Why the Oregon State Fair is the Most Surprisingly Exciting Thing You’ll Do This August—Cattle, Drones, and Ludacris Included

When you think of the Oregon State Fair, perhaps the first things that come to mind are the sticky sweetness of cotton candy, the garish brilliance of neon lights on the Ferris wheel, and the shrieks of children begging for one more ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl. But tucked away in the far reaches of the northeast corner of the fairgrounds, there’s something altogether different going on. Here, inside the unassuming walls of the Beef Barn, cattle are not simply animals but contenders in a grand spectacle—a battle of muscle volume, breed character, and what some might daringly call bovine beauty.

Darrell Hansen, who holds the illustrious title of open beef superintendent at the fair, isn’t shy about the comparison: “It’s like a dog show,” he declares. But here, instead of primped poodles prancing down the aisle, it’s 9- or 10-year-old kids parading around half-ton beasts. Just imagine the anxiety. These show cattle, as Hansen emphasizes, “are SHOW animals.” With that subtle capitalization, you get the sense that these cows lead lives far removed from your average pasture.

And starting Friday, Aug. 23, these cattle, along with a motley collection of other farmyard aristocrats, will spend 11 intense days strutting their stuff on the fairgrounds at 2330 17th Ave. N.E. in Salem. It’s the annual convergence of the ordinary and the extraordinary, where 400,000 people are expected to descend upon the fairgrounds, according to Drew Marine, a fair spokesperson who, like everyone else involved, clearly knows how to craft an event.

Now, if you’re thinking this year’s fair is just like every other year, prepare to be delighted—or horrified, depending on your disposition. There’s a lineup of nine new carnival rides, presumably designed to extract both your wallet’s contents and a fair amount of your dignity. For the kids, there are Harley bikes and dune buggies, which sound like miniature motorized death traps but are, I’m assured, quite safe.

But the real pièce de résistance of this year’s festivities? The Amazing Drone Shows. Yes, drones. Three hundred of them, to be exact, will spend 15 minutes each night performing a digital dance that Marine insists is “tailored to the fair and local community.” How one tailors a drone dance to Salem, Oregon, I’m not entirely sure, but every night at 10 p.m., you can find out for yourself.

Meanwhile, the Bounce N’ Battle Fun Zone is where chaos meets inflatable architecture. This wonderland of bounce houses, inflatable slides, and something called inflatable axe-throwing (because we’re apparently not content with just regular axe-throwing) will be set up in The Playground area of the fairgrounds. If you’re thrifty—or, let’s be real, a parent—you can snag fun zone tickets online ahead of time for $17. Procrastinators and the eternally optimistic can purchase them in person for $22 on weekdays or $25 on weekends.

And because no fair is complete without a soundtrack, this year’s musical lineup is a genre-bending mix that includes everything from country to blues to reggae to rap. Among the headliners are the ever-nostalgic Foreigner and the inexplicably fair-bound Ludacris. If you’re curious about the rest of the artists or need ticket details, check out a previous article from Salem Reporter. I’d link it here, but that would be too easy, wouldn’t it?

And of course, what would the fair be without the lure of commerce? There will be 600—yes, 600—commercial exhibitors peddling everything from the practical to the downright bizarre. If you manage to escape that labyrinth of booths unscathed, you’ll be greeted by 60 food vendors offering all manner of fried, grilled, and frozen delights. There’s something almost comforting about the consistency of fair food; whether it’s burgers, tacos, ice cream, or an indeterminate fried object, you know it’s going to be delicious and questionably nutritious.

For those who like to plan ahead, pre-sale tickets are still available online. But if you’re the type who likes to live dangerously, ticket prices at the door will be $12 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $10 for children 12 and under. Kids under 5? They get in for free. Just be sure to stash an extra $5 in your pocket for general parking or splurge for the $20 “Rockstar” parking across from Columbia Hall on Northeast 17th Street. Apparently, even parking can be glamorous at the state fair. All the necessary information and tickets for “Parky Like a Rockstar” are available online—because of course, they are.

If you’re looking to pinch pennies, Salem Reporter graciously published a guide earlier this month on how to navigate the fair without breaking the bank. It’s a must-read for anyone who believes budgeting and deep-fried butter on a stick can coexist peacefully.

As the fair kicks off on Friday, Aug. 23, the city of Salem, in its infinite wisdom, will impose a speed reduction to 20 mph on Northeast Silverton Road between Lana Ave and Portland Road. Because nothing says “excitement” like creeping along at a snail’s pace on the way to see Ludacris. Not to mention, several streets will be closed starting on the 23rd, including:

- Northeast 17th Street from Sunnyview Road to Silverton Road

- Northeast Sunnyview Road from Northeast 16th Street to Northeast Evergreen Ave

- Northeast Woodrow Street at Northeast 16th Street

So, as the Oregon State Fair kicks into gear with its usual mélange of cattle, carnival rides, and culinary curiosities, be prepared for a journey through the weird, the wonderful, and the utterly inexplicable. Because if there’s one thing the state fair teaches us every year, it’s that ordinary is just another word for not paying attention.

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