2025 Festival Guide
Festival season is upon us and Grants Pass offers year round celebrations. Whether you’re into carnivals, classic cars, art, or wine, there’s no shortage of entertaining events throughout the year. May kicks off an action-packed festival season and to make it easy, we’ve laid out some top picks for 2025 events you don’t want to miss.
Oregon Wine Month May 1st-31st
Every May, Oregonians celebrate Oregon Wine Month to honor one of the state’s oldest industries. Since the first vines were planted in the mid 1800’s, Southern Oregon has emerged as a world-class vinicultural region, known for its unique ability to grow a wide variety of grapes. Throughout the scenic Applegate and Illinois Valleys, you’ll find 25 different estate vineyards and tasting rooms where guests can enjoy award-winning wines and stunning views of the Siskiyou Mountains. During May, many wineries will be offering special events and promotions, making it the perfect time to visit Southern Oregon’s wine country.
Head to Applegate Valley May 18th for the Spring Uncorked Barrel Tour. Throughout the day, enjoy wine and food pairings, winery tours and talks, and try exclusive wines and new releases. Additionally, attendees gain membership status for the day, which includes a 15% discount on all wines taken home. Visit their website to purchase tickets. During Mother’s Day weekend, the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Downtown Wine Stroll Saturday May 11th. The event places wineries in different shops throughout the historic district, where guests can mingle, enjoy food pairings, and peruse gifts.
Boatnik ~ May 22-26th
For over 60 years, Boatnik has been held every Memorial Day weekend along the Rogue River in Grants Pass. Organized by the Active Club, the festival is not only a fun family-friendly weekend, but it’s also a charitable celebration. All funds raised during the event are returned to the community by supporting local children and youth programs.
The weekend kicks off Thursday at Riverside Park with the Davis Shows Carnival “Family Day” with rides and booths continuing throughout the holiday weekend. For those who plan to attend the carnival multiple days, there are wristbands and package deals for rides. Friday activities include a corn hole tournament, golf shoot out, a performance by rock band Firehouse, boat exhibitions, and fireworks. Friday-Sunday the Boatnik Square Dance Festival by Charlie Brown Squares will be taking place at the Fairgrounds. Saturday’s festivities start in downtown Grants Pass with the annual Boatnik Parade in the morning followed by Brewfest, boat exhibitions, a hydroplane boat practice at Griffin park, and a second round of golf shoot out. Sunday highlights include Brewfest, boat exhibitions, golf shoot out finals, and fireworks. The festival culminates Monday with a Memorial Day ceremony and flyover, Tom Rice Memorial race, drift boat flotilla, and Monday Sundaes.
BearFest ~ Memorial Day to Labor Day
Here’s a festival you can enjoy all summer long. Every Memorial Day, the iconic Evergreen Bears return to the streets of Downtown Grants Pass after a long winter slumber at the Bear Hotel. Started by Evergreen bank president, Brady Adams, the colorful life-size bears have welcomed visitors to downtown for over 20 years. Since its inception, over 187 uniquely decorated bears have been created by local artists, many of which have been auctioned for charities. Several of these bears reside permanently at local businesses, however, the bank has reserved over 60 bears to be seasonally displayed along the city’s sidewalks.
Art in the Garden ~ June 7 & 8th
Grants Pass Museum of Art hosts Art in the Garden, a two-day event with a tour of eight wonderful gardens with over 50 artists. The event also features authors and two food trucks. Purchase your tickets online or in person. Booklets can be picked up at the museum or a will-call location.
Concerts in the Park ~ June 10th – July 15th
Get ready for a season of live music, food, and fun at Concerts in the Park 2025 in Riverside Park! Happening Tuesday evenings from June 10 to July 15 (excluding July 1), this free, family-friendly event features an exciting lineup of local and regional bands, food trucks, vendors, and craft beer from Wild River Brewing. While the bandshell is under construction, performances will be held near the Pavilion—so bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and dancing shoes. Click through to view the full concert lineup and make the most of your summer nights in Grants Pass!
