2009 Oregon State Fair Opens Today!

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Big Tomato has returned from his adventures around Oregon to his fairground home in Salem, which only means one thing: opening day of the Oregon State Day is here!

Today at 10:00 a.m., the Tomato will join his oversized, inflated friends the chickens, watermelon and crab in welcoming everyone to the 146th Oregon State Fair!

The Fair opening takes place at 10:00 a.m. with State Fair Acting Manager Connie Bradley, staff and volunteers and The Big Tomato (a 13½ -foot-tall juicy guy on a 1935 International pickup truck).

In celebration of Oregon's 150th birthday, the Oregon State Fair will be passing out free party hats and noisemakers to the first 1,000 people through the gates. PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Crowds entering the main gate next to Big Tomato.

All Day
VETERAN’S APPRECIATION DAYS
Veterans will be admitted Friday and Saturday, August 28th & 29th free of charge with a voucher that is available on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website (oregon.gov/ODVA/StateFair.shtml) and active military will also have free admittance when they show their military IDs.

3:30 p.m.
GOVERNOR TED KULONGOSKI will present the Oregon State Fair the first Oregon Heritage Traditions Award. At the end of the ceremony, Radio Disney will lead the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to Oregon in celebration of the state’s 150th birthday. Location: State Fair tower, located in the center of the fairgrounds, between the Natural Resource Area and Center Stage. PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Governor and new iconic Fair tower.

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The Oregon Blackberry & Raspberry Commission presents THE BEST OREGON MARIONBERRY PIE CONTEST. Location: Americraft Center

5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
CELEBRATION OREGON! is back with the state’s only all-Oregon wine awards ceremony and popular tastings. The evening pays tribute to award-winning professional and amateur Oregon wineries and their wines based on the wine competitions held in July. Held annually on the first night of the fair, this popular annual event is marking its 30th year in 2009

Patrons can taste hundreds of different Oregon wines, plus sample gourmet delights by Oregon chefs. There will also be a silent auction to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Oregon. “Celebration Oregon” tickets cost $45 and include Fair admission. The first 500 tickets also include general admission to Pink Martini’s “Oregon! Oregon! 2009”. Tickets are available at TicketsWest (1-800-992-8499 or www.TicketsWest.com) and all participating Safeway TicketsWest outlets in Oregon and at the Oregon State Fair box office (2330 17th Street NE, Salem). Location: Hart of the Garden

5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
BLUES, BREWS AND BBQ. On opening night and continuing each evening of opening weekend, Fairgoers can taste Oregon craft beers and professional BBQ samples while listening to great blues. Tasting tent open 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., receive five tastes for only $10. Enjoy all the great Oregon blues acts, including Ty Curtis and Curtis Salgado, for FREE with Fair admission. Location: Picnic Grove and Spirit of Oregon Stage

6:00 p.m.
OREGON STATE FAIR BIKE PARADE. The Fair’s first official bike parade will be fun for cyclists of all ages and abilities! The parade route will be a four-mile loop from the State Fairgrounds to the Capitol building and back. Bike decorations and costumes are encouraged and Blue Ribbons will be awarded to the following categories:
* Best Bike Choreography
* Best in Bike Show
* Best Vintage Bike
* Best Bike At-Tire
* Yellow Jersey Award
* MVP (Most Valuable Peddler)
* Most Enthusiastic Cyclist

Meet at the State Fairgrounds in front of the Pavilion off of Sunnyview Road at 5:30 pm; parade starts at 6:00 p.m. Parade entrance is free and participants will receive a coupon for discounted Fair admission.

8:00 p.m.
OREGON! OREGON! 2009 – a rollicking Stan Freberg/Thomas Lauderdale musical with an all-star Oregonian cast, including former Governor Barbara Roberts, columnist Margie Boule and Pink Martini’s China Forbes – debuts in celebration of Oregon’s 150th birthday.

After the 21-minute musical, there will be a full Pink Martini concert. Tickets cost $12 for general admission, $35 and $45 for reserved seating and are available at TicketsWest (1-800-992-8499 or Ticketswest.com) and all participating Safeway TicketsWest outlets in Oregon, and available at the Oregon State Fair box office (2330 17th Street NE, Salem).

100 free tickets will go to the families of recently deployed Oregon National Guard.

8:00 p.m.
DEMOLITION DERBY. It’s time to smash ‘em up at the Oregon State Fair! Free with admission. Location: Pavilion

10:00 p.m.
PINK FLOYD LASER SPECTACULAR. This one-hour spectacle will thrill audiences with a multi-media laser and light show set to the music of Pink Floyd's greatest hits. Free with fair admission. Location: Sports & Recreation Area.

August 29 – TESLA and EVERCLEAR: A concert sure to "rock your world" Portland's multi-platinum rockers Everclear along with Tesla are going to deliver one of this summers best Saturday night parties, hands down!

August 30 – GAITHER VOCAL BAND – REUNITED TOUR: Get ready to spend an afternoon with five of the most influential voices ever to resonate across the contemporary Gospel music scene.

August 31 – BLAKE SHELTON: Catch this rising country music super star for a night to remember! With huge hits like; Austin, The Baby, Some Beach, Home, and She Wouldn't Be Gone, there's a lot to sing about!