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Ashland City Information
The city of Ashland has a cultural life envied by many big cities. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has helped make Ashland a premiere cultural center - full of music, dance, cabaret, opera, arts and museums. The Oregon Cabaret Theatre and the Schneider Museum of Art are two more of Ashland's cultural gems. Take a walk - A First Friday Gallery Walk - sponsored each month by the Ashland Gallery Association. In the spring they sponsor A Taste of Ashland, a fantastic way to walk the town - viewing art, sipping wine and sampling local delicacies.
The small town flavor of Ashland is nowhere more evident than in our yearly celebrations. For over 90 years families have been drawn to Ashland's Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration. The day begins with a run and parade and then moves in to Lithia Park with food, game and craft booths and concerts. The day culminates with a grand fireworks display after sunset.
Attracted by pixie lights filling the downtown, thousands come yearly to our Festival of Light. Santa's Parade, Candlelight home tours, seasonal events, enticing shops - all add to the magic and charm of an Ashland Christmas.
Ashland is also becoming better known in the fine arts field as reflected in its current ranking as one of the ten best small art towns in America. It is home not only to nearly two dozen art galleries and shops but also to a recently expanded art museum of growing reputation. In the galleries, the emphasis is on Northwest artists; some of whom are nationally known, though at the Schneider Museum on the Southern Oregon University campus visitors can see major contemporary exhibits from around the country. The student-run Gallery at Stevenson Union has first-rate invitational exhibitions, too.
Ashland's galleries and shops offer a remarkably diverse range of fine arts and crafts. You can find representational as well as contemporary paintings and fine art prints; sculpture; glass; Native American and visionary art; pottery and ceramics; jewelry and fabric art; and fine hand-crafted furniture. There is a First Friday Gallery Walk each month sponsored by the Ashland Gallery Association which in the Spring also puts on the Taste of Ashland -- a fantastic way to walk through town, viewing art while sipping wine and sampling locally created delicacies.
Another attraction in Ashland is the Science Works hands-on Museum that offers interactive exhibits, live performances, and hands-on activities every Saturday from 10 am to 4pm. This is a great educational experience for children and adults alike. They are located on East Main near Walker Street.
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