Inside Hermiston Newsletter

August 2026

Hermiston's Time to Shine

August is a special time in Hermiston.

For one, our famous Hermiston watermelons are ripe and ready, giving us all a reason to celebrate living in a community that produces the best melons around. That may sound like hometown bias, but we’re comfortable calling it a fact.

August also brings the Umatilla County Fair and Farm-City Pro Rodeo, and thousands of visitors, to the Eastern Oregon Trade & Event Center. Hermiston is not typically a weekend destination during the summer, as residents leave town to camp, boat, vacation, or find other ways to get out of the heat. But our tourism data shows the weekend of Fair and Rodeo is the one weekend of the year when Hermiston’s population grows instead of shrinks.

That give us an opportunity to showcase Hermiston's hospitality. A warm welcome can leave a lasting impression and give people another reason to return. Make sure to invite them back for Melon Fest in downtown Hermiston on August 22.

Let’s make this a sweet month for everyone who calls Hermiston home, and everyone who comes to visit.

Byron Smith,

Hermiston City Manager

P.S. Be sure to check out the Umatilla County Fair Parade on Saturday, Aug. 8. The route travels north on Highway 395 before continuing along Main Street and Gladys Avenue in front of City Hall.

Read the full August 2026 newsletter here.

Inside Hermiston is the monthly email newsletter for the City of Hermiston, including city news, council reports, and upcoming community events. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox.

Previous Editions

Click the links below to view past editions of the Hermiston Insider, the City of Hermiston's monthly newsletter.

2026

January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
July 2026
August 2026

2025