Fun at the Fair

A tiger is coming to Redmond!

In a wild animal exhibit like no other, A Walk on the Wild Side is bringing some of the planet’s exotic and unusual creatures to this year’s Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo. Fair goers will be able to stand face-to-face with a Caracal cat and a Fennex fox from just more than an arm’s length away.

But the thrill of seeing some of the world’s most elusive wild animals is just one of many highlights at this year’s Fair, an event that has drawn enormous crowds from far and wide for nearly 10 decades.

“This year’s theme is ‘Barn is the USA,’” said Ross Rogers, fair marketing coordinator. “The Deschutes County Fair Association comes up with the theme every year, and we try to come up with something that’s really fun!”

It’s only fitting for the theme to mirror the fun that defines the Fair, which runs from Wednesday, July 29 through Sunday, August 2 this year. That’s five days of mouth-watering food, an eclectic range of vendors, carnival laughter and screams, nail-biting rodeo action, a concert series boasting an incredible musical lineup and other entertainment that’s all sure to keep the crowds wanting more.

While elephant ears and funnel cakes will certainly be smothered in all sorts of goodness, this year the traditional foods will face tough competition as new fair foods such as fried butter, frog legs, and alligator on a stick offer a curious temptation.

While the kiddos might be fascinated by these delectable delights, they’re even more guaranteed to find themselves unable to hide their smiles or stifle their laughter when they enter the corral atop a sheep!

The Bulletin Family Fun Zone is featuring ‘Mutton Busting,’ a rodeo-like event where kids get to reenact the moves of their favorite western heroes while riding … sheep. Of course for those with a more traditional sense of cowpoke style, there will be the beloved pony rides as well.

Another fun new addition to the family zone, longhorns will put their best side forward while the kids pose for photos sitting atop the gentle animals.

For more than 800 youth, the fair experience includes participation through the 4-H program.

This year’s participation includes more than 100 different project areas ranging from animal rearing and showing, to food preservation to photography and other art projects.

“The types of projects are really endless,” said Candi Bothum, 4-H Program Coordinator. “The projects are really about the youth, so that they can connect with something where they feel like they belong. They may learn how to cook. They may learn to shoot a gun safely. They may learn to show a cow. It’s all about developing kids.”

But the fair is certainly not just about the kids. While the young undoubtedly will enjoy watching the rodeo, the heart-pounding action in that arena keeps every adult in the stands cheering and keeping score.

As always the The Deschutes County Rodeo is working with NPRA award winning BBarD.

“They take a lot of pride in their horses and bulls, and we try to get the best horses we can” said Randy Amis, Rodeo Director.

The rodeo kicks off at 6:30 each evening from Wednesday through Saturday, with Friday and Saturday nights’ rodeo performances being capped off with ‘Chute 9’, the rodeo beer garden party for those over 21, complete with live music starting right after the rodeo ends.

The fair’s other live music performances, including a star lineup concert series scheduled for this year, are open to all ages.

The concert series kicks off at the Bank of the Cascades Event Center on Wednesday night with the rock band Hinder. Country legend Martina McBride will grace the stage on Thursday night, followed by pop/rock act America on Friday night, and country’s Joe Nichols on Saturday night.

“We’ve been trying for years to get Martina McBride,” he continued. “It’ll be a packed house for sure, and I’ve been trying to book America since 2002! They’re my favorite band of all time, and they have a plethora of hits.”

All concerts begin at 7 p.m., and complimentary tickets are available through The Bulletin and radio station ticket give aways through June 30th, or at Central Oregon McDonald’s locations on Wednesdays starting July 1st between 2 and 7 p.m. while supplies last.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for you and your family to have fun,” said Rogers. “We have always been and want to continue to be a place for families to connect, where people have fun together.”

To that end, the fair association works to keep costs of attending the fair to a minimum, offering free admittance to children under 5 daily, free entry for those 62 or older on Wednesdays and a flat gate fee on Sundays of just $6 per person. The rodeo performances and concerts don’t require an extra fee, those events are free with fair admission.

Gate passes are available online at www.expo.deschutes.org. Carnival wristband prices are discounted by $10 prior to opening of the fair and can be found online at the same website along with other daily specials.

Parking is free, but an even better option exists with free bus rides to the fair gates, departing from Bend and Sisters daily.

“But if you do drive, come early to avoid traffic,” Rogers advised.

Rogers also advises taking frequent breaks throughout the day at the fair.

“Have some of the delicious fair food that you can’t get anywhere else — elephant ears, fresh lemonade. There are over 200 vendors, 80 inside and 120 outdoor vendors selling and promoting unique products.”

Knowing that it’s nearly impossible to experience the entire fair in just a couple of hours, the fair association offers season passes that are discounted from the daily rate, so the fun doesn’t have to be limited to just one day.

The fair only happens once a year after all. The tigers and the music and the deep fried butter are all amazingly exciting of course, but it’s the smells, the tastes, the sounds and the sights that remind us of childhood, of fun and of being together and that compel us to return year after year.

We want another funnel cake. We want another ride on the ferris wheel. We want to see more animals. Because the truth is, we never get enough.

“People forget that the fair is about coming together,” Rogers explained. “Fairs have always been a social event. That’s the very best part of them. You see people you have not have seen all year. You see the looks on the kids’ faces as they experience the rides. … Whenever I think about planning the fair, I think a lot about the aspect of people enjoying it together. That’s what it’s all about.”