What the Jackson County Fair Is
The Jackson County Fair is the Rogue Valley's summer fair at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point, a six-day event that has run for more than 150 years. It combines carnival rides, headline concerts, a talent contest and a 4-H and FFA livestock program with one of the largest junior livestock auctions on the West Coast. The most recent edition ran July 14 to 19, 2026, under the theme "Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights," honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States. The theme was chosen in a community contest. The details below come from the 2025 fair, the most recent with a published program.
Hours, Admission and Parking (2025)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | Tuesday to Thursday 4-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight; Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| General admission | Pre-sale from $12; kids 12 and under free; Sunday free for everyone |
| Weekend pass | $90 for unlimited rides and admission |
| Parking | $10 per car Wednesday through Saturday; free Tuesday and Sunday |
Tickets were sold online at tickets.attheexpo.com/tickets and at the admission booth. Gate admission in 2024 rose 12.2 percent over 2023 and brought in more than $1.1 million, and organizers projected 75,000 to 80,000 visitors across the six days in 2025.
Livestock and Junior Auction
4-H and FFA members exhibit and are judged on poultry, rabbits, lambs and cattle, alongside about 300 pigs and 127 steers in 2025. Two auctions close out the animals' season:
- Swine auction: 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
- Steer and poultry auction: 7 p.m., Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Exhibitors and their families should confirm the current class list and entry rules with the Expo's fairgrounds office.
Entertainment
- Concerts at the Bi-Mart Amphitheater, 2025 lineup: The Outlaw Mariachi, Jo Dee Messina, Kansas, Skillet and a Taylor Swift tribute, one each night Tuesday through Saturday. Start times and ticket prices are at attheexpo.com/fair/headline-entertainment.
- Big Talent Contest, 4-7 p.m. daily, with a $1,000 prize for the winner. Performers apply through the fair's Eventeny listing.
- A new Kids' Zone in 2025, with kids' activities, carnival-style attractions, bird presentations from Wildlife Wendy and water play.
- Paul Maurer Carnival rides, from gentle rides to high-thrill ones such as the large pendulum ride "Freak Out," plus fried foods.
Where
Jackson County Expo, 21 Peninger Rd, Central Point, Oregon 97502. The fairgrounds office phone is 541-774-8270.
Questions
When is the fair free?
In 2025, Sunday was free for everyone, and kids 12 and under were always free.
Is parking free?
Not every day: $10 per car Wednesday through Saturday in 2025, free Tuesday and Sunday.
Can anyone enter the talent contest?
Performers apply through the fair's Eventeny page. The winner receives $1,000.
Official Links
- Jackson County Fair
- Rogue Valley Times: Jackson County Fair preview
- 2026 theme announcement
- 2026 Jackson County Fair on Eventeny
Oregon County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Oregon county fairs are where most 4-H and FFA exhibitors show and sell market animals. Each fair has its own book, but a few patterns hold.
Timing
Northeast Oregon fairs cluster from late July into early September, per a regional byway listing. The 2026 Oregon State Fair ran August 28 to September 7 in Salem, per KPTV.
Rules to watch
Union County's 2026 fair book requires 4-H enrollment by February 1, YQCA training, 60 days of care for sheep, goats and swine, and 120 for steers. Only blue and red ribbon animals sell, with a 4 percent commission.
State Fair
At the state level, the Oregon State Fair 4-H handbook says market hogs, steers, goats, lambs, rabbits and chickens go home with the exhibitor rather than selling, and 4-H animals need a YQCA certificate at check-in, per the combined fair book.
Next steps
Get your county fair book from the Extension 4-H office and mark every deadline. Dates and weights change each year.
Read the full guide: Oregon County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Medford Pear Blossom Festival Street Fair
Spring street fair in Medford tied to the Pear Blossom celebration of Rogue Valley orchards. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-04-10 to 2027-04-11, and organizers may adjust them.
Medford, OR Official event details - High Desert Stampede
High Desert Stampede brings professional and community rodeo action to Redmond in Deschutes County. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-03-31 to 2027-04-03, and organizers may adjust them.
Redmond, OR Official event details - Northwest Cherry Festival
Cherry-country festival in The Dalles celebrating the Columbia Gorge fruit season. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-04-23 to 2027-04-25, and organizers may adjust them.
The Dalles, OR Official event details - Oregon AG Fest
Family-oriented agriculture education festival in Salem showcasing Oregon farms and livestock. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-04-24 to 2027-04-25, and organizers may adjust them.
Salem, OR Official event details - Arlington Jackpot Rodeo
Arlington Jackpot Rodeo brings professional and community rodeo action to Arlington in Gilliam County. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-05-01 to 2027-05-02, and organizers may adjust them.
Arlington, OR Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.