May 20, 2024 3:05 a.m.

County Commissioners Chris Boice, Tim Freeman and Tom Kress are celebrating National Fairgrounds Appreciation Month with a nod to the Douglas County Fairgrounds Complex.

Fairgrounds Liaison Tom Kress said, “The County Commissioners are proud to support the hard work our fairgrounds staff does in putting on not only one of the best fairs around, but also for the work they do year-round for all the events they host”. Kress said, “As I have said before, our Douglas County Fairgrounds Complex is one of the most valuable and underappreciated County assets. County residents are missing out if they don’t take advantage of the plethora of events and opportunities they offer”.

Annually the fairgrounds is host to hundreds of events that host thousands of visitors.

The 74-acre site is home to six buildings – Douglas Hall, Exhibit Building, Floral Building, Community Building, Pavilion Arena and River Arena, along with three animal boarding barns, a dirt-track speedway and grandstands, amphitheater, two covered outdoor pavilions, an outdoor livestock arena, two parks, Roseburg Playschool Co-op, a year-round RV park, six parking lots, several maintenance buildings and three concession stand kitchens. Unlike most other fairgrounds complexes in the Pacific Northwest, this complex is open year-round for event rentals. The release said it boasts some of the largest indoor spaces in the state, offers convenient professional onsite catering services, and unique river and fishing access.

The land where the fairgrounds complex is located was purchased in 1944. In 1945 the first Douglas County fair was held, with one building where 4H and FFA activities took place.

To find out more about what the fairgrounds has to offer, go to. https://www.douglasfairgrounds.com/