Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center
Fairground · Salem ·

Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center

Fairground · Salem ·

Hosts year-round events, food, rides, and live entertainment

Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center by null

Information

2330 17th St NE, Salem, OR 97301 Get directions

Information

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2330 17th St NE, Salem, OR 97301 Get directions

+1 971 701 6573
oregonstateexpo.org
@oregonstateexpo
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Dec 11, 2025

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Gerry Frank — Cake Contest Judge, Bakery Owner, and Political Mind — Has Died | Eater Portland

"Beginning in 1959, the Oregon State Fair's Chocolate Layer Cake Contest became closely associated with Gerry Frank: he judged the contest for 60 years, the contest is named for him, and he became a beloved fixture there—Gov. Kate Brown recalls he "always filled the room with laughter." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

https://pdx.eater.com/2022/3/14/22977412/gerry-frank-death-obituary
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center

Chilo L.

Google
I’d say 3.5 it was brutally hot so no one’s fault except for those who went (I am included in that) my only gripe would be the carnival games.. I understand they’re rigged but it seemed as if no one was playing them and each game we played not even close to winning could be user error and I could be a bot, but just statistically speaking we didn’t anything except for the one game where everyone was winning. There was an abundance of food, great water stations, lots of art indoors to cool off and get your bearings. First time and I’ll definitely be back! That heat mixed with the games seeming damn near impossible to win.. I guess ready for round 2

Rhiannon B.

Google
I love this State Fair. The lift is very cool, misters along your walk, well thought out. Vendors and food are off the hook. Can't wait to spend more time here next year! I'll be back! Smoking area was great for my fiance.

Ultima Q.

Google
We had a beautiful time at the fair and enjoyed every aspect of the event. Definitely recommend the smaller food carts in the landscape pavilion over the flashy stalls on the midway. The staff was beyond friendly. I do wish the there was more access to filling water bottles and the concerts are short for their price. We are thoroughly looking forward to going next year!

K B.

Google
To be fair, I live in a state with one of the nations top rated state fares. Had no expectations. However prices were higher than your usual state fair the food choices were your typical fair food with not a whole lot of unique out there options. The area and the animals was very, very strong smelling and unfortunately, because it was hot. The fans were blowing around straw and dust and dirt everywhere so if you’re sensitive to that, probably not the place for you on a positive note we found out that concerts are free. There wasn’t one when we attended, but I think that’s neat. The lines to the rides were extremely long, but they did have a good amount of ride so that’s also nice. A slice of pizza was like $18 ☠️ bathrooms were unclean .. glad we stopped, but if you’re coming from out of state manager expectations, depending on where you live.

Sue C.

Google
Had an absolute blast at the State Fair as we always do (it's a tradition)! We all loved the new Pirate's Parrot Show!! Only drawback is they make you dump your water - which would be okay if they clearly told you where you can go to the free water station to refill our jug. No one at the gate knew or cared to help direct us to one. In fact, the fair people working various stands did not even know where the refill stations were and sadly we never found one. On the bright side we did locate a water fountain and the misters. Aside from that the fair was a blast.

We are Crazy P.

Google
The food was really to much money, one vendor after buying a 25 dollar meal refused to give me more than 1 cocktail napkin to wipe my hands after spilling cheese all over them. I took pictures so yall would know to avoid them. When we first got there you couldn't buy tickets we wasted an hour until they finally let us ride for free but they made all the rides super slow or not go all the way up. The kids area was in the front bigger rides all the way on the other side so family couldn't stay together had to split up way to much back and forth, they jack up the prices on the weekends, they had poor planing all around on placement of bathrooms, vendors and rides. By 4 you couldn't breath without someone ramming you out of the way. No one helped managed lines so it was a mess and you stood there 30 minutes at best to get on a ride. The kids rides had music so loud we all lost our voices just trying to talk next to each other. It was madness 1st time I'd been to the fair in 10 years, big flop this year. There also was a lost kid and they locked us all in, no one did an announcements, I was disappointed how they handled finding this kid. As a mom I would want people with loud speakers trying to help find him at minimum. There literally was a scary amount of people 😳 we where there from open almost to close and barley got to go on rides. Easiest thing to get on was the kid slides and jungle gym thingy by the slides. I will say good job on the smoking areas. Everyone there look miserable, vendors, side show, animal area just no one wanted to be there or deal with people. I get being tired but you would think they actually like doing this, otherwise why you traveling with a carnival? I've volunteered a few times at fairs but this one was a joke in planing, so much could of been done differently to manage the chaos and it definitely was not.

