The Columbia County Fair is returning soon, and the ultra-popular Columbia County Rodeo will be held next weekend, bringing raucous action to the county for its 109th year.
The theme this year is “Sew It, Grow It, Show It,” which was submitted by Daisy Smith, and selected as the winner forthis year’s theme contest. The fair will offer a host of activities, including carnival rides, 4-H livestock shows and auctions, food, drink, and, of course, the rodeo.
While the fair itself begins on July 17, the rodeo will be the main attraction and will take place on July 19 and 20 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, 58892 Saulser Road in St. Helens.
Fair Board President Peggy Howell said there are a lot of changes at this summer’s fair. The event drew around 20,000 people in 2022, according to Howell, and the event has been growing in recent years. One of the main changes this year will be in the alcohol policy.
“We are going to have ‘walk-around alcohol.’ We will still have the beer gardens but no fence around it. The Elks are our vendor, with this brings more changes. We are checking bags at the gate, no open containers are allowed to come into the fairgrounds,” Howell said. “McMullen’s are sponsoring fill stations for guests to fill their water bottles. The bag check is a OLCC rule, the Elks liquor license is on the line and if they lose that, it will close the lodge.”
This is a change that will allow people to buy drinks in the fair and walk about the grounds with drink in hand so people don’t have to take time away from the festivities to enjoy a beverage. Howell emphasized that no outside alcohol is permitted, and if the rules are violated, it could result in the loss of the Elks Lodge’s liquor license.
Another change is that the carnival rides will not be open on Sunday, the last day of the fair. People will need to be sure that if they want to get on the rides, they don’t leave it to the last minute. The reason is that staffing for the rides is too costly to remain open that day. While it is unfortunate, Howell said having the rides at all is more than many fairs can offer these days.
“We feel fortunate to have a carnival,” Howell said. “A lot of them went out of business because of COVID-19, and a number of fairs no longer have carnivals.”
Daily tickets for the fair at the gate are:
• Youth $7
• Adults $13
• Seniors/Vets $7
Online, there is a slight discount, and the prices are reduced by $1 for each of those categories. For those interested in going to the fair on multiple days, there are season passes available for:
• Youth $25
• Adults $50
• Seniors/Vets $25
For those interested in partaking in the thrill rides at the carnival, the price for “ride bracelets” is $40 at the gate and $30 online. Parking will not be free for the fair, and people should expect to pay $5 to park at the fairgrounds.
There are also promotions that allow for free entrance on Wednesday the 17th and Thursday the 18th. Veterans and seniors get free admission all day on July 17 with proof of I.D., and July 18 is “Kids Day,” and youth 17 and under can get in free that day. On the final day of the fair, July 21, admission will be $5 for all.
The Hwy 30 Cruisers will have their cars on display on Senior Day Wednesday, and on Kids Day this year, organizers are hiding farm animals for the kids to find, like the rubber ducks, to add a scavenger hunt-esque activity to the fun. The junior rodeo will also be on July 18, and starts at 6 p.m.
Howell also said there will be an interesting exhibition offered on Saturday this year.
“On Saturday from 10-4, Lonnie Welter, a member of Homeland Security Emergency Commission, will be conducting classes on Off the Grid Living,” Howell said. “What to do if we have no power? The classes will be on washing clothes without electricity, survival hacks, poo and pee buckets instructions, M.R.E. packing list, survival food basics, and water purification. A month’s supply of food will be given away at the end of the day.”
The hours for each day are:
• Wednesday, July 17: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Thursday, July 18: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Friday, July 19: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Saturday, July 20: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Sunday, July 21: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday through Friday, carnival rides open at 1:00 p.m., and on Saturday, rides open at noon. Just a few of the live entertainment acts on the docket are Ventriloquist Vikki, Matt Henry, Circus Luminescence, and music from River Divide, Joe Stoddard, and the Sweetwater Band.
Rodeo details
This year’s fair and rodeo will see the return of last year’s V.I.P. seating at the rodeo and $20 V.I.P. parking for more convenient proximity. Attendees can pay $35 to reserve seating at the rodeo, separate from the general admission area. The purchase price for V.I.P. seating also includes entry to the fair.
Howell also said in addition to the V.I.P. section of bleachers, the fair has “enlarged the V.I.P. Rodeo seating, and there will be table and chairs available 8 to a table at $520 a table or $65 per person.”
The V.I.P. section includes a private Elks Lodge bar where people can purchase alcoholic drinks, as well as a B.B.Q. and or hot dog plates, available only to those with V.I.P. tickets.
Howell said they are focusing on ensuring that the grandstand doesn’t fill beyond its 1600-person capacity. This is to ensure the safety of attendees and to make emergency response in the crowd as unobstructed as possible.
The rodeo is broken up into two primary categories: the performances on Friday and Saturday night, where the number of participants is limited, and slack, where the remaining participants will compete. There will also be a junior rodeo on July 18.
Some of the events that will take place in the rodeo will be barrel racing, bareback riding, saddle bronc, bull riding, wild cow milking, tie-down roping, breakaway, team roping, and stair wrestling.
Prizes will be awarded to each winner and top placers in each event.
Important notes
The annual Benefit Plant Sale has already begun, so for those looking to get an early look at the wide array of flowers and arrangements for sale, make your way to the fairgrounds to get first pick of the bunch.
Proceeds from the plant sale go to supporting the needs of the aging fairgrounds, future improvements, and operating costs of the fair and rodeo.
Another important notice for rodeo and 4H participants is the new guidelines for reducing the risk of spreading Avian Influenza
to the animals.
The following information was published on the Columbia County Fair and Rodeo website:
On June 24, 2024, the Oregon Department of Agriculture issued emergency rules to mitigate the risk of transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at exhibitions. The purpose of the rules is to prevent the introduction of HPAI into an exhibition, while also providing a framework to mitigate the risk of transmission between livestock, and ultimately, to people if HPAI is introduced.
These rules apply only to exhibitions where “influenza susceptible animals” (lactating dairy cattle, swine, waterfowl, and other poultry) will be present
Find more information and buy tickets at: https://www.columbiacountyfairgrounds.com .
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