Jackson County Fair Opens Tuesday in Central Point
The six-day fair returns July 14-19 with concerts, bull riding, carnival attractions, livestock events, exhibits and family entertainment at The Expo.
Jackson County Fair Fast Facts
Dates: Tuesday, July 14, through Sunday, July 19, 2026
Location: The Expo, 21 Peninger Road, Central Point
Theme: Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights
Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 4-11p
Friday-Saturday: 11a-12a
Sunday: 11a-7p
Admission:
Tuesday only: $2.50
Regular daily: $15
Season pass: $35
Seniors 62-74: $5
Children under 12: Free
Adults 75 and up: Free
Sunday: Free for everyone
Parking:
Expo: $10
Crater HS: Free*
Back 40: Free*
*Off-site shuttle available
Headline Events:
Tuesday: Bull Riding
Wednesday: Ian Munsick
Thursday: Chris Young
Friday: Real McCoy, DJ Skribble and C+C Music Factory
Saturday: La Original Banda El Limón
More Attractions: Carnival rides, 4-H and FFA livestock events, junior livestock auctions, creative arts exhibits, Expo’s Got Talent, AgVenture activities and grounds entertainment.
Young livestock exhibitors display ribbons earned during competition at the Jackson County Fair. Photo courtesy of Jackson County Fair / The Expo
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. — By Tuesday afternoon, The Expo will begin settling into the rhythm that has defined county fair week for generations.
Livestock exhibitors will move through the barns, carnival rides will come to life, food vendors will begin serving the first crowds and evening entertainment will take over stages across the grounds.
The 2026 Jackson County Fair opens to the public Tuesday, July 14, and continues through Sunday, July 19, at The Expo, 21 Peninger Road in Central Point. This year’s theme is “Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights.”
The fair brings together two sides of a Southern Oregon summer tradition. One is built around bright midway lights, concerts, food and rides. The other unfolds in livestock barns, exhibit halls and auction rings, where young participants and local residents display work that began long before opening day.
Fairgoers help carry a large American flag through the crowd during an evening gathering at the Jackson County Fair. Photo courtesy of Jackson County Fair / The Expo
Opening Day and Fair Hours
The fair opens from 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Hours expand to 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, followed by a final day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Opening-day admission is $2.50 in recognition of America’s 250th birthday. Beginning Wednesday, daily admission purchased during fair week is $15, while a season pass is $35.
Seniors ages 62 to 74 may enter for $5. Admission is free for people 75 and older and for children 12 and younger throughout the fair. Admission will also be free for everyone Sunday.
Tuesday night’s featured event is the Challenge of Champions Bull Riding competition at the Seven Feathers Event Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with bull riding scheduled from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Bull riding tickets are $10 and do not include admission to the fair.
A crowd gathers at the Bi-Mart Amphitheater ahead of a concert during the Jackson County Fair. Photo courtesy of Jackson County Fair / The Expo
Four Nights of Amphitheater Concerts
The Bi-Mart Amphitheater schedule begins Wednesday with country artist Ian Munsick.
Chris Young takes the stage Thursday, followed Friday by a lineup featuring Real McCoy, DJ Skribble and C+C Music Factory. La Original Banda El Limón closes the amphitheater concert series Saturday.
Amphitheater gates open at 6 p.m. each night, with performances scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Lawn seating for the headline concerts is included with fair admission. Reserved and upgraded seating is available separately.
The concert lineup moves through several styles across four nights, beginning with two country shows before shifting to dance and hip-hop hits Friday and regional Mexican music Saturday.
Music will not be limited to the amphitheater. Grounds entertainment includes performances by the Dagger Band and Radio Ready, along with roaming and family attractions throughout the week.
Riders swing above the midway as carnival lights fill the night during the Jackson County Fair. Photo courtesy of Jackson County Fair / The Expo
Midway Rides and Daily Entertainment
The carnival remains one of the fair’s largest attractions, with rides ranging from children’s favorites and a carousel to faster thrill rides.
On-site carnival pricing includes a daily unlimited-ride wristband for $45. A package of 40 ride coupons costs $35, while 24 coupons cost $25. Individual ride coupons are $2.
Away from the midway, the fairgrounds will host a mix of performances and interactive attractions.
Mars Encounters will bring an educational space-themed presentation to the grounds, while the Hydrogen Rocket Refueling Station offers a large inflatable attraction for children. Rebecca “Fireplug” will appear as a roaming stilt performer, interacting with visitors and posing for photos.
Expo’s Got Talent will also give local performers an opportunity to take the Center Stage during the fair. The all-ages talent competition offered more than $1,000 in cash prizes to selected participants.
Families can also visit the AgVenture Scavenger Hunt inside the Seven Feathers Event Center. The agriculture-focused activity introduces children to the ways farming affects everyday life through interactive displays involving animals, crops and other parts of local agriculture. Participants can also enter for a chance to win a $50 Family Fun Center gift card.
A young exhibitor presents a steer during livestock competition at the Jackson County Fair. Photo courtesy of Jackson County Fair / The Expo
Livestock, 4-H and FFA Remain at the Center
Long before the first carnival ride starts moving, local 4-H and FFA members will already have spent days caring for animals, preparing exhibits and competing in events.
The livestock barns remain one of the fair’s most important stops, giving visitors a closer look at cattle, swine, poultry and other animals raised by young exhibitors.
For many participants, the livestock program represents months of work involving feeding, recordkeeping, animal care, financial planning and showmanship.
That work culminates in the Jackson County Junior Livestock Auctions.
The swine auction is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, in Olsrud Arena, following a barbecue at 5 p.m. The steer and poultry auction will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 18, with another barbecue beginning at 5 p.m.
Money raised through the auctions supports the young exhibitors, helping cover project expenses while also providing funds that may be used for future livestock projects or education.
The agriculture experience extends beyond competition. The barns and displays give fair visitors a chance to meet exhibitors, ask questions and see the work involved in raising animals responsibly.
FFA members arrange flowers for exhibition during the Jackson County Fair. Photo courtesy of Jackson County Fair / The Expo
Blue Ribbons Beyond the Barns
The fair’s competitive exhibits also showcase work created in homes, gardens, workshops and studios across Jackson County.
Creative Arts exhibits include flowers and landscaping, photography, needlework, sewing, crafts, baking, food preservation and decorating. Displays also feature gems, minerals, fossils and handcrafted jewelry.
Together, the exhibit halls offer a quieter counterpart to the midway and concert grounds, preserving the fair’s long tradition of recognizing local skill, creativity and knowledge.
Parking and Transportation
The 2026 Jackson County Fair parking map shows paid lots at The Expo and free off-site parking with shuttle service from Crater High School and the Back 40. Courtesy of Jackson County Fair / The Expo
Parking in The Expo’s Peninger Road lots is $10.
Free off-site parking is available at the Crater High School football area and the Back 40 property on Gebhard Road. Free shuttle service will connect those parking areas with the fairgrounds.
With several large evening events scheduled, visitors should allow extra time for parking, security and travel around Central Point.
The Jackson County Fair runs Tuesday, July 14, through Sunday, July 19, at The Expo in Central Point. Fair organizers recommend checking the daily schedule before arriving, as entertainment, livestock events and activities vary throughout the week.
Cover image: The Expo Wheel glows against the night sky during the Jackson County Fair in Central Point. Photo courtesy of Jackson County Fair / The Expo
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