Rogue Winterfest
In this article, Elizabeth Dugan talks about the upcoming Christmas gala happening in Grants Pass.
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Rogue Winterfest
Rogue Winterfest
By: Elizabeth Dugan
By: Elizabeth Dugan
For the past 23 years, a Christmas gala has been hosted by a collection of families and local businesses every year to celebrate the cold, magical holiday with community members from all over the valley. This social event is called the Rogue Winterfest and takes place in early Dec., usually on a weekend, at the Evergreen Bank Bear Hotel in Grants Pass. The Gala has activities ranging from artistic holiday designing to a grand auction, and is a staple in Grants Pass for community bonding through charity work.
Rogue Winterfest is a social event hosted near the start of Dec. that offers a wide range of entertainment and fun community activities. The Rogue Winterfest official website lists the fun activities to participate in this year as the following: viewing the creatively decorated Christmas trees submitted by community members, visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus, fishing at a replica of Spalding Pond, and more. These activities work in tandem with the more traditional entertainment found at galas, such as eating from a diverse buffet, swaying to the cheery tune of Christmas music, and drifting amongst each other, going from one conversation to another to create a magical night of Christmas memories.
Image of ornaments by Pexels
Image of Dancing at a Chirstmas Gala by Flickr
The Rogue Winterfest is not just about having fun. Back in 2003, this gala was hosted by Family Solutions, Kairos, and Options for Southern Oregon as a fundraiser to raise money for many beneficial programs in the Rogue Valley area. According to a community thank you note from Kairos, Family Solutions, and Options for Southern Oregon last year, the organizations were able to raise $145,800 for their mental health programs. This year, their main source of funding is going to come from the grand auction. Not only are they holding an in-person auction for extroverts, but they are also extending the event to introverts, who may be interested in getting involved in the gala without wanting to socialize. The Rogue Winterfest does this by offering a silent virtual auction separate from the grand auction.
Rogue Winterfest is a staple in the Rogue Valley community, building support for tens of thousands of people in the area. Come join in on the Christmas fun and support wellness programs that work to improve the quality of life for local Southern Oregon residents.
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