What Are Your Plans for the State Fair?

I’ll confess it, when I heard that the music for the 2022 Oregon State Fair was going to be called the “Columbia Bank Concert Series,” my first thought was, “The Fair’s going to be held beside the Columbia River this year, not in Salem?” 

Then I saw that it was going to be in Salem – it was just going to be sponsored by an institution called the Columbia Bank. Um, okay. If the State Fair tells me there’s a genuine financial institution called the Columbia Bank, I’ll believe it, although if a stranger tried to hand me a check written on the “Columbia Bank,” I’d have laughed and said, “Yeah, sure, do you have an account with the Grand Bank of Newfoundland, too?” 

So okay, the Columbia Bank Concert Series is at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, at 2330 17th St NE, Salem… located about 45 miles from the banks of the Columbia River… and about 45 minutes from Corvallis. But if you go to the Fairgrounds, that’s where you get to hear the music.  

What music? Well, depending on which night you choose between August 30 and September 5, you’ll hear – and I’m assuming see – Shaggy, Bethel Music, TLC, Scotty McCreery, the Beach Boys, and/or Nelly. You can get your tickets now, too! How does that grab you? 

Don’t want to be grabbed by music alone? There are other things to do at the Fair besides listen to music. Like go on rides, see the animals competing for ribbons, look through the Artisan Village, see the strolling performers, and much, much more.  

It’s all a great way to plan for the end of summer all spring long. 

By John M. Burt