Lose yourself at the Yamhill County Fair

McMINNVILLE — The hot weather predicted for late July and early August is nothing compared to the simmering line-up of activities on tap at the Yamhill County Fair.

Slated for July 31 through Aug. 3 at the fairgrounds on Lafayette Avenue, the fair has been a staple round these parts for nearly 170 years.

“The first fair in Yamhill County was Oct. 7, 1854, and was held in Lafayette …,” the event’s website says. “It was sponsored by the Yamhill County Agricultural Society, which formed in 1853. That first fair included bed quilts, butter, cheese, vegetables, cattle, sheep, hogs, farm implements, horses, mules and so much more.”

As the fair has progressed into the modern age it has added myriad attractions, ranging from a rodeo to musical acts, a demolition derby and carnival.

There’s something for everybody, and organizers have strived to keep costs down to make the fair accessible to everyone: Daily tickets for adults are $15, $8 for youths 3 to 15, children under 3 are free, seniors are $10 and active-duty personnel and veterans get in for $10.

Those adults wishing to attend the fair for the duration can get a four-day pass for $30, youths 3 to 15 pay $16, children under 3 are still free and seniors 65 and older are $20. Active-duty personnel and veterans can gain entry for four days for $20.

The fair’s hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 1 and 10 a.m. to midnight Aug. 2-3. Attendees will need all of those hours just to take in all the sights, sounds and smells of the historic fair.