Rogue River Rooster Crow

The city of Rogue River, southeast of Grants Pass on I-5, has something to crow about. On the last weekend of June, the Rogue River Rooster Crow is held at the Rogue River Elementary School grounds. On Saturday, a parade and street fair (featuring arts, crafts, and food booths) takes over downtown. But the big event takes place early in the afternoon.

Farmers from all over Oregon and northern California bring their roosters to strut their stuff and crow to the enthusiastic crowds. A fowl tradition since 1953, the rooster to crow the most times in his allotted time period wins the prize for his proud owner. Then it’s the humans’ turn, in which well-practiced revelers take their turn in trying mimic a rooster’s crow.

In the evening there’s live music and entertainment in the park, and Sunday brings the Rooster Crow Car Show with legions of antique cars.

Josephine County Fair

The Josephine County Fair normally takes place in mid-August at the fairgrounds (1451 Fairgrounds Rd., 541/476-3215) in Grants Pass. In addition to the usual fair attractions such as the carnival, concessions, and 4-H livestock, entertainers like Three Dog Night perform for enthusiastic crowds.

A popular annual competition is the four-wheel tractor pull, in which souped-up farm vehicles attempt to drag a bulldozer (with its blade down) for 100 yards as fast as possible.

by Judy Jewell and W. C. McRae from Moon Oregon, 8th Edition, © Elizabeth & Mark Morris and Avalon Travel