2011 Tillamook County Fair Events

The Tillamook County Fair rightly received their recognition as one of the top ten Blue Ribbon fairs in the nation because it is so unique and offers so much for fairgoers to enjoy for free once they have paid their admission to enter the fair. Fairgoers this year will be able to see all of the Open Class and 4-H/FFA exhibits that Tillamook County residents have prepared for the fair. They will see more dairy animals on display than any other County Fair in the state.

The Huckleberry Health Fair will provide many free health screenings on Thursday and Friday. Fairgoers can take in daily courtyard entertainment from 10 am to 7:30 pm, enjoy walk around acts Semore the Robot, comedy juggler Curtis Carlyle and Karen Quest - Cowgirl Tricks or they can be hypnotized by Tammy Barton and have balloon artists Dr. Fun and Dr. Good make something special for them out of balloons. Fairgoers will also have the opportunity to watch demonstrations by Brad’s WORLD REPTILES, enjoy four days of live Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing and experience the excitement of the World famous Pig-N-Ford Races. There will be four free grandstand shows featuring national country music group Lonestar, classic rock group 38 Special, country music artist Neal McCoy and a Demolition Derby. The Fair Board is sure that fairgoers will agree when leaving the 2011 Tillamook County Fair was "SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT".

*Your Tillamook County Fair admission ticket provides free grandstand entertainment every night of the fair. The concerts are free with paid admission to the fair. There is no reserved seating for the concert, but you can save seats in the grandstand as long as someone from your party is always sitting there. We will open up the track in front of the stage at around 6pm for standing room only for the concerts.

(Photo by Elaine Cummings)

Pig-N-Ford Races The PIG-N-FORD RACES are world famous and have been part of the Tillamook County Fair for over 86 years. This event always fills the Averill Arena to capacity. There will be two races Thursday, Friday and Saturday, starting at 5:30 p.m. Winners of these races will compete in the World Championship Finals on Saturday immediately following the two qualifying races.

Be sure to get your seat in the grandstands early to enjoy these crowd-pleasing and exciting races. Tillamook's own PIG-N-FORD RACES have been featured on Good Morning America, KATU's "Spirit of the Northwest", National Geographic, the Internet and Comedy Central. They are an integral part of the Tillamook County Fair.

(Photo by Elaine Cummings)

Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing will be again providing fun, excitement and a chance to wager during the Tillamook County Fair. There will be four days of Horse Racing again with eight races on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and nine races on Saturday. Post time will be 1:00 p.m. each day. Horsemen will be vying for around $75,000 in purse money thanks to the support from the Oregon Racing Commission, H.B.P.A., O.T.O.B.A. and nine businesses and families sponsoring feature races.

Twenty-one races will have $2,000 purses, six will have $2,500 purses, four will have $3,000 purses and two will have $4,000 purses. An excellent field of horses to wager on for this year’s Race Meet is expected and Jockey’s will again be competing for bonus money from the Oregon Racing Commission for participating in the Race Meet. A special thank you to Chinook Winds Casino and Resort for sponsoring the halter and lead ropes for this year’s Race Meet. 

Lonestar - Wednesday 8/10* Country band Lonestar was the 2001 Country Music Awards Vocal Group of the Year. They have had ten singles reach #1 on the Country Charts since 2000. They include “Tequila Talking”, “Amazed”, “Walking in Memphis”, “I’m Already There” and “Mr. Mom”. Current members of Lonestar include Keech Rainwater, Michael Collins, Dean Sams and Cody Collins. Sponsored by TLC Federal Credit Union, Sheldon Oil Company and Bank of Astoria.

38 Special - Thursday 8/11* Classic American Rock and Roll Band 38 Special has been performing for over thirty years and they have sold over 20 million records. 38 Special is considered one of the pre-eminent live bands touring today. Their hit songs include “Hold On Loosely”, “Rockin’ Into the Night”, “Caught Up in You”, “If I’d Been the One” and “Back Where You Belong”. Sponsored by the Tillamook County Creamery Association and Les Schwab Tires.

Neal McCoy - Friday 8/12* Country singing Legend Neal McCoy was voted Entertainer of the Year by TNN/Music City News in both 1998 and 1999. He is well known for his concerts being unpredictable and crowd pleasing. Neal McCoy has produced one gold and three platinum albums. His hit songs include “No Doubt About It”, “They’re Playing Our Song”, “Wink” and “Billy’s Got His beer Goggles On”. Sponsored by Tillamook County Merchants.

Demolition Derby - Saturday 8/13* The 2011 Tillamook County Fair will end again with a giant Demolition Derby. HAVOC Productions will be promoting this event for the fourteenth year. They have done a great job of getting local participation. Participants will be vying for over $1,700.00 in prize money. Entry blanks and official rules are available at the Fair Office. Sponsored by Carson Oil Company, Headlight Herald and Clatsop Distributing Company.

Photo by Elaine Cummings

Carnival HAWORTH FAMILY SHOWS will be providing fun and exciting rides for the entire family again this year. From kiddie rides to thrill rides and a variety of games of chance, HAWORTH FAMILY SHOWS has it all. Back by popular demand, HAWORTH FAMILY SHOWS will be offering "All You Can Ride" coupons at a discount if purchased before the fair begins. They will be good for all of the Carnival rides ALL DAY, ANY DAY of the fair for $25.00.

