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LA GRANDE — This year’s Union County Fair will run July 31 through Aug. 3 at the fairgrounds. The 2024 theme is “Sew It, Grow It and Show It.”

“This year’s Union County Fair will start with a kick-off parade on Sunday, July 28,” Kathy Gover-Shaw, fair manager, said. “The line-up starts at 4 p.m. and the parade begins at 5 p.m. The route starts at Aaron’s to the public library, as usual.”

The fair entrance gates will open each day at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. The food and craft vendors all open at 10 a.m.

“The Bouncin’ Bins will open at 1 p.m. each day, and that is what we have because we don’t have a carnival,” Gover-Shaw said.

That includes a zip line, a professional mechanical bull, several water obstacles, a big water slide, a double bungee trampoline and a gyro ride.

There will also be an axe-throwing event.

“For presale wristbands for the Bouncin’ Bins activities, you can go to Tap That Growlers and buy your wristband for $20 each (unlimited rides one-day use),” Gover-Shaw said. “At the entrance, wristbands will cost $25.”

Fair wristbands are also available on the Union County Fair website under the “Store” link.

Keeping with tradition, there will be a lineup of 4-H and FFA events where kids can exhibit their projects and compete for ribbons.

“The awards will be on the last day of the fair,” Gover-Shaw said.

There is also a great lineup of entertainment on both the small stage and the main stage every night. The full schedule is on the fair website under the “Fair Schedule” link.

Audiences will be excited to see this year’s entertainers: Cory Peterson, Randy Woody, Sage and Stone, Lance and Lea, The Wasteland Kings, Dark Desert Highway (Eagles Cover Band), 4NI, and Mike, Gerry and Al.

“On Friday night, we will have the well-known group Lance and Lea performing,” Gover-Shaw said. “Then on Saturday, we have an Eagles cover band coming in and performing starting at 8 p.m., so that will be a fun one.”

There will also be a couple of dance groups on the entertainment schedule, including Dance Passion Studio and Becky’s Dance Studio.

The fair schedule is updated periodically, so Gover-Shaw recommends checking the website, unioncountyfair.org, for the latest information.

If You Go

The Union County Fair kickoff parade is Sunday, July 31, at 5 p.m. in downtown La Grande. Then, the fair events run July 31-Aug. 3 at the fairgrounds.

July 31

10 a.m.: Fiddlers Club

11:30 a.m.: Blue Plate Special

1 p.m.: Dance Passion Studio

2 p.m.: Sage and Stone

5:30 p.m.: Elkhorn Media Talent Show

Aug. 1

8 a.m.: The BlueMountaineers

10 a.m.: Bad Penny Pleasuremakers

11:30 a.m.: Savage Serpents

1:30 p.m.: Fading Sage

4 p.m.: Garreson

6 p.m.: Becky’s Dance Studio

7 p.m.: Mike, Gerry and Al

Aug. 2

10 a.m.: LEGO competition

1:30 p.m.: Randy Woody

4 p.m.: Billy Stoops

6:30 p.m.: 14N1

8 p.m.: Lance & Lea

Aug. 3

10 a.m.: FFA awards

11 a.m.: 4H awards

1 p.m.: 4H fashion show

2:30 p.m.: Aaron Harris

4 p.m.: Maranili and Friends

5 p.m.: Cory Peterson

7 p.m.: The Wasteland Kings

8 p.m.: Dark Desert Highway (Eagles cover band)