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October 19, 2026 at 1:48 pm
JACKSONVILLE, Ore. – The Jacksonville City Council unanimously approved a request from the Britt Music & Arts Festival to host up to four shoulder season performances for its 2027 schedule. The approval allows the venue to schedule events outside its regular operating window, which runs from the first weekend of June through the second weekend of September. For the first time, organizers are exploring the possibility of booking one of these events in May.
Under a conditional use permit established in 2006 with the city, the festival is permitted to host a maximum of four additional events in the months immediately preceding and following the summer season. Festival President and CEO Abby McKee said that utilizing these dates provides booking flexibility for touring bands who prefer traveling during the fall months. The venue hosted two shoulder season events in 2026, featuring Chicago and Jim Gaffigan, and held three such events in 2025.
If a May concert is booked, the festival will be limited to three remaining shoulder season dates for the autumn months, which must conclude by Oct. 15, 2027. McKee says spreading performances across the year helps local residents manage their spending, as roughly 76% of Britt’s tickets are sold to the local community. The festival plans to announce its popular movie with orchestra event on Dec. 4, with tickets slated to go on sale Dec. 6.
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