Visiting The Children’s Festival at Britt Gardens
Photo Credit: Children’s Festival
A closer look inside the Children’s Festival in Jacksonville Oregon
The Children’s Festival is a beloved tradition among Southern Oregon families. This family-friendly event goes back for decades. So many moms and grandmas I’ve spoken with love taking their kids and grandkids because of the fun they had themselves as children.
We got to experience our first Children’s Festival last summer, and we cannot wait to go back. I grossly underestimated how much there was to do and explore. We went on the last day, and had only allotted a couple of hours due to work. While those few hours were phenomenal, I know this year to plan way more time for our visit. Here’s a closer look at what all the Children’s Festival has to offer. I hope it helps you plan your visit.
Parking Map for Jacksonville Oregon Photo Credit: City of Jacksonville
Parking
Like any small town festival, you’ll need to budget in time for finding parking, walking to the festival, and waiting in line to enter. Jacksonville has street parking and some public lots (see Jacksonville parking map above or download map). Trolleys usually run during the festival. Keep in mind Britt Gardens is likely uphill from where you park so pack your strollers and wagons to help get the kids there easily. I’ve learned to pack bubble wands and snacks when we have to wait to get in places. The line was long but moved at a good pace.
Photo Credit : Children’s Festival
Admission, Dates, and Hours
Admission is $4 per person*. Bridging Communities offers discounted admission of $5 per family for those who need a discount to be able to join in the fun. They also offer a Soft Start entrance for families with children who might benefit from a quieter, less crowded entrance. Soft Start tickets begin 30 minutes before the regular festival hours.
2024 Children’s Festival Dates and Hours
Saturday July 13 4:30 pm-8:30pm
Sunday July 14 4:30 pm-8:30 pm
Monday July 15 9:30 am -1:00 pm
Photo Credit : Children’s Festival
Children’s Festival Activities
Once you are inside the gates, it can be a bit overwhelming at first. There are so many cool things happening in every direction- I highly recommend taking a few minutes to look at the map (now or while you’re standing in line) to get your plan in place. There’s no set beginning point or ending point so feel free to make your own path. Download Map
All of these amazing children’s activities are included in admission. The Children’s Festival has over 30 hands on booths including arts and crafts booths like clay, necklace making, leather work, carpentry, play dough, etc. and it also has science experiments, face painting, gold panning, story telling, Mother Goose, and a huge line-up of performances for kids on the big stage. Take a close look at the Children’s Festival map above since there’s more kid-friendly activities than I can list.
Every year, the Children’s Festival crowns a Queen to honor her years of service and dedication to the Storytelling Guild and the Children’s Festival. Be sure to visit the Queen’s Royal Court where kids can wait in line to meet the Queen and be appointed to a Royal Title of Prince or Princess. This was a super cute moment, and one I look forward to taking yearly photos of as my kid grows up with this festival.
Food is available for purchase onsite at the Dragon’s Deli* or you are welcome to bring in your own picnic. It seems like most families gather around the corner from the deli and eat as they listen to story books being read at the Storytelling Tree or they take their food to the big stage and eat while they watch the performances.
Take-away
The Children’s Festival has been around for decades, and there’s a reason Southern Oregon families keep coming back with their kids and grandkids. This is a festival dedicated to family-friendly fun and no one does it quite like they do. I hope you’ll take your kids this year- just remember to budget lots of time because there is so much fun happening!
What else is there for kids do in Jacksonville, Oregon?
Jacksonville Oregon has a lot of kid-friendly places for families to visit. Be sure to stop by Doc Griffin Park. It’s shaded and features a large play structure and a toddler friendly splash pad during the summer months. It’s a Process… Children’s Art Studio is a couple blocks away from downtown Jacksonville. Brittfest Britt Kids Klub has free kids concerts during the summer. Rebel Heart Books is great to visit if your littles love stories. Happy Alpaca Kids toy store is a local favorite. And of course, be sure to stop by the Jacksonville Library for toddler story time or one of the many other free children’s programs they offer.
Whether your family lives in Southern Oregon or you’re visiting the Rogue Valley with your family and looking for things to do with children, the Children’s Festival is a MUST DO kid-friendly activity while you’re in Jacksonville Oregon.
*All admission and food sales benefit The Storytelling Guild, a non-profit organization.
Be sure to visit our Spring and Summer Guide for family-friendly things to do in Southern Oregon. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest info on what kid-friendly events are happening in the Rogue Valley.
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