Jody B.

Google
The state fair is awesome, with lots of rides, entertainment, great food and ice cream, and all the animals and events! One of the best state fairs I've ever been to. The fair grounds also holds great events all year, like the ag fest, concerts, horse events, and all sorts of activities. Oregon is just a great State! 🙂

Sisavanh I.

Google
Updates 9/01/25: just as I remembered, lots of rides, foods, vendors and attractions. Had a blast! Parking is very organized as usual ($5 for parking on-site) 🤩 We were hoping to ride all of the rides in 1 day but we failed lol. Long wait to ride the rides as usual. 💫🙏Thanks to the Oregon State Fair for having a "Heroes Day" pass for free entrance.🙏💫🩷 Definitely would go again! 😍🥳🎡🎢🎠 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9/01/24: My first time at the Oregon State Fair was a blast ❣️🎡🎠🎪🎢 Everything was well organized from start to end. I was very impressed with how the parking structure was! There's staffs to direct you were to park 🚙🛻 I am very grateful for how the fair had a 'Heroes Day' to recognize veterans/healthcare workers and provided free admissions to their families 💖🥰 Thank you so much! And for the recognition! 💝 Of course, the food and rides are expensive. There are tons of selections of food to choose from! Yummmm! 😋🤤🍿🌮🍔🍕🌭🥨🥩 And Twinkle Time performed today! She gave out free autographs... which was very nice of her and her band! I also bought her hat--also signed by her and her band! 🥰🤩 I'd definitely go again next year! 😊
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Talia B.

Yelp
I have loved the fair every year I've came. The food is amazing.(Classic fair food, what not to love??) Animals are adorable, and the rides are the absolute bomb. There are only two reasons why this is not a 5-star experience. Size of Bracelet Soda cups- You can buy a special fair bracelet, which includes unlimited rides, 3 games, and a medium drink. I had this happen last year: You see the 3 drink sizes on the ordering counter, but what they give you is NOT the medium drink. I don't think it's even 8 ounces. Alien UFO ride- This ride spins so fast while closed off, it feels like you are glued to the walls. I got stuck behind where it specifically says "Do not go beyond this point" because you could get hurt if you did. I couldn't move at all, and I was afraid that I would get hurt. Fair has been great and can't wait to go back next year!
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Barbara D.

Yelp
I love the state fair. admission for seniors is only three dollars, which makes getting old almost worth it. There are lots of free things to enjoy such as the table, setting competitions, the vegetable competitions and so on. I love the diced cream at the Oregon dairy women booth, which has been there forever. A real Oregon institution. Not to mention the bunnies, pigs, goats, and horses.
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Marcia G.

Yelp
I just recently moved to Oregon and all I've heard about is how great the state fair is, WRONG!! it wasn't even a fair. It was a food truck park that you had to pay to get into. Once you're in all there is is food trucks everywhere and you gotta spend a month pay just to eat. I am used to the LA County fair and the Orange County fair in California where they have rides and carnival booths everywhere. It is so fun. I would not recommend this fair to anyone and I will never go again. I mean, if you're a millionaire and want to spend $18 on a baked potato and have fun.
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Michael P.

Yelp
Coming from out of state and going here for the first time, I had a great time. Great exhibits to walk through. Awesome to see 4-H is still around. Lots of vendors to shop from. Food is abundant but pretty much all the same. One fairs food is the same at all it seems. Animal shows are always fun to view. The rides are fairly long lines as to be expected, but not terrible. Some of the kids rides had non working parts in the fun houses. Seems all fairs are raising the prices of everything. Save yourself the headache and just buy the unlimited ride bracelets because you will pay way more for ride ticket bundles.

Bill M.

