Medford
Around Medford
Illustration made for Popchat
Metro area · Oregon · 221k people
Medford
Locals say Rogue Valley · “Pear City”
Where the Rogue flows through wine country.
forest greensage greenpear gold
Welcome to the Rogue Valley, where the Rogue River runs cold and the pear orchards run deep. Whether you're here for the Shakespeare stage or the rafting rapids, you'll find a laid-back vibe that's all our own.
Clubs for Medford
No clubs for Medford yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Medford. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Medford. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Lithia Park 93-acre park in Ashland with springs, trails, and a Japanese garden.
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival Nation's largest repertory theater, running Feb-Oct in Ashland.
- Prescott Park Hilltop park in Medford with panoramic views of the Rogue Valley.
- Emigrant Lake Reservoir near Ashland popular for swimming, boating, and camping.
- Rogue River Legendary for rafting, fishing, and scenic floats through the valley.
- Harry & David Country Village Home of the famous fruit company, with tasting rooms and shops in Medford.
- Outdoors Rafting the Rogue River
- Outdoors Hiking Lithia Park
- With kids Crater Lake day trip
- With kids Emigrant Lake swimming
- Evenings Oregon Shakespeare Festival evening shows
- Evenings Ashland downtown bars
- Locals love Rogue Valley wineries
- Locals love Pear orchards
Through the year
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival February to October Nation's largest repertory theater, running Feb-Oct in Ashland.
- Pear Blossom Festival April Spring parade and street fair celebrating the valley's pear heritage.
- Jackson County Fair July Classic county fair with rides, livestock, and concerts in Central Point.
- Rogue Valley Wine Week May A week of tastings, vineyard tours, and food pairings across the valley.
- Ashland Independent Film Festival April Showcases independent films from around the world in downtown Ashland.
Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall when the valley is green and mild. Best: Spring and fall are ideal – mild days, blooming orchards in spring, and crisp harvest air in fall.
Talk like a local
- “The Rogue”
- The Rogue River, the valley's central waterway.
- “The Valley”
- The Rogue Valley itself, as in 'going up the valley'.
- “OSF”
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a local shorthand.
- “Pear Blossom”
- The Pear Blossom Festival, a spring tradition.
Getaways
- Crater Lake National Park Deep blue caldera lake, about an hour away, with rim drives and hikes.
- Grants Pass Rogue River rafting and jet boat tours, a classic summer escape.
- Brookings Oregon coast with dramatic cliffs, tide pools, and the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor.
- Crescent City Gateway to Redwood National Park, with towering trees and coastal trails.
Local flavour
Rooting for Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), Oregon Ducks (NCAA), Oregon State Beavers (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Rogue Creamery blue cheese Award-winning cheese made locally
- Dutch Bros coffee Drive‑thru coffee chain founded in Grants Pass
- Rogue Valley Pinot Noir Wine from the region's famed vineyards
- Pear pie Celebrates the area's pear harvest
Where people go
- wineries More than 100 vineyards and tasting rooms
- pear orchards The area is a top pear-growing region
- Shakespeare theaters Home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland
- river rafting spots The Rogue River offers whitewater and calm floats
- coffee stands Drive‑thru coffee culture, Dutch Bros being iconic
Heritage and traditions
The Rogue Valley is proud of its blend of outdoor adventure, agricultural heritage, and a vibrant arts scene centered in Ashland, with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival drawing visitors from around the world.
Say it like a local: “the Shakespeare” — The Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Festivals
- Britt Festival July-August Outdoor concerts in Jacksonville's Britt Gardens.
- Britt Festival July-August Outdoor concerts in Jacksonville's Britt Gardens.
- Britt Festival July-August Outdoor concerts in Jacksonville's Britt Gardens.
Landmarks with a story
- Jacksonville Historic District A well-preserved 19th-century gold rush town with Victorian architecture.
- Butte Creek Mill A historic 1872 grist mill in Eagle Point, listed on the National Register.
- Table Rocks Volcanic plateaus sacred to the Takelma people, offering hiking and wildflowers.
- Medford Carnegie Library A 1911 Carnegie library, now a community landmark.
- Ashland's historic downtown Victorian-era buildings housing shops, galleries, and eateries.
Food traditions
- Picnicking in Lithia Park before a Shakespeare play A beloved Ashland tradition of enjoying a picnic and then watching a play.
- Pear picking at local orchards In September, families head to orchards to pick pears, a nod to the region's agricultural heritage.
Music and arts
- Oregon Cabaret Theatre A dinner theater in Ashland known for musicals and comedy.
- Britt Festival Summer outdoor concerts in Jacksonville featuring top artists.
- Ashland Independent Film Festival An annual festival showcasing independent cinema.
A little history
- 1850s Gold rush in Jacksonville
- 1883 Medford founded as a railroad town
- 1900s Pear orchards flourished, making the valley a top producer
- 1935 Oregon Shakespeare Festival founded in Ashland
- 1960s Ashland became a hub for counterculture and the arts
Rivalries
- Ashland vs Medford Artsy, liberal Ashland vs. pragmatic, commercial Medford – friendly ribbing over where to spend a night.
- North Medford vs South Medford High Schools Fierce crosstown football and basketball rivalry.
- Oregon Ducks vs Oregon State Beavers College football rivalry that splits the valley's loyalties.
- Medford vs Grants Pass Sibling rivalry over which city is the true heart of the Rogue Valley.
- Game day Pear Blossom Run
- Outdoors Hiking to the top of Table Rocks
- Outdoors Floating the Rogue River on a hot day
- With kids Medford Railroad Park
- With kids Science Works Hands-On Museum
Locals speak a neutral Pacific Northwest English with a relaxed pace. They often refer to the Rogue River as 'the Rogue' and pronounce Ashland as 'ash-land'.
Only here
- The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of the largest and oldest in North America.
- The Table Rocks are sacred to the Takelma people and are a prominent landmark.
- The Rogue Creamery's blue cheese has won international awards.
- The Rogue River is a designated Wild and Scenic River.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the outdoors: the Rogue River and Table Rocks are must-visits.
- Learn to say 'the Rogue' for the river and 'Ashland' with a soft 'a'.
- Traffic on I-5 can be congested during summer tourist season.
- Try a pear pie from a local bakery and a blue cheese tasting at Rogue Creamery.
- Get tickets to a Shakespeare play in advance during summer.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Part of Medford area
Nearby
Every areaGrants PassOregonWhere the river bends and the mountains breathe.Siskiyou–ModocCaliforniaLand of living rivers and ancient peaksKlamath FallsOregonBasin of lakes and lightRoseburgOregonWhere the river meets the pines.BrookingsOregonWhere the ocean meets the forest, and every day is a fresh catch.Crescent CityCaliforniaWhere the redwoods meet the sea.Coos BayOregonWhere the sea and forest embrace.Eugene–SpringfieldOregonWhere rivers, trails, and a love of sport meet.
Medford, OR. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.