The "All You Can Ride" coupons MUST be purchased by Tuesday, August 9th. Fairgoers then bring the coupon to the fair and exchange it at the Carnival ticket booths for a wristband. The wristband will be good all day, any day from noon until 10:30 pm. Fairgoers will be able to purchase “All You Can Ride” wristbands during the fair, but they will cost $30.00. The "All You Can Ride" coupons are one of the best values available for families during the fair. Be sure to take advantage of this offer.

HAWORTH FAMILY SHOWS does not allow children under the age of two or pregnant women to ride any of their rides. Adults wanting to ride along with their children MUST have tickets or a wristband.

Purchase your coupons prior to the fair at: TLC Federal Credit Union, Godfrey's Garibaldi Pharmacy, Cloverdale Pharmacy, Bank of Astoria, Wheeler Pharmacy, Tillamook Pharmacy or at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds Office.

Brad's World Reptiles Brad's World Reptiles will be returning to exhibit zoo-quality displays of up to 40 varieties of animals in the building across from the Pioneer Building in the courtyard. Fairgoers will have the opportunity to learn about, view and even touch some of the most beautiful and unusual animals on our planet. Stop by Brad's World Reptiles exhibit and see such show stoppers as a four foot American Alligator, a giant Burmese Python, beautiful parrots, huge live insects and many other fascinating creepy crawlies and animal artifacts!

Animals will be available for touching or handling. Wildlife interpreters will be there to answer questions, provide information, or give presentations. There will also be demonstrations on the Courtyard Stage a couple times a day to allow a more hands on experience. Brad's World Reptiles will train a few volunteer handlers from the community to help educate the rest of the public. Call the Fair Office if you are interested in volunteering. Sponsored by KTIL and Robert Warren Trucking.

Hypnotist - Tammy Barton Hypnotist Tammy Barton will be performing her hypnosis show at the Tillamook County Fair for the third year in a row. She is one of the most talented, respected and sought after hypnotists in the country today. Tammy Barton selects willing volunteers from the audience and then puts them into a state of hypnosis. Only the imagination of her volunteers will limit their journey. Tammy Barton always maintains the highest level of respect for her volunteers and never embarrasses or humiliates them on stage. Sponsored by Shilo Inns.

Dr. Fun and Dr. Good Balloon Artists Dr. Fun and Dr. Good have been a part of the Tillamook County Fair for over twenty years. They can be found each day of the fair from noon to 4:00 pm near the East end of the TLC Stadium in the Courtyard creating animals and hats out of balloons. Fairgoers of all ages enjoy having Dr. Fun and Dr. Good share their balloon artistry with them. Sponsored by the City of Tillamook.

Curtis Carlyle -Comic Juggler Curtis Carlyle is a comedy juggler who fuses juggling skills with fresh and innovative comedy. Curtis Carlyle has been performing around the United States for the past ten years. Eight of those years, he was part of the Vanillatown Vaudevillians. Career highlights include thousands of comedy juggling shows, national tours, a bronze medal from the International Juggling Association and a featured role at the Hershey Amusement Park. Curtis Carlyle is an award winning juggler, snappy dresser and witty comedian who will leave fairgoers awe struck and wanting more. Sponsored by Pacific Seafood.

Semore The Robot Semore The Robot will be making his first appearance at the Tillamook County Fair. He is owned and operated by Jules Bamberger of Atlas Robotics and he promises to add excitement and fun during the fair. Semore The Robot is an interactive robot that will speak and entertain fairgoers throughout the fairgrounds. Fairgoers of all ages will have the chance to ask Semore The Robot anything they want and will feel something magical and exciting when they hear his answers. Sponsored by Denny's.

Karen Quest – Cowgirl Tricks Karen Quest – Cowgirl Tricks returns to the Tillamook County Fair with her unique fun-filled vaudeville-style western comedy act complete with trick roping, whip cracking, music and lots of surprises. Karen Quest – Cowgirl Tricks has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Japan and various European countries. Fairgoers will be able to catch her act twice a day on the Courtyard Stage and they may see her perform as “Lucky Starr” – an eight-foot tall cowgirl – who walks around the fairgrounds engaging audiences with her special brand of western humor. Sponsored by The Garibaldi House Inn & Suites.

Photo by Elaine Cummings

Courtyard Entertainment The Courtyard Stage is the “Hub” of the fairgrounds. Not only is it the meeting place for friends and family, but fairgoers can also watch a wide variety of entertainment acts during the fair. The Courtyard Stage is busy daily from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm.

This year the Fair Board has scheduled a full line-up of entertainment including Tillamook School of Dance, Oregon Coast Dance Center, The Rose City Banjoliers, The Birdsong Family, Curtis Carlyle, Comedy Juggler, Karen Quest, Cowgirl Tricks, Hypnotist, Tammy Barton and Brad’s WORLD REPTILES Demonstrations. Sponsored by TLC Federal Credit Union.

Photo by Elaine Cummings

Gospel Sing Local area churches will be providing a variety of vocal and instrumental groups, dancers and soloists on the Courtyard Stage on Wednesday, August 10th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Elaine Faulkner will be coordinating the line-up of entertainment that has proven so popular the past few years. Sponsored by Local Area Churches.