ScienceWorks, the First Friday Art Walk and spiritually oriented walks will help Ashland step into 2026 thoughtfully
By Jim Flint for Ashland.news
As the calendar turns and one year gives way to the next, Ashland marks the moment with a welcoming mix of celebration, reflection, creativity and community, with family-friendly events unfolding from New Year’s Eve through the first weekend of 2026.
From a kid-friendly countdown at midday to contemplative walks, spiritual traditions and a citywide art stroll, four special events mark the transition into the new year with activities designed for all ages and interests.
Together, they offer families and individuals multiple ways to gather, reflect, celebrate and begin 2026 feeling connected, inspired and renewed.
ScienceWorks Noon Year’s Eve
Families looking to celebrate early can ring in the new year at ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum’s annual Noon Year’s Eve party, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 1500 E. Main St.
Designed especially for younger children and their caregivers, the event delivers the excitement of a New Year’s countdown — without the late night.
At noon sharp, the museum will host two balloon-drop countdowns inside the building. One takes place in the Main Gallery, featuring music and high energy, while the second unfolds in Da Vinci’s Garage as a sensory-friendly option, with whispered counting and “jazz hands” instead of loud noise.
This year also brings changes to help families get inside more smoothly. Presale admission tickets are now available at regular admission prices, and museum members can reserve free tickets in advance. Guests who purchase ahead can present a QR code at the door for faster entry.
Another update reflects community concerns beyond the celebration itself. The museum’s popular Egg Drop Challenge has been reimagined to address food insecurity. Instead of real eggs, participants will use reusable plastic eggs filled with paint. The change reduces waste, avoids messy cleanup, and allows families to take their creations home.
Visitors are also encouraged to bring nonperishable food items for donation to the Ashland Food Bank. More information is available at scienceworksmuseum.org.
Community Labyrinth Walk
For those seeking a quieter, more reflective way to mark the passage of time, Ashland’s Sacred Walk to New Year returns for its 27th year at Wesley Hall on the campus of Ashland First United Methodist Church, 175 N. Main St.
The nondenominational, donation-supported event runs from 4 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1.
Elizabeth Austin, founding labyrinth leader of Ashland’s Sacred Walk to New Year, announced the 2026 theme as All Together Now.
“The independent, nondenominational Ashland Sacred Walk to New Year arose in 1999 in response to world-wide unease about Y2K,” Austin said. “It has become a beloved annual tradition, including going online during COVID Pandemic.”
This year, amidst increasing world-wide turmoil and divisiveness, the Sacred Walk offers a family friendly oasis of peace and beauty, a quiet ambience created by community volunteers — musicians, artists, sacred space designers, “labyrinth angels” — “and the many people who include the Sacred Walk in their turn-of-the-year celebrations,” she said.
The event features continuous opportunities to walk the labyrinth, accompanied by live music and performances from community artists.
Music and movement at the labyrinth walk
New Year’s Eve programming begins with doors opening at 3:30 p.m., followed by harpist Meredith McFadden, Wing Dancers from the Goddess Temple, and an opening ceremony led by Austin and the Sacred Walk team. Music and movement continue throughout the evening with performers including Gene Burnett, Scott McGuire, John Swinnerton, Nancy Bloom, and Hawkeye Herman & Friends, before closing at 10 p.m.
On New Year’s Day, the walk reopens in silence at 10 a.m., followed by performances from Threshold Singers, Victor Novick, Sara Champion, Andy Bayliss and McFadden, along with Wing Dancers and a closing ceremony before the community refurls the labyrinth at 4 p.m. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Flower offering and kora
Another opportunity for reflection comes on New Year’s Day.
From 1 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday Kagyu Sukha Chöling invites the community to a flower offering and kora at its center at 109 Clear Creek Drive in Ashland’s Railroad District. The self-guided event welcomes visitors of all backgrounds to mark the turning of the year in a peaceful, contemplative setting.
Rooted in Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the practices offered are intended to help participants set intentions, cultivate gratitude, and dedicate aspirations for the year ahead.
Visitors may spend time in silent meditation in the sanctuary, offer a flower with personal intentions for 2026, walk the temple grounds and stupa in kora, and spin the prayer wheels. Tea and a warming fire will be available on the patio.
Participants are welcome to arrive at any point during the event window and engage at their own pace. No prior experience with meditation or Buddhism is required. Families are welcome.
Kagyu Sukha Chöling is dedicated to making authentic Buddhist teachings and practices accessible to all, both in person and online. More information is available at www.kscashland.org.
First Friday Art Walk
The new year’s celebrations continue with Ashland’s First Friday Art Walk, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2.
Galleries, studios, restaurants, and shops across downtown and nearby neighborhoods will open their doors, offering an evening of art, music and community connection.
Among the featured stops is Creekside Pizza Bistro, 92½ N. Main St., showcasing Visual Symphony Paintings by Angie Hanson, whose work emphasizes vivid color, intricate detail and the rhythms of the natural world.
Art on First, at 20 S. First St., will present “Everything You Didn’t Get for Christmas,” a group exhibition featuring jewelry, textiles, paintings, photography, woodwork and more by gallery members.
Bloomsbury Books, 290 E. Main St., will host an exhibit of paintings by Silvia Trujillo above the bookstore, with art on display through February and live music by Grammy-nominated songwriter Mark Turnbull from 5 to 7 p.m.
Additional Art Walk participants include American Trails Gallery, Ashland Clayhouse, Ashland Recycled Furniture, Blue Giraffe Day Spa Salon, Gypsy Road Studio, Hummingbird Heart Co., Oak Leaf Studio, Resistance Wine Company, Rogue Valley Pottery Supply, the Columbia Hotel and WhiteRabbit Creator Clubhouse.
Updates and a full list of locations are available at ashlandgalleries.com.
Freelance writer Jim Flint is a retired newspaper publisher and editor. Email him at [email protected].
