Photo: Bill Roush
Photo: Andrea Alvarado
Photo: Bill Roush
Marion County Fair
★4.3(618 reviews)$$Amusement Park
🕑 4-6 hours👶 Best for ages 3-14. Toddlers and preschoolers enjoy the petting zoo, gentle kiddie rides, and colorful exhibits, while elementary and middle school kids love the bigger carnival rides, games, competitive exhibits, and live entertainment. Teens appreciate the thrill rides and fair atmosphere.🧡 Saved by 24 families
About
The Marion County Fair brings classic summer fun to Salem with everything families love about traditional county fairs,carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, live entertainment, and tasty fair food. Kids can pet farm animals, watch 4-H competitions, enjoy thrilling rides, play midway games, and experience the excitement of this beloved annual summer tradition that's been entertaining Oregon families for generations.
Highlights
- ✓Classic carnival rides ranging from gentle kiddie rides to thrilling attractions for older kids and teens
- ✓Agricultural exhibits featuring farm animals, 4-H competitions, and hands-on petting zoo experiences
- ✓Midway games with prizes that kids love
- ✓Live entertainment including concerts, shows, and demonstrations throughout the day
- ✓Traditional fair food favorites from cotton candy to corn dogs
Pro Tips
- 1.Arrive right when gates open on Friday or Saturday to beat crowds and tackle popular rides first,lines get significantly longer in the afternoon and evening
- 2.Purchase ride wristbands in advance online for discounted rates rather than buying individual tickets at the gate
- 3.Bring cash for games, food vendors, and smaller concessions as not all vendors accept cards, and ATM lines can be long
- 4.Check the daily schedule for free entertainment, animal shows, and demonstrations to plan your visit around kid-favorite activities
- 5.Pack sunscreen, hats, and refillable water bottles,summer heat on the fairgrounds can be intense with limited shade
Best Time to Visit
Visit on Thursday afternoon (opening day) for smaller crowds and shorter ride lines, or come Sunday morning for a more relaxed pace before the 6 PM closing. Weekday visits are significantly less crowded than Friday and Saturday evenings when families and teens pack the fairgrounds.
What to Know
General admission tickets are required with additional costs for ride wristbands or individual ride tickets; parking is available on-site (expect fees during peak times). The fairgrounds offer typical fair food options from corn dogs to funnel cakes, plus local food vendors and agricultural exhibits.
Seasonal Notes
The Marion County Fair operates for approximately one week during mid-July each summer. Check the official website for exact dates each year as they vary slightly. This is a seasonal event only,the fairgrounds are not open year-round for this experience.
Nearby Eats
Ritter's Frozen Custard (about 2 miles away) offers a cool post-fair treat kids love, or visit The Original Pancake House on nearby Commercial Street for a hearty breakfast before heading to the fairgrounds.
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