By Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Linn County Fair kicks off Wednesday, July 17, with all the normal carnival rides, exhibits, 4H livestock shows and music – as well as a few new wrinkles – through Saturday, July 20.
One is traffic flow. Fair officials have worked with the Linn County road master to develop a new plan to manage fair traffic.
“We are changing the way people are entering the fair this year,” said Director Randy Porter. Vehicles will enter from Knox Butte Road. Price Road will be closed at Timber-Linn Park, and Dogwood will be closed where it turns into Dogwood Avenue.
Visitors should avoid using Price Road from Highway 20, the location of Lassen Toyota and Lassen RV. Warnings of the road closure will be posted.
“Pull in off Knox Butte,” Porter said. “We’re going to stack traffic there instead of stacking it on Timber.”
Once the gravel parking lot is full, Porter said, officials will open up the overflow parking.
Another is the job fair.
“We’ve actually got three fairly larger businesses, and they’re going to try to do some hiring,” Porter said.
In Family Land, Linn County Fair is bringing on a new show, the Pirate’s Parrot Show, featuring exotic birds, Porter said. Attractions also include J.D. Platt’s K9 Kings Flying Dog Show.
Prop comic Alex Zerbe, “the professional zaniac” and Seattle’s third-ranked air guitarist, will appear.
Family Land will offer the petting zoo, reptile exhibit and pony rides, as well as Gold Rush Panning.
The Calapooia Arena will feature a bull bash, barrel racing and mutton busting.
In the livestock pavilions, “I think 4-H numbers are up a little bit,” Porter said.
On the main stage, scheduled at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday is the Artimus Pyle Band, honoring the music of Ronnie Van Zant and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Pyle was a Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer. Among Lynyrd Skynyrd’s hits are “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Free Bird” and “What’s Your Name?”
Country singer Joe Nichols plays at 8:30 p.m. Thursday night with opener Elvis Monroe at 7 p.m. Among Nichols’ hits are “The Impossible,” “If Nobody Believed in You” and “What’s a Guy Gotta Do.” He released his most recent album, “Never Gets Old,” in 2017.
Playing at 8:30 p.m. Friday is 38 Special. Reserved seats are sold out, Porter said, but “there’s still plenty of general admission.”
General admission is available as part of fair admission, which is $7. Among 38 Special’s hits are “Hold on Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” “Like No Other Night” and “Second Chance.”
Rounding out the week are Maddie and Tae at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, with opener Ben Rue at 7 p.m.
Maddie and Tae “are an up and coming country female duo,” Porter said, adding “They’ve had some hit songs on the radio” and they’re moving upward in the country music scene.
Their hits include “Girl in a Country Song,” “Fly” and “Shut Up and Fish,” with a new album, “Tourist in This Town,” out earlier this year.
The fair opens at 11 a.m. all four days, closing at 11 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Bull Bash begins at 6 p.m. It is Military Day, with free admission with military ID.
Thursday is Senior Day, and seniors are free all day. A senior ice cream social is at 2 p.m. in the VIP garden. Barrel racing begins at 6 p.m. The 4-H static award ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.
Friday is Family Day. A rodeo program begins at 6 p.m. Back Again takes the main stage at 7 p.m.
Saturday is Health Day. Wild ‘n’ Wooly, with mutton busting, begins at 6 p.m.
“Come and enjoy,” Porter said.
For more information about the Fair, visit linncountyfair.com.