Lincoln County Fair Back At The Fairgrounds

Fair Manager and OSU 4-H agent Heather Tower told county commissioners during their June 3 meeting that the Lincoln County Fair is set to return to Newport this summer with a full slate of events, including a carnival, rodeo, live music and 4-H activities. The 2026 fair will run Thursday, July 2, through Saturday, July 4, primarily at the Lincoln County Commons in Newport. Tower said the event will use the rodeo grounds for the rodeo and close much of Harney Street for the rest of the fair activities.

“We are back in Newport, mostly at the commons,” Tower said. “We’re going to be utilizing a portion of the fairgrounds for the event, namely the rodeo grounds… and I’m going to be using a bulk of Harney Street to do kind of everything else.” This year’s fair will feature a full carnival for the first time in roughly a decade. Tower said Lincoln County has contracted with Brass Ring Amusements, a Northern California company that will be including Newport on its Oregon tour.

She estimated the fair has not had a full carnival since about 2017. Carnival access will require tickets or wristbands, but general fair admission to the Lincoln County Fair remains free. Tower reported that the fair will include a main stage with live music all three days, along with a full 4-H program. Youth will show livestock, hold their traditional market auction on Friday, July 3 at 3 p.m., and display static exhibits such as canning, arts and crafts. Open class entries are returning as well, and online entry is already available through the fair website, www.thelincolncountyfair.com.

The 2026 event will also tie into the nation’s semiquincentennial. “I’m sure everybody is aware that it is the 250th birthday of America this year,” Tower said, adding that the fair theme and activities will incorporate Fourth of July celebrations. To avoid conflicts with other holiday events, the rodeo will run Friday evening and a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m., so families can still attend fireworks elsewhere that night.

Samaritan Health Services is serving as the title sponsor for the fair, and ACE Hardware in Newport is the premier rodeo sponsor. Tower said both sponsors have supported the event for years. Vendor spaces are still available, but only for outdoor booths this year due to ongoing redevelopment work at the Commons. Tower emphasized that the Lincoln County Fair remains a county-wide community event. She invited the public to attend and support local youth.