After a record-breaking 2021, Umatilla County Fair Manager Angie McNalley said they are “Moo-ving Forward Together!” into the 2022 event with some great acts on the Wildhorse Resort & Casino Main Stage.

The fair is Wednesday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, 1705 E. Airport Road, Hermiston. The Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday shows start at 9 p.m. And Friday’s dance night begins at 8 p.m.

For the second year in a row, the opening concert is free with fair admission ($10). Petty Fever will take the stage Wednesday, Aug. 10. The award-winning group is a tribute to Tom Petty.

“It’s a good way to kick off our week,” McNalley said.

Playing familiar Tom Petty tunes, the group received the 2017 and 2018 Las Vegas FAME Awards for outstanding international tribute artist. In addition, Petty Fever took home the LA Music Awards tribute band of the year in 2013 and 2014.

McNalley said the concert lineup offers a variety of music. And having a show that features a classic rock sound is essential.

“We want to keep that in our mix,” she said. “Since we entertain such a broad demographic, that’s one of the genres that’s an important tradition to keep at the fair.”

Home Free — an a cappella country group that won the fourth season of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” — will perform Thursday, Aug. 11. They announced a late summer release of a new recording project. The group has gained accolades from Rolling Stone magazine and American Songwriter while building a fan base with their renditions of hits by John Mayer, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and others.

In addition to having a huge social media following, McNalley said people will be blown away by Home Free. She said the group is unlike others who have taken the fair stage.

“They are popular beyond what we can imagine,” she said. “I think the fair patrons will appreciate the level of talent and the harmonization with their voices.”

A Latino Night Dance is set for Friday, 8 p.m. The bands offer a solid lineup of danceable music, including Puro Domador, Grupo Fatal, Dueto Los Armadillos, Los Faraones Del Norte and Rebeldes De La Sierra.

And Nashville singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd will close out fair week on Saturday. With more than 698 million streams, he’s caught the attention of American Songwriter, People, NBS’s “Today” and others. Hurd’s platinum-certified Top 20 single, “To A T,” skyrocketed to No. 1 on SiriusXM The Highway’s Hot 30 Countdown.

“We feel pretty lucky when we can pull a big name like that,” McNalley said about Hurd. “Every now and then we hit a home run and get someone who is growing when we get them.”

General admission for the Thursday and Saturday night concerts is free with fair admission. Reserved and premium seating (first five rows) are available online for $12 and $20, respectively — they do not include fair admission.

Presale tickets for the Latino Dance Night are $30 (which includes fair admission). They are available online or at Velasco Used Car Sales, 80596 Highway 395, Hermiston. McNalley said people that wait to buy them at the fairgrounds will need to pay gate admission.

In addition, DJ music and dancing will be available before and after the concerts at the Barley Barn, located across from the concert entrance. Also, Grand Champion Club Party Pit tickets are available for $80, which includes entry for four adults 21 and older. The special section features standing room only, a private bar and a dance floor.

“This allows people to purchase group tickets for an exclusive concert experience,” McNalley said. “The GCC Party Pit has its own bar and dance area so there are no long lines for beverages and we limit the number of tickets sold for that area to keep it that way.”For concert or fair tickets, visit www.umatillacountyfair.net. For questions, call 541-567-6121 or email fair@umatillacounty.gov.