North Douglas County Fair Returns to Drain for Three Days of Community Traditions
The North Douglas County Fair returns to Drain July 24–26 with a parade, car show, live music, youth activities, contests, exhibits, food and more. The longtime community tradition brings three days of events to the Drain Civic Center.
DRAIN, Ore. - One of Oregon’s longest-running community celebrations will return to northern Douglas County later this month.
The North Douglas County Fair is scheduled for July 24 through July 26 on the grounds of the Drain Civic Center and the historic Methodist Church. Established in 1922, organizers describe it as the oldest continuously held fair in Oregon. The event brings together residents from Drain, Yoncalla, Elkton, Rice Hill, Scottsburg and Curtin.
Although the fair officially opens Friday, preparations will begin earlier in the week. Community members entering items in the exhibit hall can drop them off from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, or from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 23. Exhibit judging begins Thursday evening.
The exhibit hall gives local residents an opportunity to display homegrown produce, flowers, baked goods, canned foods, textiles, photography, artwork, crafts and other projects. Ribbons and cash prizes are available in a variety of categories.
Friday Focuses on Kids and Teens
The fair opens at noon Friday, along with the exhibit hall, vendor market, ice cream parlor and water slide.
Kid Day at the Fair begins at 3 p.m. with photo booths, a water slide, temporary tattoos, tractor rides, a bubble station and parachute activities. The WOWtruck opens at 4 p.m., when several traditional fair competitions will also begin.
Friday afternoon’s contests include a diaper derby, sack races, an egg-and-spoon race, a pie-eating contest and a dime toss.
Teen Night begins at 7 p.m. and will include the North Douglas County Fair queen coronation, Teen Take Over, cornhole, basketball, Connect 4, face painting, a relay and additional activities. A family movie is scheduled for 8:30 p.m., with the fair closing at 10 p.m.
Parade, Car Show and Live Music Planned Saturday
Saturday begins with the annual fair parade at 10 a.m. The fairgrounds, exhibit hall, vendor market and water slide will also open at that time.
The One More Time Marching Band and car show begin at 11 a.m. At noon, visitors can stop by the ice cream parlor, watch the opening of the WOWtruck, meet the fair princesses or enter the cornhole tournament.
Booher’s Family Band will perform at 1 p.m., followed by the pie auction at 3 p.m. The lumberjack games begin at 4 p.m.
A merchant raffle and cake walk are planned for 6 p.m., followed by an evening performance from the Muddy Creek Band at 7 p.m. Saturday’s activities continue until 10 p.m.
Sunday Brings Breakfast, Worship and Gospel Music
The final day opens at 10 a.m. Sunday with the exhibit hall, vendor market and North Douglas Travel Club pancake breakfast.
A worship service begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by Church at the Fair at 11 a.m. Gospel Hour is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
Exhibitors can begin collecting their entries at 1 p.m. The 2026 North Douglas County Fair concludes at 2 p.m.
The fair remains largely powered by volunteers, local organizations and businesses from throughout northern Douglas County. Organizers are continuing to seek community members willing to help, with some volunteer shifts lasting as little as two hours.
A complete schedule and additional information are available through the North Douglas County Fair’s official website.
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