Yelp
I have been going to the fair for over 20 years on and off. I'm now in my 70's and have to use a handicap cart to get around. Until 07-11-25 have I ever run into a rude guest. The staff go out of their way to make it a happy event. On Fri. the 11th, shortly after arriving, a young man took offense to my military style pro-America ball cap. I'm ex-military. He made fun of it and they ripped it off my head and wanted to play, get it if you can. I did my best to go after him while yelling for security which are all over in plain cloths. The man took off and shortly dumped the cap in a garbage can. Several other guests saw what was happening and went after him to get a good description which they gave to security - which was on the scene in just a couple of minutes. I was later informed that security found him shortly and ejected him. Many years ago, alcohol was banned because some drinkers can be troublesome and the owners goal is to provide a happy family safe event for people of all ages. There is even a large play ground area for children. The Fair only has no rule that is unnecessary but like in my case, they are strictly enforced. Other than that, security mingles and goes out of their way to help everyone have a great time. All that is asked is no alcohol and be polite to all others all the time. Pre covid quite a few ladies would be topless and many got their boobs painted. I have personally never heard of even one that was not treated with total respect all the time.
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Frank B.

Yelp
OMG I love this country fair in central Oregon. Made the journey to see REO SPEEDWAGON to ride out the storm and discovered a very well run fair. I saw a duck and a chicken and other assorted animals prior consuming a fresh made corn dog and other treats. Who doesn't enjoy a corn dog smothered in mustard? Once I moved past all the normal fair stuff I sauntered over to the amphitheater for some 70's classic rock. Great acoustics for a fair and the band was on fire so with fist in the air I jammed out to all of REO's hits! Needless to say I had an amazing experience for my day at the fair! Can't wait for a return visit!

Karen B.

Yelp
We had a wonderful time at the fair. The food was great and the games were fun. The prices were good, we really enjoyed ourselves. Can't wait to go back!
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William L.

Yelp
Came from southern Oregon. Amazing atmosphere and people. Parking and entrance prices were fair. Food was bank, but we had a blast

Derek J.

Yelp
after paying exorbitantly for a wristband for both me and my husband, rides were consistently filled to a maximum of 3/4 full and frequently around 1/2 full, artificially increasing wait times. despite the fair closing at 11 pm on the day we went, and after standing in line for 40 minutes for a ride, the ride was suddenly closed with no explanation of why at 9:45. this is, by far, the most egregious fleecing of customers I've ever seen and if I could have demanded my money back, I would have. I cannot recommend going. if you do go, I recommend only buying limited numbers of tickets, since you're not going to get as much use out of them as you think.
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Michelle B.

Yelp
$5 parking and $10-12 admission to the Fair - pricing is still reasonable and you should definitely check the web site for package deals and buy your digital tickets in advance to avoid standing in line. Everything else is ridiculously over-priced. It's free to walk around and see the animals and exhibits, and there is definitely a lot to see (piglets!) Our favorite is the draft horse events which happen at least a couple of times a day with different hitches and carts, etc. But, at some point you are going to get hungry and thirsty (according to the Fair web site "Food and factory-sealed non-alcoholic drinks are allowed" and you can bring an empty water bottle into the Fair and refill it at various free filling stations, if you prefer not to pay stupid-prices for a 16oz bottle of water.) Unless you are an expert picnic packer, we suggest you go out the yellow gate (get your hand stamped for in/out access) and go across the street (Portland Road) to Don Juan's for really great, reasonably priced MX food (shrimp tacos!).
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Jennifer S.

Yelp
I had just arrived in Salem after a 6 day relocation trek across the states. We could hear the music from my brothers house, a short distance away. We rested up and decided to make a night of it on Saturday before Labor day. Our first stop was for food, so I ordered, and we all sat down to enjoy our dinner before getting on the rides. The next thing I know, my wallet was missing! After several hiccups in my trip, including a broken down RV, the thought of losing all the cash I had and my driver's license pushed me over the edge. My sister in law told a nearby security officer what happened, while I sobbed frantically. He suggested I call to report my card lost or stolen and check the Lost and Found. Our trip came to a halt as we made a beeline to see if it was there. Upon describing it, it was handed over, cash and all! Apparently, I'd left it on the bleachers when sat down to eat, and an honest person turned it in. I was stunned and pulled myself together, with my confidence in humanity and fate restored. We resumed the fun we came for, and our girls hit the rides. Despite the scare and mini meltdown, the night turned around and we all had a good time.

Aiden R.

Yelp
2024. it was the worst year out of all. i have been going since 2013. what in the tarnation happened to the fun rides?!! and dont even get me started on how this is more of a county fair than a state fair. please even county fairs have more options. food is expensive aswell, no one is paying 8 dollars for a bag of cotton candy?!!!! and the fights that always happen every year? can security actually do their jobs and not let physical stuff happen? no one wants to see fights or panic and cause a scene. do a better job oregon state fair.
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Steven B.

