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Free parking vouchers for Oregon State Fair going fast

Carol McAlice Currie
Statesman Journal
Sow and piglets on a sunny Sunday at the Oregon State Fair.

Can you put a price on fun?

The 2014 Oregon State Fair opens Friday, and now that it is overseen by a public corporation instead of a state agency, there have been a few changes. Some of the differences have caused some prices to increase, others to be reduced and a few are now free.

For those planning to attend one or more days of the 11-day event, the good news is that the net cost is down, which means fun is cheaper this year.

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Starting at the front gate, the company running the fair this year, Hillman Consulting, has lowered some of the fair's admission prices. This year, fair-goers 12 and older will pay $8 per person, and savvy elephant-ear seekers can save an additional $2 by buying their tickets in advance. Last year, an adult between the ages of 13 and 64 paid $11 per person (before any discount).

In 2013, children ages six to 12 years old and seniors 65 years old and older were $6 each. This year, the cost is the same, but the ages have changed. Now, the children's rate is good for youngsters ages six to 11 years old and seniors are defined as men and women 62 years old and older.

There is another way to save money per ticket. Through Thursday, Aug. 21, tickets can be bought for less online at the fair's website, www.oregonstatefair.org (under the teal-colored menu items "about," and "admissions). Adults will save $2 per ticket and children and seniors will save $1 per ticket. Additionally, while they last, participating Safeway stores in Oregon also will be selling tickets for all adults, children or seniors for $5 each, again only through Aug. 21.

The next savings is on the concert acts. Held at various times between 4 and 7 p.m. on ten days of the fair, a majority of seats at the live performances will be free with paid fair admission to anyone who gets to the venue early enough.

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Amber Lindsey, a spokeswoman for the fair, said there is limited free seating for all of the rock, country and comedy performances at the L.B. Day Amphitheatre, and there is one faith-based act for families with free limited seating as well.

Lindsey said there also will be limited VIP Experience seating for an admission price ranging from $20 to $35. The VIP seats can be purchased in advance, and if there are any seats remaining the day of the concert, they will be sold on site. The VIP Experience includes premium reserved seating, preferred access to concessions and a chance to win backstage access.

Patrons can begin forming a line as early as they like, Lindsey said, and the gates to the free seating will open 60 minutes before the concerts begin. Some of this year's acts include Ziggy Marley, comedian David Spade and The Beach Boys.

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Finally, falling under the raised-price category is parking. For the past several years, parking at the state fair has been free. This year, parking in all of the lots surrounding the fairgrounds will be $5 per vehicle. Handicapped parking close in also will be available, but those vehicles will also be charged $5.

There are some parking savings to be had, however. Some Oregon Chevy dealers have teamed up with the fair to offer parking vouchers. While supplies last, Chevy dealers in the Mid-Valley and Portland area will give one coupon per person, which can be exchanged for one free day of parking, to anyone who stops by a participating Chevy dealership.

The piglets finally arrived!!

"You don't have to test-drive a Chevy or expect a sales pitch," Lindsey said.

Sales manager Nick Burnett of Capitol Chevrolet Cadillac, off of the Salem Parkway, said Saturday that the dealership had free vouchers available; it had not had them last Friday afternoon.

For those who detest paying for parking and then walking on dusty hay or gravel to get to the midway, there is a cleaner, cooler and freer option: take the bus.

The Salem-Keizer Transit District will be shuttling folks to the fair for free throughout its 11-day run on its Cherriots buses. On weekends and the holiday, too, even though there is no regular service on those days.

On opening day and regular weekdays, buses will ferry folks to the fairgrounds every 30 minutes from the Marion Parkade downtown (corner of Liberty and Union streets NE), from the downtown Transit Center on High Street NE, and from the corner of Capitol and Marion streets NE. On the weekends (Saturday and Sunday), the buses will leave every 15 minutes. The shuttles will return riders to the same stops, running from 8:45 a.m. on opening day and 9:15 a.m. for the remainder of the fair.

As always, there are several special-day promotions that discount costs for rides, veterans and families.

With a little advance planning, having fun at the fair and saving money are possible.

ccurrie@statesmanjournal.com; (503) 399-6746 or follow on Twitter at @CATMCurrie

Hillman Consulting's president and chief executive officer, Don Hillman, is serving as the acting fair manager for 2014.

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Special days at the Oregon State Fair:

Aug. 22: Food Bank Friday; bring 2 or more cans of food for Marion-Polk Food Share, get $5 admission at the gate

Aug. 23: Les Schwab Kids' Day; Free kids' admission; free ticket for children 11 and younger must be picked up at any Les Schwab Tire Center. Not available at gate; free admission from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this day only.

Aug. 24: Sleep Country Family Day; four admission tickets of any age combination, $16

Aug. 27: Hump Day BOGO; buy one admission, get another ticket good for free admission Aug. 28 through Sept. 1.

Aug. 28: Celebrate Freedom Day; Veterans receive free admission

Aug. 31: Repeat of Sleep Country Family Day; four admission tickets of any age combination, $16

Deal on rides:

The Comcast Blast Pass: unlimited carnival-ride wristbands allow fair-goers to ride all day long on any single day at the fair and get three free games for $35 each. Must be purchased in advance at participating Walgreens stores through Aug. 21. Wristbands are good on the day they're used until 10 p.m.