experience !

Wonderful produce, it's all delicious but the corn, tomatoes, onions, squash and peppers are…read moreexcellent. Nice people! Good prices!

Hello, So Wonderful!! Fort Vannoy farms has been feeding me…read moretop grade organic food for 20 years or more. Love what they do ..... Got some of the best corn this last weekend at the growers market Always so nice and I am so thankful Thank you from the bottom of my heart Elizabeth

Ahoy Matty! This is a fun festival in lovely seaside Brookings. Our friends and we thoroughly…read moreenjoyed it! Neat booths, good, good food, liquor galore but family friendly. The music this year was eclectic and good! We took a vacation rental with friends that made the whole time even better. If you come next year, we are, bring your pirate self and family. See the festival then go up the road to Jerry's Jet Boat tours up the Rogue River... fun!! reviewing that next

From the owner: Pirates of The Pacific Festival is an annual festival the second weekend in August at the Port of…read moreBrookings Harbor, Oregon

Would you drive 800 miles round trip to see a music festival?…read more This used to be called the Southern Oregon Jazz Festival, but jazz hasn't drawn enough of an audience, and they had to broaden their appeal to include other classes of music. I'm probably one of the few Asian Americans who is a big fan of Cajun, and Zydeco music, along with oldies from the fifties and sixties. My ex from Hong Kong absolutely can't stand Cajun music, which is why she's my ex! We make hotel reservations in Medford, Oregon for the Southern Oregon Music Festival, unable to get a room at festival headquarters, Inn at the Commons, booked up months in advance. Friday mid day the parking lot at the Commons is packed, along with the overflow event lot adjacent on Riverside Ave. We park at the 3 hour multi story garage across the street, and go register at the Commons. The festival has obtained unlimited parking at all street and public garage parking from Friday noon through the entire weekend. When you fork over $180 for two all weekend tickets you can park anywhere! This is one of the very few events without a senior discount. Sacramento once had a half price for seniors 60+ for their Memorial Day weekend music festival, only to find they were losing money, as the majority of their patrons were seniors. And when I turned 60, they changed the half price policy to apply to the shortened final day, having to pay full price the other 3 days. Story of my life -it is what it is. Two of the five venues are at the Commons, but you need a shuttle to get to the other three locations, two of them a mile away. The wife and I find a 24 passenger shuttle just leaving, belonging to a nursing home. Turns out that is the bus, as many of the attendees are at that age! On the bus we meet a guy my age, accompanied by his father. We will see the father on the dance floor, still moving at 94 years! The first events we see are at the NBC Studios 5, across downtown. Looks like an aircraft hanger, with huge hanger doors. Inside, ceilings 30 feet tall, with a 1000+ square foot dance floor. Tom Rigney, in his red boots, and colorful cape fiddles away, with the group Flambeau, cranking out Cajun music, both blues and fast paced dance music, and the occasional waltz. They finish up with the old favorite "Jambalaya". Dozens of couples dancing, even some women-women couples. Don't have a dance partner? No problem, there are dance hosts of both genders, identified by their red badges, who will dance with you. That 94 year old man came all the way from the Castro Valley to dance with these gals! They even have boxes of new dance shoes for sale. Just what the wife needs -more shoes to match up in numbers with Imelda Marcos! Gator Nation follows, having been here 20 + years in a row. Hard hitting Zydeco (black Cajun music) tunes, accompanied by an accordion player. The pace and volume picks up. A band called the Young Bucs comes next, with retro music from the 1950s -do wop music. Hungry? No problem, as the local church serves a great pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on the premises. We catch the shuttle back to the Commons, this one labeled as a senior assist living bus. Next day we are at Howiee's bar, 15 minutes before opening time, in a long line of old folks just like us. Sign says nobody under 21, but the bouncer does not check anyone's id for this crowd! Inside, mirrors on both side walls, lined with beer bottles, with record albums glued to the ceiling. Dave Bennett and the Memphis Speed Kings are playing fifties rock, with Dave doing an incredible imitation of Jerry Lee Lewis on the piano, standing on the piano bench, boots on the keyboard, hands rising a foot off the keyboard, while pounding away in a super paced tempo, with such hits as "Whole lot of shaking going on". We end the second day listening to Danny Maika playing the ukulele and guitar, and such songs as "Over the Rainbow", and the Righteous Brothers "Unchained melody". Father from Hawaii and mother from Kentucky, Danny calls himself pineapple moonshine! Final day my wife is into Swing music -music from the big bands of the 1940s, and falls for Carolyn Martin's Swing Band, including western (cowboy) swing music, even though she's not a fan of contemporary country music. Other bands like Midiri Brothers and Wally's Warehouse Waifs are more traditional jazz, and more in tune with the wife. We're certain to come back next year, hopefully with reservations at the Commons, to enjoy the music and the atmosphere, even though I have two left feet, when it comes to dancing!

Great music series in the summer featuring local and regional artists. You can take chairs blankets…read moreor towels they have food trucks or you can bring your own food

I remember when this first started, what a cool idea. They put a half shell in Stewart Park and had…read moremusic for free. People would sometimes show up hours - literally early am hours - to place blankets and mark the spot that they wanted for the upcoming show. Obviously the size of the act that was performing would kind of dictate how early people would start showing up to lay claims on a spot. Through the years they have had a wide variety of performances spanning all types of genres of music. This year is really no different, with events cancelled last year, they are moving forward once again with the Tuesday night music night at the half shell. Cool venue for a show, nice grassy hillside that overlooks the South Umpqua river. Usually you can catch a nice breeze to minimize some of the heat. If you're in the area and a fan of live music, check this place out.

Fun friendly place to go on a Saturday found the best apple cider and lots of veggies to choose fromread more

Such a WONDERFUL way to spend a Saturday! The handmade…read morecrafts,craftwork and art. Lavender was wonderful, nice lavender gifts, wine, mushroom, amazing vegetables, and fruit with vibrant colors, sizes and shapes. My husband and I spent a little over two hours and we are anxious to go back next week.

Can I say it was super goofy without sounding like a beotch? It definately had 'Brookings' written…read moreall over it, and those of you who've ever been to the Lincoln City Kite Festival will know what I mean. I have never experienced interpretative "dance" kite flying before. (This is where the goofy comes in.) Whitney Houstan and other unknown pansy-artists flooded the field while some of the stupidest kites ever were dancing with the music. My husband and could not stop making jokes. We finally just left because we were being so rude! The announcer was just as sleepy as the music and who can blame him? 90% of the crowd was over 60 and nearly everyone watching this terrible show had camped out with lawn chairs. Is this really interesting enough to capture your attention all day? Oh my. My words don't do this festival justice.

Sue, the owner at the English lavender farm was very friendly and artistic. She taught me made the…read moremost beautiful Wreath. Highly recommended her class.

What a wonderful weekend jaunt! The owner generally offers a cold lavender lemonade which is…read moredelicious. She also had freshly made lavender shortbread slices...mmmmmm good. The gift offers a great selection of both lavender infused skin care products as well as cooking/baking foods, such as the lavender syrup or her freshly made lavender lemon curd. She also has hand-crafted lavender scented candles, eye pillows, and actual freshly cut lavender. For planning purposes, you can easily spend an hour or more here or you could do a quick stop within about 20 minutes. She is open until the end of July at the actual farm....so make it plan to visit before the end of the month!