Celebrate the Applegate at the Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair
Written by:
Megan Fehrman
September in the Applegate means it’s time once again for the Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair—the festival that celebrates the bounty and beauty of the Applegate Valley. This week-long series of events promises to be better than ever as A Greater Applegate and our partners prepare for 15 individual events throughout the Applegate Valley from September 19-27.
Residents and visitors alike are invited to wander through our valley while enjoying the food, beverages, art, music, and scenic venues and vistas (among other things) that the Applegate is known for. For full event details, visit agreaterapplegate.org, but here’s a quick rundown on all the ways Applegaters can engage and invest locally, while also having some fun close to home.
This year’s fair kicks off with Moulin Ruch: A Festival of Flight at LongSword Vineyard on Saturday, September 19. Inspired by France’s legendary Coupe Icare, this event celebrates the magic of flight with costumed paraglider and hang glider landings, kite-flying, birds-of-prey, model airplane crafts and contests, plus a family-friendly cabaret performance, live music, crepes, drinks, and community fun!
Sunday, September 20, is officially “Sunday Funday!” with several guided hikes and other activities happening across the valley. This includes a choose your-own hiking adventure with several options available: you can join the Siskiyou Uplands Trails Association at the Wolf Gap Trailhead and hike to Applegater Fall 2026.indd 10 the Siskiyou Viewpoint, or ramble on the Pipe Fork Trail with the Williams Community Forest Project, or dare to climb Bolt Mountain with Diana Coogle, the Applegate’s most famous hiker. If hiking isn’t your thing, participate in a family-friendly scavenger hunt at Provolt Recreation Site, listen to some “Poetry for the Planet” and sip a glass of wine at Red Lily, or throw some disc golf at Pacifica. The Applegate is your oyster!
On Monday, September 21, we are thrilled to sponsor a pepper roast at the Williams Farmers’ Market and to show some other fruit as well: the fruit of two years’ worth of labor that has established the Williams Resilience Hub between the Sugarloaf Community Association, the Williams Library, and the Grange. Come out for the peppers and then visit with the folks who have worked so hard to learn radio communication and emergency preparedness in order to be able to support our community should the need arise.
Wednesday, September 23, takes us to “downtown” Applegate to enjoy the weekly Applegate Evening Market, full of fresh farm food, beautiful crafts, food trucks, and live music from Wolf Jett, a groovy five-piece band that combines folk, soul, and Americana into “Psychedelic Southern Rock.” They will be followed by No Ordinary Love at Apple Outlaw.
If you are also craving some funky beats, head out to Blue Fox Farm, aka the Good Factory, on Friday night the 25th for a dance party featuring hip-hop, reggae, and some soulful World Sounds being thrown down on the farm!
The final weekend of the fair includes events at both the Upper Applegate and Williams granges on Saturday, September 26, and the third annual Art in the Vineyard at Wooldridge Creek Winery on Sunday, September 27. Let’s celebrate and support these two important community institutions (and eat some pies!) before heading out for a relaxing Sunday with the Applegate Artists. There will be live music by the Rosa Lees, local art for sale, pizzas from The Haul, and libations! The vineyard property will be filled with artists of all mediums. Spend your dollars supporting local artists and find something unique to take home as a souvenir from the Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair.
This festive fundraiser helps to sustain A Greater Applegate’s community-building work, directly supporting our operational costs and programs. Our mission is to build local connections, strengthen rural resilience, support community-led action, and promote the economic and cultural vitality of the Applegate Valley. Through our active working groups and networks, we are addressing local food and farm systems, outdoor recreation, the arts, destination management, communications, forest and fire issues, emergency preparedness, and more, as highlighted by events throughout the Jacksaphine Count(r)y Fair. Please be sure to check the community calendar on applegateconnect.org and agreaterapplegate.org for a complete schedule and event details—then come on out and jump in! There is truly something for everyone.