Yelp
Ok, so I'm aware enough to expect heavy traffic and nothing but carnival junk food, however they have no traffic officers whatsoever exacerbating traffic to nightmare proportions, one of the teenage parking attendants apologized for it w/o me even commenting. That in itself makes the experience a never again. Then after all that, it wasn't even that crowded inside. The animal pavilions were meh... cept for the team horse and wagon competition. Smoke filled the air from all the food concessions, junk food of course as expected, but the air quality was bad. And the prices of the food...insane! A slice of cheese pizza $10, a burrito $17 and a plate of 6 hamburger sliders $25. Suffice to say we ate and drank nothing. The shoppers pavilion was filled with vendors straight out of TV infomercials. Never been to a more dismal unappealing State Fair anywhere and will not return. The Clackamas County Fair is a bit smaller yes but worlds above the Oregon State Fair.
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Sebastian K.

Yelp
I've lived in Oregon for many years, and the Oregon State Fair has been recommended many times over the years. For some of those years, I didn't own a car so it was impossible to reasonably go to the fair. This year I decided to go, as I pre-purchased tickets well in advance for a discounted rate. My favorite part was seeing all of the prize-winning animals. I am a big fan of birds, and while it was disappointing that they didn't have doves this year, they had lots of pigeons and various game birds. If you wish, you may even purchase some animals, and I was really wanting to get the 1st place rooster (too bad the city I live in doesn't allow chickens.) Food is expensive of course, but considering the low admission I did not mind. I tried some Dole Whip, deep fried cheese on a stick, and fried pickles. Everything was good- though I was disappointed the fried cheese was American and not cheddar or even pepper-jack. I think just about every restroom I visited was clean and not busy. Parking was a breeze. Then again, I went on a Wednesday morning instead of a busy weekend, so your mileage may vary. Everyone was friendly, the walkways were clean, and I got out spending under $100. A good way to spend a day, and cross off another item from my "Oregon List."
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Paula G.

Yelp
DO NOT ALLOW DOGS (except service dogs) into the fair! This is ridiculous (and I love dogs). There were so many dogs there on Labor day- this is a biting/lawsuit waiting to happen! I saw 1 dog being walked thru the ride area and all the loud noises were scaring this dog- so sad to see. I saw another puppy poop in the middle of the middle of the walkway where items are sold and the clueless owner had no idea (I actually told her she needed to pick it up) She had NO poop bags! The fair is obviously charging so much for the venders that there were maybe 1/3 less vendors than usual and food prices reflected that! You people that operate this venue need to really re-think things!
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Levi S.

Yelp
So no parking control, 30min to go 1/2 a mile. No one running the show like most State operations and events. Get it together Salem. Stay home if you are not patient.
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Cynthia G.

Yelp
Parking is easy I was there for an annual event not the fair. The place is kept in great condition and updated. I was really impressed with the ease of parking and the event space.
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Cam T.

Yelp
After having visited the last two years, I give the Oregon State Fair a 3.5 stars overall. In 2018, I went after dark, and it was not worth it. Not only do you miss out on the shows and animals, but it's way too crowded, the lights are glaring, the lines are twice as long, and the card machine in the ticket booth wasn't functioning properly, leading to transactions falling through. This meant the tickets we bought wouldn't register on the card. We had to return to the ticket booth in order to have them rectify the problem. The second time around was better, as we went early in the morning on Labor Day (the last day of the fair). The traffic was pretty bad coming in but there was still plenty of parking. One of my favorite attractions was the livestock (llamas available for hugging!). The one gripe I have, as a bunny owner, is the conditions in which the small animals are kept. They are housed in tiny wire cages without any hay, and the wires cause visible sores to form on their feet. It was a sad sight. Another favorite was the Creative Living area! Lots of cools crafts and activities are showcased there, so make sure to check it out. The pig races were adorable, I just wish there wasn't so much talking, and for there to be more seating. Same goes for the seals. There were MANY food stands, and most seem to be super expensive for what you get. Is this really fair food? The only thing I would recommend is the deep fried oreos, which, although were $6 for 4, were worth it for the experience. The ticket prices for both rides and admissions seem reasonable enough. The rides are fun, and the lines move quick. If you're going to go on more than a few rides, the bracelet might save you more money in the long run.