Porchfest ~ June 14th
Porchfest returns to the front porches of Grants Pass June 15th for a day of music, art, food, and fun. The free music festival, organized by the Rogue Gateway Rotary Club and generously sponsored by many local businesses, is held on NW Washington Blvd. Over 20 musical acts will set up on the front porches of historic homes in the neighborhood where festival goers can venture from lawn to lawn. In addition to the performances, food trucks and arts and craft vendors will be displaying along the street. Any donations made to Porchfest are donated to nonprofits that help local children.
Racing at Grants Pass Downs
Hosting pari-mutuel racing since 1968, the Grants Pass Downs is located at the Josephine County Fairgrounds and is the hub of horse racing in Oregon. The 2025 summer racing dates are Saturdays and Sundays, June 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, July 4, 5, Post Time 1:00 PM.
Lavender Festival ~ June 20-22nd and July 11-13th
Follow the Southern Oregon Lavender Trail to six different lavender farms where you can walk through purple fields, pick your own flowers, and enjoy the sights, smells, and taste of lavender. During this annual summertime festival, many farms will be hosting special events, from live music, wand and wreath making, essential oil distillation demos, serving lavender inspired food, to sip and paints. The participating lavender farms include Dos Mariposas Vineyards and Lavender Farm, English Lavender Farm, Goodwin Creek Gardens, Lavender Ally, Lavender Fields Forever, and Murphy Creek Lavender. While the festival itself takes place over two weekends, most farms can be visited on select days of the week through the summer.
Fabulous 50s ~ July 25th
Fabulous 50s Car Show featuring free car shows, a Hot Rod Cruise-In, and main show festivities from July 25–27, 2025. Don’t miss recurring events like Cars & Coffee at Jimmy’s Drive-In and highlights from past shows on our Club Activities page.
Josephine County Fair ~ July 30th-August 3rd
Ready to get your funnel cake on? The annual Josephine County Fair returns this August with free admission! This family-friendly event at the Josephine County Fairgrounds features games, rides, food, animals, arts & crafts, and live music.
Art Along the Rogue ~ October 3rd-5th
Every October, the streets of Grants Pass transform into a patchwork of color during the annual downtown chalk art festival. This year marks the 21st anniversary of Art Along the Rogue, the Pacific Northwest’s premier sidewalk art and music festival. The festivities takes place along H and 5th street, where you’ll find dozens of arts & crafts booths and some of the most renowned chalk artists in the country creating impermanent masterpieces along the streets. The festival kicks off on First Friday “Alive at Five”, with artists taking the stage at 5pm. Throughout the day Saturday, enjoy cross-genre bands as artists work on their street murals. The 3-day festival comes to an end Sunday with poetry reading, live music, vendors, and a glimpse of the finished street paintings.
Fort Vannoy Harvest Festival ~ October 1-November 1st
Nothing brings back childhood memories like a trip to the pumpkin patch. Bring your littles to the Fort Vannoy Harvest Festival that takes place every October. Celebrate the turning of the season at Fort Vannoy Farm, just minutes from downtown Grants Pass. In addition to the pumpkin patch, explore their 8-acre corn maze, cow train, face painting, food vendors, farm stand, and Pumpkin Chunker. The festival is open daily from 10-6pm and the 23 Screams Haunted Corn Maze is Friday and Saturday from 7-10pm.
First Friday “Alive at Five” ~ Every 1st Friday of the Month
Take a stroll around downtown Grants Pass on First Fridays when locally-owned businesses offer complimentary refreshments, live music, door prizes, sales, and extend their evening hours. From 5pm-8pm, the historic district is abuzz with fun happenings, so explore the shops, visit the latest exhibit at the Grants Pass Museum of Art or The Hivve, and enjoy dinner and drinks.
