Holy Cow! Crowds Take in Sights & Sounds of the Umatilla County Fair

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The Umatilla County Fair gates open to the public today at 10 a.m. (Photos by Michael Kane)

The first day of the Umatilla County Fair went off without a hitch on Wednesday – even a predicted thunder and lightning storm failed to materialize until late in the evening.

A small and leisurely crowd wandered around the grounds at Eastern Oregon Trade & Event Center in the early hours of the fair on Wednesday, but gradually picked up as the day went on.

As the weather began to cool, the crowd was treated to an evening of Tom Petty songs performed by the tribute band, Petty Fever. Tonight’s headliner is Home Free, a country a Capella group out of Minnesota who won the fourth season of The Sing-Off in 2013.

The carnival opens at 2 p.m. today and Friday and at noon on Saturday.

A variety of performers will keep the fair crowd entertained throughout each day of the fair. The Jugglemania show takes place today at 3:40 p.m. on the Les Schwab stage. The Magic of Lelando can be seen at 3 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. on the Les Schwab stage. Mz. Pearl’s Variety Show takes place at 2 p.m. on the Les Schwab stage. For those who want to be hypnotized, Tyzen will perform on the Les Schwab stage at 5 and 8 p.m.

At 10 a.m., the 4-H food preparation contest takes place at the Event Center kitchen. The 4-H/FFA sheep showmanship will be at 1 p.m. at the Burns Pavilion. Also at 1 p.m. is the 4-H/FFA small animal master showmanship in the small animal barn.

The 4-H public fashion revue will happen at 6:30 p.m. this evening on the Les Schwab stage and Bonney’s Ag Childrens Tractor pull gets under way at 7 p.m. at the main fair entrance.

The carnival rides open at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit the fair’s website.

The 4-H/FFA sheep showmanship will be at 1 p.m. today at the Burns Pavilion.