August
FREE
2012 The
News for the Mid-Willamette Valley
August L o Events C cal alendar Page 2
Photo by Brian Byrd
By Rod Porsche Albany Visitors Association
Above: Animal judging is a big part of the Polk County Fair. Right: The Vertigo and Ring of Fire rides at the Benton County Fair.
With everything from first-rate musical performances and rides to wild and exotic animals from around the world and exhibits put on by local groups; there is something for everyone at the Benton County Fair and Rodeo on Aug. 1 through 4. The Headline performers this year will be The Bellamy Brothers on opening night, Aug. 1, Sara Evans on Aug. 2, Journey Unauthorized will strut the main stage Aug. 3 and mainstays Johnny Limbo and The Lug Nuts will perform two shows on the final day of the Fair. The NPRA Sanctioned Rodeo will occur on Thursday through Saturday. Don’t forget all the wonderful Fair food that most of us make a point to enjoy during this time of year. Meanwhile, the 4-H youth from Benton and Lane counties and other community members proudly will be displaying their canned, baked and handmade goods as well as artwork, photography and livestock. This year’s Fair and Rodeo theme is “Where Communities Come Together” fitting with the tradition of individuals and groups from around the county coming together to share and show off their talents and triumphs. Acts and exhibits will include a hypnotist, Walk on the Wild Side Exotic Animals and Reptiles and a magician. The logging show also
will be back this year. New this year will be the Busy Bee Dogs, performing tricks! Gates open at noon each day, with exhibit buildings closing at 10 pm and the Fair ending at 11pm. Admissions are: adults $6 with advance sale (by July 31) or $8 at the gate; an adult season pass is $20; youth $2 in advance or $3 at the gate; and seniors (65 and older) $4 in advance or $5 at the gate. Children 5 and younger get in free. Carnival wristbands also are available for $20 in advance or $25 from the carnival company once the fair opens. Parking is available at the Fairgrounds for $15 for the season or $5 at the gate. All events, including rodeos and concerts, are free with fair admission. There also will be discount days. All children 12 and younger can enjoy free admission on Kids’ Day, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 1 and Thursday, Aug. 4, is American Hero Day when all first responders, military veterans and everyone older than 65 with valid appropriate identification can attend for free until 5 p.m. For more information about the Benton County Fair, or to order tickets, those interested can go online to http://www.bentoncountyfair.net.
Get ready for more fair fun on August 9th through the 12th at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreall on Highway 99W east of Dallas. With this year’s theme “Fun for the Whole Herd” you can bet it will be a weekend of old-time county fair excitement! Each day of the fair will feature the LaserOps/ Combat Zone, the Rawhide Express Train, a reptile and exotic animal; exhibit, 4-H and FFA exhibits, commercial exhibits and so much more. The fair will host the Cascade Amusements Carnival with oneprice wristbands each of the four days. Kids will have a blast at the hands-on kids’ and teen area featuring a host of fun activities throughout the run of the fair. Local folks and 4-H and FFA kids will be competing for ribbons in all kinds of categories while proudly showing their animals for judging in preparation for Friday’s livestock auction. Entertainment and events will include The Old Time Fiddlers, a Tribute to Patsy Cline, the Tuff Luck Band, the Shinkle Band and even Ballroom
Dance lessons on Thursday. Friday will feature a magic show, a 4-H outdoor cookery demonstration and more and ends with the annual Youth Talent Showcase. Then on Saturday the fair will be a busy place with the BMX Freestyle Team, the Cherry City Cloggers, the Showdown Band, the popular Beautiful Baby Contest, and the France School of Dance, a 4-H Fashion Show and an Adult Talent Showcase. A Tractor and Truck Pull is scheduled for Sunday, along with a ventriloquist, and the 4-H and FFA awards ceremonies. Polk County Fair hours are 10AM until 10PM on Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday the fair will open at 10AM and close at 6PM, Parking is free. Admission is $7 for ages 16 and up, $3 for ages 11 through 15, children 10 and under are free. Seniors 62 and over are free on Thursday and Friday, $3 on Saturday and Sunday. Those with military ID are free through the run of the fair. For More information go to: www.co.polk.or.us/fair.
The arrival of August means it’s time for the ATI Northwest Art and Air Festival! Watch for nearly 40 balloons flying over the Albany area each morning of the three-day event, August 24-26th. But it’s so much more than balloons. It’s three days of art, great music, unique food vendors, airplane rides, a wine and microbrew garden, family fun and more. And the best news of all? Admission to the Northwest Art and Air Festival is free! It’s Albany’s busiest weekend of the year, drawing an estimated 40,000 people to TimberLinn Park. A record 23,000+ fans came to see Joan Jett last year. For 2012, legendary rock band Styx takes the main stage Saturday night. Styx enjoyed amazing success in the 70s and 80s with a long list of chart topping hits. The music doesn’t stop with Styx as The Vicki Stevens Band performs Friday on the Festival Stage from 5:30-7:00 followed by The Coats from 7:30 to dusk as the crowd builds for the Night Glow, where brilliantly-colored balloons tower over the crowd, lighting up the night sky. More great music on the Festival Stage includes the Fabulous Fairlanes on Saturday and FireFall on Sunday. Watching colorful balloons lift off each morning is something to experience too! Get there early though, as they typically become airborne around 6:30 a.m. It’s fascinating to watch the balloon pilots and crew go through the process of filling the balloons and lifting off right before your eyes. Ember the Fire Panda Balloon is offering tethered rides on Saturday morning, $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Want to take it up a notch? If you’d like the full balloon ride experience, reserve a spot to see the beautiful Willamette Valley from a new perspective. Space is limited, so call Albany Visitors Association now at 541-928-0911 for more information. Other flying activities during the Northwest Art and Air Festival include Young Eagles flights, BiPlane and helicopter rides. Be sure to hit the Kids Art Village and Art Demonstrations each day. One of Oregon’s largest car shows begins on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Go to the Northwest Art and Air Festival’s official website at www.nwartandair.org for more details and a complete Festival Schedule. Want to make a weekend of it? There are several hotels within easy walking distance to TimberLinn Park or call Albany Visitors Association to reserve your on-site Festival RV camping site.