November 7, 2025 3:30 a.m. 

The 33rd season of the Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights, organized by the Roseburg Rotary Club, will launch on Sunday November 23rd, kicking off a series of special events to celebrate opening week.

A Rotary release said visitors will be excited by the Dutch Bros Holiday Village at River Forks Park, northwest of Roseburg, the return of nights for walking, bike riding and even bringing dogs to the festival. Organizers said the introduction of Gingerbread People as part of the festival, and additional lights will make the festival brighter and more beautiful than ever before.

For opening night, the Festival of Lights committee will name grand marshals from Camp Millennium. These children and their guardians will be the first to see the lights. They will be driven through the park by Douglas County first responders, with lights and sirens on for maximum effect.

Festival Chair Tabbitha Layman said, “There is nothing like seeing the looks on the faces of those kids from Camp Millenium as they see the lights”. Layman said, “The joy they feel also means the world to their families, who love celebrating the Christmas season a little bit early”.

The festival will feature Thrive Umpqua’s “Bike the Lights Night” on Monday, November 24th and Saving Grace Humane Society’s “Santa Paws Pack Walk”, on Tuesday, November 25th.

As Douglas County residents do their holiday shopping, they will soon see Gingerbread People at businesses supporting the Festival of Lights. An invitation has gone out to decorate 18-inch gingerbread cutouts for a community scavenger hunt and selfie trail. Sponsors are providing prizes and small gifts for kids visiting Santa at the Holiday Village.

Tickets for the 33rd season of the Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights are now on sale at www.uvfestivaloflights.com