Oregon State Fair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oregon State Fair
Genre	State fair
Dates	August–September including Labor Day
Location(s)	Salem, Oregon
Years active	1858–present (excluding 1905, 1942–1944, 2020)
Website	www.oregonstatefair.org

The Oregon State Fair is the official fair for the state of Oregon. It happens every August and September. You can find it at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in north Salem, the state capital. The fairgrounds are about 185-acre (0.75 km²) big.

The fair has been held almost every year since 1862. Since 2006, the fair has been managed by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department. This group is now called the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center (OSFEC). They host events at the fairgrounds all year long.

History of the Oregon State Fair

Horse and buggy at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in 1867

In the early 1800s, farming grew a lot in Oregon. Many communities started groups of farmers. These groups wanted to share ideas about growing crops and raising animals. They also began to organize county fairs, like the one in Yamhill County in 1850.

Soon, a newspaper called Oregon Farmer suggested having a fair for the whole state. A group of farmers, the Oregon Fruitgrowers Association, held the first unofficial state fair in 1858. This year is now known as the official start of the fair.

The fairgrounds around 1881

In 1860, the Fruitgrowers Association joined with other county groups. They became the Oregon State Agricultural Society. This group held the first official fair in 1861 near Gladstone and Oregon City.

They soon realized they needed a bigger space. So, the second official state fair was held in Salem in 1862. It took place on the grounds of the Marion County Fair. The fair has been there ever since. A homesteader named John Savage gave 8 acres (32,000 m²) of his land. This land was about three miles (5 km) outside of Salem back then. Another pioneer, John Minto, gave $1,200 to build a wooden fence around the fairgrounds. The fairgrounds became part of Salem in 1921.

The fair has been held every year at the same spot, except for a few times. In 1905, it was canceled because a big event, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, was happening in Portland. It was also canceled during World War II in 1943 and 1944. During those years, the fairgrounds were used by the military as a temporary camp. The 1942 fair was much smaller, only showing 4-H projects and animals. It was not considered a full State Fair. The fair was also canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 1967 Fire at the Fair

An aerial view of the 1967 fire

In 1967, just before the fair was supposed to open, a fire was started on purpose. Several large buildings burned down. The fair leaders and Governor Tom McCall felt the fair should still happen. Many groups helped by donating time and money for cleanup. They even sent tents from other events, like the Portland Rose Festival, so the fair could open.

Historic Buildings at the Fairgrounds

The fairgrounds are home to two historic buildings. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These buildings are the Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble. The horse stadium was built in 1919, and the poultry building in 1921. They were added to the historic register in 2002.

The poultry building is famous for its "chicken head" sculptures on the outside. The horse stadium is the oldest state building in Oregon that is still used all the time.

The Heritage Oak Grove

View of part of the 2016 state fair

In 2007, a group of Oregon White Oaks trees was named an Oregon Heritage Tree site. These trees are about 200 years old and are across the street from the main fairgrounds.

The Kalapuya, who first lived in this area, used this grove. They would camp and gather there, collecting acorns and camas plants. Later, fairgoers also camped in the grove. They would arrive in wagons and set up a "tent city" during the fair. People still camp there today.

How the Fair is Managed Today

After some financial challenges, the Oregon Legislative Assembly asked the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to take over running the fair in 2006. In 2008, the fair's slogan was: "It's like a magical enchanted land. Except real."

Events and Activities at the Fair

Over the years, the fair has shown off Oregon's crops and livestock. It also features arts and culture. You can find many food booths and vendors. There are also judging competitions, horse racing, and popular entertainers. In 2007, the fair even hosted its first Lucha Libre (Hispanic wrestling) event!

Fair Facilities

Outdoor concerts are held at the L. B. Day Amphitheatre. This venue was named in 1987 after L. B. Day. He was an Oregon State Senator and a big supporter of the fair.

The Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion is the newest building on the fairgrounds. It was finished in 2004. This indoor pavilion can hold 5,000 people. It is used all year for many different events. The pavilion and its parking replaced an old grandstand built in 1929. It also replaced the horse racing track. Some decorations from the old grandstand were saved to be used in the new building. In 2024, it became the home of the Arena Football League's Oregon Black Bears team.

The Salem Armory Auditorium is located on a corner of the fairgrounds. However, it is not part of the State Fair. This concert venue is owned by the Oregon Military Department.

Gallery

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  Grandstands at the fair in 1913

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  A dog show at the fair circa 1975

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  Detail of chicken head on poultry building

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  Pigs at the fair in 2005

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  Chicks under a heat lamp at the fair in 2007

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  Pigs, 2007

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  Department of Forestry building, 2015

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  Llama at the fair, 2016

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  Horse show, 2016

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  Another section of fair, 2016

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  Cattle, 2016

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  Pig, 2016

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  Alligators, 2017

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  Horse event, 2017