FESTIVALS AND FUN
In June, the Lavender Festival is open for limited days hosted by the Purple Ridge Lavender Farms which offers live plants, products made from lavender and a U-Pick.
In July, join us for Hermiston’s Funfest, held annually on the second Saturday in July. This fun-filled event takes place on Main Street and McKenzie Park. The festival includes children’s activities, exhibits, food booths, vendor booths and live music from local entertainers. In addition, the Hermiston Classic Car Club has their annual show at McKenzie park.
Also in July on Main Street, the Hermiston 3 on 3 basketball tournament. With help from the community, this event has become one of the largest and most popular in Hermiston. It helps to raise funds for local youth sports and includes various activities for the whole family including a slam dunk competition, a 3 point shoot out, and the 3 on 3 tournament. This event also showcases many food and beverage vendors alongside the rest of the downtown merchants.
In August, visit the Umatilla County Fair. With concerts, livestock auctions, pro-rodeo, and carnival rides, there is something for everyone. The Umatilla County Fair has been providing family-friendly fun since 1912.
In November, Farm Fair is Hermiston’s annual agriculture trade show. Farm Fair brings in vendors from all over the Pacific Northwest to present innovative agriculture products and services both inside and outside the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center. Ag-related seminars are offered all three days for continuing education credits.
‘A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY’ COMMUNITY
Job growth is leading the way in Hermiston. Walmart and other companies have chosen Hermiston for regional distribution centers, major manufacturing and food processing companies. Amazon chose Hermiston as the central location for a hub of 30 data centers which when fully built out will add an estimated 1,800 jobs to the local Hermiston economy.
And that is just the beginning, Hermiston is in the heart of the Columbia Basin in Eastern Oregon. It is the perfect business location with major fiber optic communication lines, hydro-electric power resources, excellent water and sewer capacities, all at the crossroads of rail lines, interstate freeways, and the majestic Columbia River. Hermiston is a place of growth with both an Enterprise Zone featuring local tax and development incentives and a large Opportunity Zone for major new investment into the area. The impact of these will be in the hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars of investment and local revenue. The regional fair grounds and events center attracts tourists and business events year-round.
On areas of satisfaction – Honestly, every area was exceeded. They were great.
Joe O.
*For more information about Hermiston call: 541-403-5150