CENTRAL POINT — The Jackson County Fair kicked off Wednesday with the rides, food and fun that families throughout the valley and beyond have come to know and love — along with a new Ferris wheel that organizers tout as a main attraction. 

When the fair gates opened at 2 p.m., people of all ages flocked inside, where they screamed and waved their arms and legs on rides such as Sizzler, The Zipper and Rock Star.

But many people pointed to the Freak Out as their favorite. The claw-like ride seats groups in a triangular position and swings them back and forth like a pendulum. Selena Jimenez, accompanied by her boyfriend, Logan Kennedy, said it was her first time on the ride. 

“It felt good. It wasn’t as bad as I anticipated,” Jimenez said. “I thought I was going to get sick.”

Kennedy added that Freak Out made him feel “like you’re flying” and he looked forward to trying other amusement rides. 

Jimenez and Kennedy noted they planned to watch Flo Rida perform Wednesday night with special guest D.J. Gemini at the Bi-Mart Amphitheater. 

Fair organizers reported Thursday that Wednesday’s attendance on Day 1 was 15,435.

Amanda Crain wore a birthday sash to the fair Wednesday. 

“It’s my idea,” Crain said. “This is actually the first year I’ve been able to come to the fair on my birthday.”

She said she was happy to be at the fair and ready to “ride some rides and embrace my inner child.” Crain, who spoke as she waited in line for a wristband, wanted to go on The Zipper.

Paige Phillips, 17, of Medford, munched on a bag of popcorn with her “auntie” at the fair. She noted she has been to a Disney theme park, but not the fair in Jackson County.

“I like it so far. It’s energizing,” she said. “I like exciting rides, like The Tornado and the Rock Star.”

Rich Damon, of Eagle Point, on the other hand, chose to watch his daughter enjoy the rides. A cattleman donning a button-down plaid shirt, jeans and a cowboy hat, Damon noted his other children, a 15- and 17-year-old, were in the nearby arena participating in 4-H activities. 

Damon said he tells his children to “take pride in yourselves and be courteous to everyone else.”

Jasmine Thomason, of Grants Pass, noted her family has attended the Josephine County Fair, but never the one in Jackson County — until now. Thomasons’ verdict: The Jackson County Fair is better.

“They got some different rides here that I haven’t seen before, which is pretty nice,” Thomason said. “(It feels) a little more relaxed because the layout is not so crowded.”

Expo Director Helen Baker talked about the planning for this fair compared to the past several pandemic years.

“It feels more natural, finally,” she said in an interview. “We didn’t have those two bumps with COVID-19 … we didn’t have to have three different plans. We could budget and advertise accordingly.”

Baker noted that even last year, when Gov. Kate Brown dropped the mask mandate, there was “still some skepticism in the air.”

“This is the first year where I can say, ‘People are not afraid, and they’re coming out in full force,'” Baker said. 

As with many past fairs, temperatures will be hot. The National Weather Service in Medford predicts a high of 95 in Central Point Thursday, and temperatures are expected to skyrocket to 101 Friday, 106 Saturday and 101 Sunday.

While Baker said she hoped fair attendance would hit 80,000 ticket sales like last year, it “won’t surprise me” if “we take a slight hit” because of the heat.

Aside from the musical acts, which are new every year, Baker told fairgoers to look for new ground acts. These include a duo that juggle on hover boards and stilts; a magician named Adam the Great who will make an appearance at the fair for the first time in a decade; and Ag-ventures, which trades in a petting zoo for more activities to teach kids about agriculture.

“It’s what county fairs are based out of,” Baker said. “If county fairs are mandated to exist, it’s so that we can celebrate all of the bounty of our county.”

She noted The Expo Wheel is a new Ferris wheel at the fair. 

“It is brand-spanking new,” Baker said. 

The fair had two Ferris wheels last year, but when one of them got “put on ice” in 2023, it was time for a new one, she said. 

“Ferris wheels, funnel cakes and fun,” Baker said with a laugh. “You can’t have a fair without a Ferris wheel. It means a lot, because a lot of great things happen on Ferris wheels.”

The Jackson County Fair runs through Sunday night, July 16, at The Expo, 1 Peninger Road, Central Point.

Hours are 2 to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

The fair will feature concerts every evening on the Bi-Mart Amphitheater stage.

Flo Rida was scheduled to perform with special guest D.J. Gemini at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Granger Smith will perform with special guest Nate Botsford at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 13.

Clint Black will perform with special guest Daniel Nickels at 7 p.m. Friday, July 14.

“I am King,” a Michael Jackson impersonation show, with special guest performance by the Rogue Suspects Soul Revue, will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 15.

Tickets at the gate are $15 for adults 62 and younger; $6 for seniors 62 to 74; and free for those 75 and older. Children 13 and younger also get in free.

Admission on Sunday is free for everyone.

For more information, see attheexpo.com/fair/price-dates-hours/