From the end of August to the beginning of September visitors can find the State Fair in Salem, Oregon. The state resting on the farthest corner of the western continental United States is the center of the party when fairtime rolls around. Fair organizers focus on Wine tasting, Living Arts Workshops, and Concerts Under the Stars. Who wouldn't want to visit this fair?

Oregon is a big part of the American wine making industry and as such wine exhibits and tasting have their place at the fairgrounds. At the start of the fair competing wineries will pour out tastes of their best wines for judges and fairgoers. Excellent hors d'ouevres will also be offered up by master chefs to complement the subtle flavors. Tickets cost more for this Celebration Oregon! Event are more than average fair admission because of the costs of the wine.

Living Arts refers to the skilled trades and activities that many of us don't even think of when we think of art. The arts includes samples of Oregon's best small scale organic and local foods, breads, and produce. It also includes the Microbrew Beer Garden featuring, yes, local microbrewed beers. If you think the living arts refers only to eating, think again. There's also plenty of artesian crafts, and workshops for fairgoers. Come and learn how to make music in a Hand Drum Workshop or decorate yourself in a Hair Wrap Workshop featuring macram for your hair. Other workshops include the Didgeridoo, Hula Hooping, Poi spinning, Face Painting and Balloon Animal, and a Stilt Walking Workshop.

Enjoy free concerts out under the open sky with the concert series offered by the state fair. Each night of the fair come see a different series of musical talents taking the stage. Genres range from rock to nostalgia.

Of the fair wouldn't be the fair without some agricultural displays and competitions. Come and see the small animals on display in the Poultry Building, including a chick hatching area. The Great American Petting Zoo is often set up in Familyville and the kid's can admire the Mama Pigs and their Piglets in the Forster Livestock Pavilion.