Oregon State Fair expands, brings hundreds of booths in its 160th year
This Friday, Aug. 22, the Oregon State Fair returns to the fairgrounds in Salem for 11 days of carnival rides, fair food and crafty contests. This marks the fair’s 160th year.
Pre-sale tickets for general admission, concert tickets, fast passes and parking are still available on their website. The fair ends Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1.
Presale fair admission
Adult (ages 13-64) $10
Child (ages 6-12) $8
Kids 5 and under are free
Senior (ages 65+) $3
Family 4-Pack $25
11-Day Pass (non-transferable) $25
At the gates day of, adult admission is $12 and child admission is $10. All other prices are the same.
General admission provides access to most attractions at the fair. Carnival tickets are purchased separately, as are some special attractions, including bumper boats and a rock-climbing wall.
After attracting 400,000 visitors last year, the fair is expanding to fill the whole property of the state fairgrounds at 2330 17th St. N.E..
“We’re maximizing the 185 acres this year,” Maddie Kansky, the events coordinator at the state fair, said.
Here’s what to know about new additions to the state fair this year.
Adjustments to the map
As the fair expands and adjusts to accommodate more vendors, some exhibits and sections have been relocated this year. In particular, kiddy rides can now be found at the north end of the grounds near the taphouse in “The Sunny Side.”
Kansky said that “The Sunny Side” and “Sunnyville” areas are focused on being kid and family-centric, including entertainment geared for younger audiences, including Pirate’s Parrot Show and the magic comedy show Barrel O’ Fun.
A new commercial vendor area is replacing what used to be the Artisan’s Village in the grass behind Columbia Hall at the fairgrounds. The Sunflower Shops will offer “boutique, farmhouse, antique, gift shop-style and handmade vendors,” according to the state fair website.
New attractions
This year, there are twelve new carnival rides, bringing the total number of rides to 55. A complete list of rides, including those that are new, is available on their website. There’s presale wristband pricing for the carnival available on their website as well. A wristband allows for unlimited rides.
Presale pricing for carnival:
125–ticket pack for $50
Monday – Friday wristband for $45
Saturday – Sunday wristband for $55
For thrill seekers who don’t want to pay for a carnival wristband, there are new attractions included in general fair admission.
Roaring Riptides is an aerialist and acrobatics presentation that combines roller skating, drummers, fire dancers and jet-skiing all on a 20,000-gallon pool and stage.
Water’s Extreme Journey takes patrons through a maze where they explore the water cycle, teaching early science skills through an interactive experience.
The NASCAR Experience takes fair patrons into a real race car that has been modified to simulate an authentic NASCAR race using computer simulation.
Entertainment
In the family fun camp area each day, there are opportunities to get close up with baby animals. To watch some competitive cuteness, barnyard races happen daily and are free to watch with a general admission ticket. The petting farm has been extended this year, too.
4-H and Future Farmers of America events run throughout the weekend in the animal barns in the Northeast region of the fairgrounds. Open-class animal competitions will bring a wide range of livestock in for judging, and horse shows will take place from Monday, Aug. 25, to Monday, Sept. 1.
Motor Mania events are hosted in the Pavilion throughout the fair, featuring X Games competitors performing bike tricks, quad racing and a demolition derby. Motor Mania events are free to attend, but one can skip the line with the purchase of a $5 fast pass.
Many of the musical acts are new to the L.B. Amphitheater this year, too. Headliners include the All-American Rejects, Sean Paul and the Beach Boys. A complete list of the musical acts and their corresponding tickets can be found in a previous Salem Reporter article.
Four live music stages host music events throughout the fair, and Dia de la Familia will feature several Spanish-speaking bands on Sunday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, August 31.
Food galore
With 30 new food vendor options, there are now about 90 options to eat at the fair. Offerings include Spam fries, deep-fried Oreos, Marionberry sundaes and Korean corn dogs.
Kansky said she’s been told that this is the most food there’s ever been at the state fair.
To allow attendees to try more options in the food vendor section, the state fair is introducing a new program where vendors can sell “just a bite of food for a lower price,” Kansky said.
On Wednesday, Aug. 27, “Sunny’s $3 Tasty Tour” happens from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patrons should look for a “cute little sign in their window that says $3 sunny bites,” according to Kansky.
She said that at least 25 vendors plan to participate in the food tour.
“They’re all offering a variety of different things, and they’re excited because it allows them to share something different with people,” Kansky said. “So someone can go and try a $3 half order of Spam fries. Now, say you’ve never had Spam, you can try it for a smaller portion.”
Contact reporter Mirandah Davis-Powell: [email protected].
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Mirandah Davis-Powell was an intern for Salem Reporter in the summer of 2025, primarily covering food, farms and agriculture. She joined the newsroom from the Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism as a reporter from the University of Oregon.
