Washington County Fair Returns July 27 - 30

HILLSBORO, OR — The Washington County Fair returns this week beginning Thursday, July 27, and continuing through Sunday, July 30, offering music, food, rides, and farm animal competitions all weekend.

Located at the Washington County Fair Complex in Hillsboro, 873 N.E. 34th Ave., the fair runs from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily from July 27 to July 30. Admission is free, though fair events have individual costs, and parking has increased to $10 for standard-size passenger vehicles and $15 for oversized vehicles and buses.

The increased costs for parking, according to fair officials, is to balance the expense of hiring more parking lot attendants to manage the higher volume of visitors who arrive by car. This in turn has led fair officials to encourage the use of public transit — specifically TriMet's MAX Blue Line, which has a station near the fair complex's front gate. A free shuttle service will transport MAX riders from the Fair Complex Light Rail Station to the fairgrounds throughout each day, courtesy of Les Schwab Tire Center, officials said.

"The biggest point we want to emphasize is the importance of considering taking MAX to get to the Fair," Marketing and Events Coordinator Lisa DuPré told Patch Monday. "We ran out of parking for a period of time last year on Saturday because we had a huge crowd at the Fair, and we felt bad for the folks who got caught in the back-up and all we could think was, 'If only they had taken Lightrail, they would have been enjoying the Fair by now!'"

Fair organizers last week released this short, awkward-yet-humorous video to help inspire folks to use the MAX:

"We're fortunate that we have the Fair Complex Station on the Blue Line, and we run shuttle buses from the station up to our main gate every 20 minutes," DuPré continued. "The shuttle rides are free and the last one leaves our main gate at 11 p.m. each day of the fair."

Additionally, event coordinators have established a secure bicycle area near the fairground's main gate for anyone interested in riding their bike to the fair.

Musical acts this year include The Junebugs, Gabriel Cox, and Pierce Avenue, as well as headliners Foghat, Blue Öyster Cult, and Wolfstock, presented by radio station 99.5 The Wolf.

Comedy, magic, and smaller music shows will be held on stages around the complex each day, and as always youth from around the county will showcase their efforts raising livestock at the traditional 4-H competitions and demonstrations.

Click here for a complete schedule of events and pricing information.

Carnival rides presented by Butler Amusements will open at 12 p.m. daily, as will the 4-H Interactive Exhibit Hall, where youth and adults can participate together in S.T.E.M. and S.T.E.A.M. activities.

"Every year is different and every year has something memorable," DuPré said. "What will this year's fair bring?"

Visit www.bigfairfun.com for more information.

Photo Courtesy: Travis Loose, Patch News