Multnomah County Fair still thrives at “The Oaks”

By David F. Ashton

The Bee, Jul 7, 2010

Both hailing from Sellwood, Sophia Yigzaw, and Hadley Harmon dance on stage with County Queens from around the region.

David F. Ashton / THE BEE

A steady downpour didn’t slow down volunteers as they set up for the 104th Annual Multnomah County Fair. This historic annual event took place over the Memorial Day weekend at Oaks Amusement Park, on the east bank of the Willamette River just north of the Sellwood Bridge.

Opening day, Saturday, May 29, didn’t look much better – as a few hearty fairgoers picked their way among the puddles.

But, the sunshine that broke through the clouds on the following two days attracted record crowds to the annual three-day event – long abandoned by the County, but kept vital by volunteers such as Lillian Adams, selected by the volunteer Board of the fair as its spokesperson.

“I’ve been a volunteer with the Multnomah County Fair for about 30 years,” Adams reflected, from the porch of the Dance Pavilion. “It seems odd to have a county fair that’s not sponsored or supported by its county. After they gave up supporting it, we could no longer have it at the Expo Center, and we moved around until we found a great ‘home’ here at Oaks Park.”

Instead of withering away, the volunteer-run fair has grown every year, Adams smiled, since being welcomed by the non-profit, and equally historic, Oaks Amusement Park.

Although the fair departments are given a small honorarium – they’re in charge of setting up and administering all of the various departments’ displays and competitions – the fair runs with the aid of a cadre of volunteers, Adams explained.

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