Oh by Golly It’s a Jolly Holly Trolly Victorian Christmas

We now live in the town of Jacksonville, Oregon, and it is so. damn. cute.

I know. There’s some catching up to do. I’m inclined to back things up and catch y’all up on our recent Oregon comings and goings, but first I need to share a current event. Fret not, dear readers, you’ll get the full scoop in the not-so-distant future, and I’ll be gentle and as brief as my digits of verbosity allow. For now, I’d be unblissfully remiss were I not to show some pics from the Victorian Christmas parade in Jacksonville, which prominently features the Jolly Holly Trolly.

Walking through town this time of year, one has the sense of having been flung -feet first- into a Norman Rockwell painting. It’s like the whole scene slid right off of a Hallmark card. Imagine if the Oxygen Network and Lifetime TV’s Christmas shows amalgamated and had a baby, J-ville would be its name.

The shops all adorned with white lights and pine wreaths, I hold my breath waiting to see Charles Dickens and Ebenezer Scrooge – hand in hand – ambling down the street with Tiny Tim bounding in front hollering, “God bless us everyone!” A dusting of snow would make this picture complete.

Visit Jacksonville this time of year with the weight of the world on your shoulders and depart feeling as light as a snowflake. However, if you do arrive here feeling feel down and out and remain that way upon your departure, your Christmas spirit needs to come out of the closet for a tune-up. You must be charmed by this town. At the very least, hang out at one of the local taverns and give your spirit some spirits. Only yesterday there was a sighting of Andy, Aunt Bee, Barney, and Opie getting all raucous at the Jville Tavern.

Victorian Christmas Parade

It’s a small town, so don’t expect giant Spongebob Squarepants or Snoopy floats, but do expect small town charisma fizzing onto the street, which was lined with what seemed to be the entire population of J-ville, 2800 people. Below are the photos and videos in (more or less) order of parade appearance. I’ll let the visuals do the talkin’ and your fingers do the walkin’.

Pre-Parade Preparations

I did a quick snoop-by and snapped some photos pre-parade. A current of excitement zipped through the air as folks were lining up. Look closely at the photos and spy a ghostly orb.

The Parade: Let’s get this party started

Rogue Valley Chorus

The Bagpipers

Vintage Car Club

Jacksonville’s very own Christmas Carolers

Bob O’Luney’s Amazing One-Man Band

South Medford High School Marching Band

A Grand Finale featuring the Jolly Holly Trolly

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There are things about growing up in a small town that you can’t necessarily quantify.
~Brandon Routh

In third grade, I had to an oral report on the state of Oregon. I brought up Big Foot sightings, and I remember there was an argument about whether or not Big Foot was valid history. Ever since then I’ve been thinking about how subjective history is.
~Sufjan Stevens

A parade is a small town’s way of celebrating their talent, energy, enthusiasm, organization and happiness.
~Kenda

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