The Tillamook County Fair is an annual event that takes place August in the city of Tillamook in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The county fair was established in 1891. The fairgrounds have the largest facility in the county for conventions, meetings, receptions, and other gatherings. Fair attendance continues to grow, with attendance topping 70,000 annually.
History
The land for the current fairgrounds was donated in 1921, when a county-wide levy of $1 million was passed for acquisition and building of the site.
The fair went on hiatus in 1917–18, 1942–45.
Pig-N-Ford Races
The Pig-N-Ford Races, first run in 1925, are an auto racing event staged at the fair and have garnered national appeal over time. The races are held in stripped Model T Fords with stock mechanicals. When the starter pistol fires, the drivers run to the opposite side of the front straight, grab a live 20-pound (9.1 kg) pig from a bin, and must then hand-crank their car and drive it one lap. They then stop, kill the engine, get a different pig, and race another lap. The first driver to complete three laps in this manner without losing their pig is the winner.
Some of the cars that first ran in 1925 are still on the track today.
References
- "2013 Tillamook County Fair: most successful in history". Tillamook Headlight Herald. August 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- Wolfe, Jordan (August 14, 2018). "Fair reports second largest attendance in 127-year history". Tillamook Headlight Herald. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- Knutson, Ryan (August 8, 2014). "When These Little Pigs Go Racing, There Are Rules Against Boorishness". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- Suneson, Grant (March 1, 2020). "Monster Jam trucks, lawnmower racing set pace for craziest car races and rallies in US". USA Today. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- Rollins, Michael (August 19, 2008). "Another sign of summer - the Tillamook County Pig-N-For race". oregonlive.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
External links
- Tillamook County Fair (official website)
- Pig-N-Ford Races
45°27′27″N 123°48′27″W / 45.457572°N 123.807532°W / 45.457572; -123.807532
Categories:- Auto races in the United States
- Fairgrounds in the United States
- Tourist attractions in Tillamook County, Oregon
- Recurring events established in 1891
- Festivals in Oregon
- August events
- Convention centers in Oregon
- Annual fairs
- Agriculture in Oregon
- Fairs in Oregon
- 1891 establishments in Oregon
- Annual events in Oregon