The band Five Guys Named Moe plays at the Celebrate Oregon Harvest event at the Oregon State Fair on Friday, Aug. 27. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
The traditional Pairings kicked off the opening of the Oregon State Fair on Friday, Aug. 27. Hosted by the Oregon State Fair Foundation, this year’s event became Celebrate Oregon Harvest, featuring 13 of the Willamette Valley’s finest wineries.
Servers and guests wore masks to accommodate the mask mandate now in place.
Foundation board leaders Kara Campuzano, Mike Riddle, and Carole Greene gave guests their signature wine glasses.
The event started with a 30-minute Paul Bunyan lumberjack show.
Bry Taylor-Campos bragged about her cousin Duane VanDyke. He was asked to bring six of his draft horses to the fair. Van Dyke will hitch the horses to a wagon, and fairgoers can enjoy a ride.
Marion County Commissioner Kevin Cameron took the stage to share the importance of supporting the Santiam Canyon. They had a ceremony honoring and memorializing first responders and those injured, killed, or lost homes in the 2020 fires.
Debbie McCune and Jean Wheat-Palm sold raffle tickets to benefit the Santiam Canyon memorial.
After enjoying sips of Oregon wines, guests danced to Five Guys Named Moe, a popular, classic rock-and-roll band that has played the event for years.
The state fair runs through Monday, Sept. 6. Visit their website for details here.
About the Oregon Fair Foundation: The Oregon State Fair Foundation works with businesses, industries, government agencies, and individuals to promote, develop and expand the activities and programs of the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center. The nonprofit foundation was established in 1999.
Steve Anderson, winemaker and general manager of Eola Hills Wine Cellars, served guests at the Celebrate Oregon Harvest event at the Oregon State Fair on Friday, Aug. 27. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Bill Beard served Chemistry wines at the Celebrate Oregon Harvest event at the Oregon State Fair on Friday, Aug. 27. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Kara Campuzano, Mike Riddle, and Carol Greene volunteer at the Celebrate Oregon Harvest event at the Oregon State Fair on Friday, Aug. 27. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Debbie McCune sells raffle tickets at the Celebrate Oregon Harvest event at the Oregon State Fair on Friday, Aug. 27. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Marion County Commissioner Kevin Cameron speaks at the Celebrate Oregon Harvest event at the Oregon State Fair on Friday, Aug. 27. (Mary Louise VanNatta/Special to Salem Reporter)
Mary Louise VanNatta is a Salem public relations professional, writing regularly for Salem Reporter.
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