Spring will be busy at the Pendleton Convention Center
By Terry Murry on Monday, March 30th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Pendleton Convention Center Manager Pat Beard says his staff has their work cut out for them this spring. Three large conventions are holding meetings in the Round-Up City. Two are state conventions and the third is a national convention.
“The staff at the convention center I just cannot say a word about all the roles that they play,” he said. “They get called into action in all kinds of different ways: flipping rooms, setting up new stages; and our catering company, Pendleton Catering, they pull all the stops out for them as well.”
The first convention will be a two-day spring meeting of the League of Oregon Cities on April 23-24. That one will be followed by the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police for a four-day trade show on May 12-15. Beard says both of those are returning events after the groups enjoyed earlier conventions in Pendleton.
The national convention is for Model A Fords of America. Beard says members and their antique autos will come from all over the United States, with even some from Australia.
“It’s a fun event,” he said. “Their headquarters will be at the convention center, but they’re going to be traveling throughout the area and doing car shows at the convention center, at the equine center, and the Happy Canyon Arena.”