Susan C.

Yelp
not that good this year 2024 there's nothing much to do here there's a lot of booths to buy stuff but but it's boring and costly if I was you are thinking about this forget coming here for it's a not like it always have been
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Larisa T.

Yelp
https://youtu.be/Jtncp7kuG2U Kiddie rides at the fair/carnival of 2021 those were all the rides for kids, there was livestock and sidewalk toss kind of games that were to complex for my size of children, but here's a video of all the baby rides (my kids are 3 years and younger)
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C H.

Yelp
We had a great time at this years fair, it was nice to be out again. The fair itself was fun they do a great job in making it feel like an actual fair. The food prices are sky high, $10 corn dog was pretty high but honestly it was really good so not a big deal! I felt like we were entertained very well as we walked around. I recommend this years fair!
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Heather S.

Yelp
Just about everything you might expect out of a fair. Animals , fried food, crafts, chinsy rides, crowds. I am one of those evil Californians who came to ruin Oregon. As a result , the LA county fair is the standard by which I judge all other fairs. I do not expect the same caliber concerts or even a half dozen exhibit halls. Still, I am shocked that the cost for just about everything (except parking) is the same here for half the options.
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Frances L.

Yelp
I love fairs!! I'll admit though it's been about a decade since my last one, but in that time relatively nothing has changed I mean come on Salem it's 2018 time to update some of these buildings especially the restrooms so that women can have access to toiletries and such while at the fair. The prices are reasonable $50 for a all day ride pass that includes one medium drink and 3 midway games. The free entertainment was amazing We saw Zuma Zuma and watched the tractor pull. The arena for the tractor pull is not ventilated enough to run 12+ souped up diesel trucks my throat still hurts from the smoke. The layout was easy to follow loved how they grouped everything in sections that are easily accessible. The staff were all friendly. Definitely will try to make it down to the fair more.
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Eddie S.

Yelp
Coming from a small state, this fair was Out of Bounds large. We just kept walking and walking and walking. Everything you can think of you can find there. Carnival Ride, shows, tons of food and other things. Just make sure you have a good amount of $ cause things are not cheap.
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Belinda V.

Yelp
How FAIR is it? Heh heh heh so here we are for the second time! At the Oregon State Fair! And it was awwwwwee-some! Again.... There is so much to see and do for the whole family and just when you think you're done looking around, there's always another thing to see and do. There's a lot of different breeds of cows, sheep, goats, alpacas, pigs and also chickens, duck, pheasants and e-I-e-I-ooooooo. Too much to remember and post. There is also so many different variety of food and snacks to choose from. Yes, what is a Fair without any rides! Rides! Rides! There are so much to choose from. I came last year and got a Sloth. Well, I gotta go they have a pig race starting soon and Wilbur is there.!
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Pavknee M.

Yelp
So much fun! We took our toddler, infant and drove out to the Faire in Salem this past Monday. They have a lot of food options (very large square of food by the carnival games)- from everything you could want fried (Oreos, cookie dough, everything!), to more healthy things, like fruit, salads and yakisoba veggie noodles. We went to see the baby piglets, they were the main attraction! There is an awesome toddler area, a really great Farm Stand row for kids to milk a fake cow, pick fake chicken eggs and "sell them at the market" and we got to see the clown show (Jest in Time), which our daughter thought was hilarious! Overall, highly recommended! You'll see beautiful livestock, can catch a show, eat some food, and even though it was super duper warm outside, there were places with shade! Oh yes- try and catch an Alaskan pig race! Our favorite, Strawberry #5, won! Go piggy go.
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Anh V.

Yelp
This has to be the best fair I have gone to! This fair has it all: plenty of rides, lots of shows to watch, and all the foods to keep you from going hungry! The only ride I chose to go on this time was a relaxing one/way chair lift ride across the state fair with a festive view from about 40-50 feet up! The sun was setting and despite my girlfriend and I being terrified of heights, we enjoyed the 10 minute slow ride across the busy and energetic flow of visitors from below! The best part, aside from the beautiful sunset, was go over the food stands and being enveloped by their rising smokes My girlfriend and I went to as many shows as our little feet and legs could allow us to go to! Cooking demonstrations with Simon Majumdar was mouthwatering. The Robot competition was exciting to watch. The pig race was hilarious. The dog jump was adorable. The hypnotist was mystical. And many more (I thinking running out of characters here ) The food was amazeballs! 'Nuff said just kidding. You gotta try the Dairy Women Ice Cream, it's to die for! The churros were thick and not too sweet. And corn was juicy! Didn't get to the deep fried snickers and turkey leg tho We would go again!
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R G.

