Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center is the year-round heartbeat of community life in Central Oregon, bringing together fairs, festivals, business events, and youth programs on a single, highly adaptable campus.
A Central Oregon Gathering Place
Located on a 132‑acre site in Redmond, the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center sits at the geographic hub of the region, just minutes from Bend, Prineville, Sisters, Madras, and downtown Redmond. This central location makes it easy for residents across Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties to converge for shared experiences, from rodeos to career fairs.
The campus is designed on a circular layout so that from the Center Court, no event space is more than about 300 yards away, creating an accessible, walkable environment for large crowds. Surrounded by panoramic views of Mt. Bachelor, the Three Sisters, Broken Top, and Mt. Jefferson, the venue offers a distinct sense of place that reflects Central Oregon’s high desert landscape.
Manicured lawns, water features, and a perimeter access road support both aesthetics and logistics, giving event organizers a scenic yet functional setting for gatherings of all sizes.
Facilities Built for Every Event
The Fair & Expo Center was purpose-built as a multi‑use campus, with flexible indoor and outdoor facilities that serve everything from national rodeo finals to local fundraisers. Key components include large exhibit halls, the Three Sisters Conference Center, the Hooker Creek Event Center arena, the High Desert Activity Center, a barn complex with multiple barns, and two outdoor arenas.
Together, these facilities provide roughly 167,000 square feet of exhibit space and about 120,000 square feet of covered livestock and equestrian arenas. Supporting infrastructure enhances the attendee experience.
The grounds feature more than 100 acres of parking and an on‑site RV park with over 100 RV sites, allowing multi‑day events to attract regional visitors. High‑speed wireless connectivity and easy back‑of‑house access via the perimeter road make it straightforward for exhibitors, production crews, and vendors to load in, set up, and operate efficiently.
Year-Round Community Programming
While the annual Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo is the marquee event, the Expo Center hosts more than 400 events each year, making it a true community events hub. The fair itself is a five‑day summer tradition featuring championship rodeo, top-name concerts, livestock exhibits, carnival rides, food vendors, and family entertainment, all highlighted on the official Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo pages.
Beyond the fair, the calendar routinely includes agricultural shows, health fairs, home and garden shows, sports tournaments, and cultural festivals showcased on the events schedule. Business and educational programming is equally robust.
The venue hosts a Redmond Chamber business summit, economic development luncheons, regional job fairs, professional conferences, and organizational annual meetings that connect local employers, educators, and residents.
Youth-focused events such as 4‑H competitions, the Oregon FFA State Convention, and school fundraisers give students hands-on experience in agriculture, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
Economic Engine for Redmond and Beyond
The Fair & Expo Center is not only a social and cultural asset; it is also an economic powerhouse for Central Oregon. In 2023, events at the facility were estimated to generate more than $104 million in local economic impact and attract nearly one million visitors.
The annual Deschutes County Fair alone has been cited as contributing more than $50 million in economic impact, with profits reinvested back into the facilities to support ongoing improvements, as covered by local outlet KTVZ. These visitors fill hotels, RV parks, and vacation rentals, while also spending at restaurants, shops, and service businesses in Redmond and neighboring communities.
The resulting boost in transient lodging tax revenue helps fund regional projects and supports broader tourism development, creating a positive ripple effect throughout the local economy.
Strengthening Community Identity
The stated mission of the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center is to provide social, cultural, recreational, agricultural, commercial, and educational opportunities for residents of Deschutes County and the surrounding region. That mission plays out daily in the form of shared experiences that build connections between rural and urban communities, longtime residents and newcomers, and local businesses and their customers.
From monster truck shows and sportsmen’s expos to fiber arts markets and health fairs, the diverse event mix reflects the many interests that define Central Oregon life. As leaders plan for future growth, including potential land acquisition and facility upgrades, the Fair & Expo Center remains committed to operating as a premier multi-purpose venue while maximizing its positive impact on Deschutes County.
With its combination of strategic location, versatile facilities, and a packed year‑round calendar, the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center stands out as the region’s indispensable community events hub—where Central Oregon comes together to work, celebrate, learn, and play.
