Images of the 2009 Oregon State Fair

(SALEM, Ore.) - This year's Oregon State Fair is in full swing and tens of thousands are capitalizing on the good weather and awesome fanfare that only an event like this can bring.

Tuesday is Senior day all day, that means everyone age 65 and over can receive receive $1.00 off the gate admission price. Special Senior Day activities and exhibits:
* 11:00 a.m. Great American Spam Championship, Americraft Center
* 12:45 p.m. Ghirardelli Chocolate Championship, Americraft Center
* 1:00 p.m. Red Hat Parade down the Main Concourse.
* 2:00 p.m. Concert: The UpRiver Dulcimer Group on the Bi-Mart Spirit of Oregon Stage

10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
RED HAT SOCIETY DAY. Come join us as we celebrate the 5th Annual Red Hat Ladies Day at the Oregon State Fair! It's a red letter day for Red Hatters who receive $3.00 Fair admission if they are a Red or Pink Hat Lady wearing red or purple (two of the Red Hat Society's official colors).

11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
EL REY’S TILT-A-WHIRL TUESDAY, SPECIAL WRISTBAND CARNIVAL RIDE DAY. Buy a $25 wristband good for unlimited Funtastic rides, plus you'll receive ten game tickets (some games require more than one ticket.). Bands sold only until 4:00 p.m.

12:45 p.m.
BIRTHDAY CAKE COMPETITION AWARD. See who takes the cake at this sesquicentennial-inspired competition. Location: Americraft Center

2:15 p.m.
CRAFT WAREHOUSE OF SALEM’S FABULOUS RED HAT ADORN CONTEST. This is the contest to show Red Hat ladies’ saucy side and come away with a beautifully decorated, and definitely one-of-a-kind, RED HAT. Sign-up at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1 because supplies and hats are limited; entry is restricted to the first 25 individuals or teams who sign up. Location: Americraft Center

6:00 p.m.
NPRA RODEO FINALS. Welcome to the first night of this four-night rodeo extravaganza! We’re bringing back this great family tradition with four nights of rip-roaring fun. NPRA Queens from Oregon and Washington will open each evening with their colorful Grand Entry. Entry to the rodeo is free! Location: The Pavilion.

8:00 p.m.
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS. The legendary rock band The Doobie Brothers have sold over 22 million albums in the U.S. from the 1970s to the present. Their signature song "Black Water," which featured the memorable refrain, "I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty mama come and take me by the hand," climbed to the top of the charts in 1975 and eventually propelled the album to multi-platinum status. They were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.

Tickets cost $25, $35 and $55 and include general admission to the Fair. They 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). Concert venue: LB Day Comcast Amphitheatre.

September 2 – DISNEY UNDER THE STARS: This amazing show features: Jordan Pruitt who has opened for Jonas Brothers, The Cheetah Girls and High School Musical!, Drew Seeley from High School Musical: The Concert, starring in Another Cinderella Story, One Tree Hill, Dawson's Creek, and Guiding Light! He is also performing as Prince Eric in Little Mermaid on Broadway! Savannah who has 2 songs on the Top 30 of Radio Disney! Next Big Thing's Artist Group ALLSTAR!

September 3 – RODNEY ATKINS: If you’re looking for an artist with the bona fide credentials to sing a country song, look no further than Rodney Atkins. His latest album, If You’re Going Through Hell, recently certified gold and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart.

September 4 – KATY PERRY. One of today’s hottest acts, pop star Katy Perry is known for her hits "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot N Cold.”

Also September 4– “DOWN IN THE DIRT” NPRA Rodeo Post Party and Concert with AARON TIPPIN. Come for the rodeo finals and stay for the party and concert, featuring country star Aaron Tippin, “The Hardest Workin’ Man in Country Music.”

Bi-Mart Spirit of Oregon Stage: The Fair’s Newest Stage Showcases Oregon’s Talent. New to the 2009 Fair is the Bi-Mart Spirit of Oregon Stage, which features multicultural and community acts in the afternoon and the Best of Oregon bands in the evening everyday (except September 6). The multicultural acts capture Oregon's unique spirit with diverse groups including Te Marama (Tahitian dancing), Oregon Polka Beats (Polka Band), Oregon Hope Chinese School and Tonn Nua (Irish band). In the evening (3:30-10:00 p.m.), the stage is turned over to the Best of Oregon Bands, including Amy Clawson & Coltrane, Coyote Creek, Concert Violinist Aaron Meyer and Pepe and Bottle Blonds. Admission is free!

The Oregon State Fair has horse power! The Oregon State Fair Horse Show is one of the biggest horse shows this side of the Mississippi. (Talk about horse power!).

Housed in the historic Stadium, the Horse Show features competitions of more than 15 different horse breeds, including the very popular draft horses.

Images from the 2009 Oregon State Fair by Dexter Phoenix, Salem-News.com

Friday, August 28 – Monday, September 7, 2009 (Labor Day)

HOURS:
Sundays-Thursdays: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (late night areas until 10:30 PM)
Fridays and Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (late night areas until 11:30 p.m.)

GENERAL ADMISSION:
Adults (ages 13 - 64): $8.00/advance,
$10.00/gate
Seniors (ages 65 & over): $4.00/advance, $6.00/gate
Children (ages 6 - 12): $3.00/advance, $5.00/gate
Ages 5 and under: FREE

NEW! Multi-Day Admission Passes:
4-Day Pass: Adult $25, Senior $15, Kids $10
6-Day Pass: Adult $35, Senior $20, Kids $15
11-Day Pass: Adult $50, Senior $30, Kids $20

For more information about the 2009 Oregon State Fair, visit oregonstatefair.org or call the Fair Information Line Toll-free at1-800-833-0011.