Yelp
Love the goats. Wish the pig races were on a bigger track. Lost my hearing at the seal show. The livestock area is rich with knowledge and new discoveries. Enjoyed meeting breeders. Big Jim foods served me a dry cold corn on the cob for $5.00. The Japanese comfort food cart ahi burrito was delicious . The whole experience was ok.
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Selena N.

Yelp
We went here to see Styx! We both hadn't been to a State Fair in years. Not much has changed. There's a reason why I've not been in years!! We parked on the street for free, which was nice. Rides were really expensive, and they were short too! $20 got us two rides. Roller coaster went around 1 time only. Tilt a Whirl best one there. Lots and lots of crappy fattening food. No wonder people are so big there! No offense. Just tons and tons of unhealthy food, which is why we ate before we went in. The restrooms were somewhat clean though, and the concert venue was ok too! We were in a place at 7pm where the sun wasn't shining in our eyes though! So the concert was worth going to!! Was good to at least check it out again after so many years!
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Kennie Y.

Yelp
Ordered our tickets online for everything but parking. What a joke. Got the runaround on getting the bracelets because all the sudden the scanners weren't working. Spent $35 for air lift tickets for our family, and the lady at the window to cash in the tickets was the rudest ever. Said she didn't even know how I got those and that she wouldn't honor them. I had to literally search out a person in charge to try and get it figured out. Needless to say I gave our airlift tickets away because by the time we got it figured out we had 30 minutes left. Everything costs a lot of money, as we spent over $300 and it definitely wasn't worth it for the runaround we got. Definitely not going again for a longtime.
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Caitlin P.

Yelp
I loved my experience at the Oregon State Fair. I suggest starting your day with a trip on the lift so that you can see everything the fair has to offer. The carnival rides were not busy when I went, so I was able to ride as many rides as my stomach could handle! The concert tickets were extremely affordable and my standard ticket still got my pretty close to the performer. I highly recommend this event for any family!
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Peggy R.

Yelp
I was a little underwhelmed. I'm used to going to smaller County Fairs, so I thought a state fair would be a bigger deal. Be prepared, the food was terribly high priced. $9 for Curly Fries, $5 soda, $9 funnel cake. I did like the tram that you can ride from one end to the other, it was fun to see all the sights from above. But that was $7 for one way. We enjoyed the music, we went to the concert in the evening and that was nice. I wish i hadn't spent $68 for a VIP seat, the sound was horrible. It seems like waiting for the free seats is a better idea. There weren't very many vendors. I thought there would be a lot more to see. 0therwise it was pretty good.
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PD S.

Yelp
Love to go to the state fair to see all the animals in one place. Also like to find unique food on a stick of course... I don't go for the rides any more but people watching can be the best entertainment out there... highly recommend
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Charlene A.

Yelp
This was my first time at the Oregon state fair and I thought it was so much fun! favorite things at the fair: bought some home made jewelry, ate deep fried cheesecake (so yummy!), pet the barn animals, watched the hypnotist show, played parlor games, rode the Ferris wheel and flying chairs, people watch. You can save a few $$ by bringing your own bottles of water (it is so painful to buy a $3 bottle there). Barter with sellers! I saved 20+ dollars on a couple sterling silver rings and thought it was reasonable purchase. Buy your admission online for $6 instead of $8. Also look at their website for any deals, I bought a $35 wristband for unlimited rides and 3 parlor games. If you buy this same wristband at the fair it'll cost you $50! Have fun!!
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James D. H.

Yelp
I wish they had more of a variety of rides and or games to play but still really cool. Can't wait for next years Fair.
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Chris E.

Yelp
We have attended the Fair for years, but I believe this year will be our last. While there are certainly some positives for kids to be involved with 4-H, the rest of the fair is so utterly wasteful - from food waste to garbage - with unhealthy food and the pushing of merchandise that nobody really needs in life, we just don't see the benefit of this event. It's more of a carnival than a true country fair today. I would encourage Fair organizers and Fair goers to find a way to make this event much more environmentally friendly moving forward.
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Louanne F.

