Today is the first day of the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo that runs through Sunday, August 4th, taking place at the Fair & Expo Center over in Redmond. This is always a family favorite event (one we don’t get to often enough, unfortunately) with tons of stuff going on, including live music every night through Saturday (those concerts are free if you pick up the tickets at any local McDonalds on Wednesday—today—from 2 to 7pm; if you want to attend any of the concerts you’d better pick those up today!).

My favorite parts of the Fair are the livestock and craft exhibits, while my kids love the rides and carney games. Personally I think the rides and games are a bit too expensive, though today is Pepsi Day and all day long all rides are 30% off which is a good deal.

Here’s a more-or-less concise guide to the Fair and what’s going on each day:

Admission prices:

• Adults (13+) $10/day
• Children (6-12) $6/day
• Children (5 yrs & under) Free
• Seniors (62 and over) $6/day 
• Adult 5-day pass $19
• Children & Seniors 5-Day Pass $11
• Wednesday July 31st – Seniors 62+ Free
• Sunday $5 admission all day all ages

Daily:

• Wednesday, July 31: Hours 10am to 10pm
  • Pepsi Day: 30% off all rides from 11am to 10pm, no coupon required; free admission to seniors age 62 and up
  • Concert: Cheap Trick, 7pm (gates open at 5:30): Free ticket available from McDonalds Wednesday from 2 to 7pm (does not include fair admission price)
  • Rodeo: 7pm, free with paid Fair gate admission
• Thursday, August 1: Hours 10am to 10pm
  • NewsChannel 21/Fox Day: One free ride ticket with a donation of a canned food item (details at events.ktvz.com); free admission to kids 12 and under
  • Concert: Kip Moore, 7pm (gates open at 5:30): Free ticket available from McDonalds Wednesday from 2 to 7pm (does not include fair admission price)
  • Rodeo: 7pm, free with paid Fair gate admission
• Friday, August 2: Hours 10am to 11pm
  • Bulletin & Mid Oregon Credit Union Day: All carnival games are only $2 all day
  • Concert: Aaron Tippin, 7pm (gates open at 5:30): Free ticket available from McDonalds Wednesday from 2 to 7pm (does not include fair admission price)
  • Rodeo: 7pm, free with paid Fair gate admission
• Saturday, August 3: Hours 10am to 11pm
  • Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo Parade, 10am, downtown Redmond; 94th running of this parade, purports to be Central Oregon’s oldest and largest
  • Concert: Kansas, 7pm (gates open at 5:30): Free ticket available from McDonalds Wednesday from 2 to 7pm (does not include fair admission price)
  • Rodeo: 7pm, free with paid Fair gate admission
• Sunday, August 4: Hours 10am to 5pm
  • KOHD TV Day: $25 wristband for all the rides you care to ride, a free game, and $1 off food item in carnival; $5 admission for everyone
  • Buckaroo Breakfast: 6 to 10am, 10am, $8 adults, $5 kids. Hearty home-cooked breakfast enjoyed with community & music

And the Bulletin has their Family Fun Zone all week long as well, free with paid Fair admission and offering games, contests, shows and more.

Are you going?