Yelp
It was an incredible first time experience! I went mainly because I heard there was a piggy race, I was not disappointed!! There were so many animals to see and a closed off petting zoo area. On top of all the cute furry animals, there were lots of food options as well! I love how this fair had plenty of hand washing stations because fair food tends to get messy. I will definitely be back next year!
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Jeanne M.

Yelp
I'll be writing another review after I go tomorrow, or updating this one. :-) I was reading the reviews below for the past couple of years, and I have to agree with a couple of themes: 1) Extremely overpriced for everything. I have arranged my plans for tomorrow so I won't be eating main meals there, but I will be stopping to patronize the Oregon Dairy Ladies and the Dairy Princesses at the dairy wagon stand which hopefully will be around its usual place. I always get buttermilk: inexpensive comparatively, protein, and a wonderful tart refresher on a hot day. I won't be doing rides because of the prices, except for the Fair Lift, which is our family tradition at as close to sunset as we can get. We love the two different views of all the lights, the people, the different music. It may seem like a lot of money comparatively but it's an unbeatable experience of beauty, and additionally, if you do it one-way, it's a great way to get back to a gate you started at to get to your car. 2) The animals. I'm an animal-lover, preferring to meet new animals over new people some days, and the beautiful draft horses, the livestock and K-9 activities are wonderful. I love when the police have had K-9 demonstrations and promoted our knowledge of and respect for what they do. My favourites: the small animals (bunnies, ducks & especially pheasants), the draft horses and paso fino -- like flamenco for horsies! - and PLEASE bring back exhibitors like Walk on the Wild Side with teen apex predators. 3) I love the art & craft exhibits and demos. I will be looking at cakes - such original ideas some years! - quilts, calligraphy, photos, science projects, vegetables... 4) The food vendors are fun, but you do have to budget, and the offerings are hit & miss. We could lose deep-fried everything and I'd be happy. What about like a salad bar - you could set one up in a wagon quite easily, with vats of greens & veg & fruit that a person tonged into a recyclable bowl as someone pointed, even supergreens, maybe tuna & chicken & egg with sufficient refrigeration and away your family goes with bespoke salads. I'd certainly buy that over corn dogs and elephant ears. Also, *there needs to be a list* available online; been looking all evening, can't find one. People need to be able to look over it & make decisions based on special diets (like gluten-free-by-choice) and genuine allergies (like I'm allergic to tree nuts). Other things to improve: definitely fair staff attitude. I know they get hot & tired, but stop with the disbelief on pre-order tickets. Soooo many people do that these days, use their phone or some app to order, and to be given grief in this luddite manner is ridiculous. I'm not pre-ordering this year for that very reason, but check the number of people who cite it as a fact in why they won't come back. *It is more important to make things easier for the many hundreds of honest people who use these functions than to worry about how perhaps 1 person will have some sort of fake or forgery.* Big one: MAKE PARKING FREE. It's a hidden cost. Cut back on the cheap stuff vendors. Some of the vendors are good, but I agree with one commentor: not buying a hot tub, nor a satellite dish, at a State Fair. Some of the ag related vendors are interesting. Finally, have more environmentally friendly stuff overall. More demos where audience participation is possible & welcomed. More groups about community involvement, like community garden organizers. And folks, we're coming up on an election year. The political advertising is inevitable, and some of the petitions & lobbies I support. *Put it all in one area.* That way you can go if you're interested, and avoid if you're not.
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Noelle M.

Yelp
State fairs are always 5 stars, unless they're totally nast- which this one wasn't. Tons of cute animals, lots of fried food and loads of trinkets you'll never ever need a+ (see pic w/ llama! GAWD YES!)
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Melissa H.

Yelp
We went on opening night, which was cool because it was only $2.00 admission. They had a ton of food stands. I tried a gyro which was really good. My boyfriend got an italion sausage with peppers and onions, he liked it. They had alot of animals to look at cows, horses, goats, and sheep...the babys goats were the cutest.
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Amy C.

Yelp
We had a great time at the fair on Monday. Loved Steve Miller Band and Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives !!! The fair never lets you down...all those kids so invested in their animalsand the crafts, so much creativity. Can't wait to see who plays next year!!!

Eric L.

Yelp
It's gone downhill. The staff are friendly and polite. If you're there on a hot day, the only shade is in the stock barns or the arena. Lots of cheap junk for sale at high prices. Peddlers harassing you as you try to walk to the midway area. Who buys a hot tub at the fair? Who comes to the fair to get a massage? It's annoying, the solicitation area should be somewhere else. Rides - overpriced and underwhelming. One trip around a "roller coaster" for 10 tickets. I heard someone in front of me arguing with the lady at the ticket booth over the prices, so I guess I'm not the only one who thinks the pricing scheme is out of control. The cash only rides are kind of a rip off as well. The giant bubble thing - $10 for 2 minutes. Pony rides for kids - $10 for 6 times around a circle. Food. Don't get me started. Standard junk food at a 300% markup. An elephant ear is $8. A large soda $5. These are slightly above movie theater prices. Animals - the day I was there, there were virtually no animals. It would have been nice if they'd had some notification at the ticket booth. In the middle of the fair the barns were all virtually empty. The poultry barn had 5 roosters and 8 rabbits in it. The barn they use for goats/sheep/llamas had about a dozen goats in it. Horse barns - about 10 horses total. Featured attraction of the day - a dog show featuring 10-15 mixed breed dogs. Many of the other featured attractions were closed. Probably will skip it next year.
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Shanae B.

Yelp
I usually enjoy the state fair but it's gotten really expensive. $70 for 2 adults, 1 child and 120 ride tickets (each ride is about 10 tickets per person). Fair food and drink cost is above and beyond that. Unfortunately, at these costs plus the long drive, I don't know that we'll continue coming down every year. It's looking like it'll be more convenient to go to the county fair from now on.

Teresa T.

Yelp
What a rip off. Paid for my kid a $56 wristband that included 3 free games and 1 free drink. Went to get a drink and the guy said the scanner wasn't working so I had to pay $5 for a drink. Couldn't play any games because the line for the games were as long as the rides. Rode 1 ride while the office administrator and of the ride companies family rode two rides as we stood in line for 1 ride. Watched 6 of them get on the Al Bah A ride then on the ride we had been wringing in. They did not have to wait in lines. Then one of them gets sick on the ride and it got shutdown. So don't buy the wristband just buy tickets. First time to this fair as we just moved here, last time going. Last time I'll be ripped off by this company
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Lauren D.

Yelp
We went here for a family outing. It's the kind of place that's a lot of fun if you have kids or if you are a kid, but for everyone in between it's not the most fun place to be. I had a pretty good time with my nieces looking at all the animals. There's also tons of fair food (read: fried food), and there are a bunch of carnival rides, including one roller coaster. So we did have a good time but I don't think it's one of the most thrilling activities I would choose to do.
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Sue D.

Yelp
We had elephant ears for the first time. Delish! The livestock included horses, pigs, cows, goats and ducks.
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Christy H.

Yelp
OSF rocked this year! We arrived at 10am and stayed until 6pm. There was so much to see! Animals, crafts, rides, food, and more! Admission was $6 for 11 and under and $8 for adults. First responders and veterans get in for free. No lines to wait in on Labor Day. There are cows, pigs, horses, and goats to see here. You can walk around and pet some of the animals as well as watch the shows where they get judged. People watching is also super fun here :) The big halls have a lot on display. Table setting, photography, skirt making, quilt making, oregon authors section. Lego display, butterfly and bug display, and so much more! There was a long line to get tickets for the rides so we decided to just do a walk through. Maybe next year we will try a few. They had an awesome dog jumping show where the dogs jump off a long platform into a pool of water and get judged on distance. This was super fun! They had great music playing and the crowd got really into cheering for each dog and rooting them on for the big jump. The food is fair food. Pizza, corn dogs, hot dogs, teriyaki chicken and noodles, elephant ears, lemonade. You get the idea :) Family fun for all! Can't wait till next year!
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K W.

Yelp
I love the OSF! You can spend hours here perusing the farm animals, horses, dogs, petting zoo, art and creative living spaces! The people watching is also magnificent. You can find all kinds of people here. I did not come for the rides, but they also look fun for a state fair. The only drawback is they have no healthy food to choose from. So, if you're health conscious, or have a food allergy, don't plan to eat here.
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Frosty D.

Yelp
Good concert, good animal area, had a great time. Got a BLT melt at a food stand, it sucked. Stick with the kabobs next time. Beer tap house was very cool, had a band there for the patrons, excellent.