Summer’s Best Party kicks off today. The Clark County Fair is one of Washington’s largest, longest and most successful county fairs, and a venerated tradition in a community where suburban homes blossom atop agricultural roots.
One of the best things about the fair is its predictability. Though the fair board and management review every year’s event and make adjustments, the cornerstones of the county fair are as set as those of the county courthouse. You can count on the fair starting at 8 a.m. on the first Friday of August (with the Fred Meyer Free Pancake Breakfast) and running for 10 days. You know there will be a large carnival, live entertainment, farm animals, amazing and unusual products for your home, and enough fried and sugary food to outrage an entire medical clinic.
In a rapidly changing county, these traditions never seem to grow old. Last year, the fair attendance was 265,197, the fourth-best in the last 10 years, despite two days of rain and one day when it was 95 degrees.
At $11.25 for adult admission, $6 for parking, and $30 for a carnival ride bracelet, some folks complain every year about the price of the fair. To save money, bring the kids on Monday or Thursday; service members (active or retired) on Tuesday; and seniors on Wednesday. And you can save $6 on parking and $1 on admission any day by riding C-Tran’s free shuttle.
But the fair runs like a business, responsible to cover its costs and provide a surplus for fairgrounds maintenance and operations. It’s a large enterprise. Last year, the fair brought in $2.9 million. Expenses were $2.5 million, leaving a little more than $400,000 in net revenue.
The carnival brought in more than $1 million, its best year ever, and 49 commercial food booths accounted for about $1.7 million in sales (be sure to get a slice of Community of Christ pie, a burger from the Ridgefield Lions, and ice cream from the Clark County Dairy Women.)
The fair is the highlight of the summer for hundreds of children who belong to 4-H Clubs and FFA. Last year they entered 7,378 animals and exhibits. By presenting their projects to judges, they learn important skills including responsibility, organization, and how to talk to adults.
Some of the animal exhibitors participated in the Junior Livestock Auction, which generated $363,000 in sales. The fair awarded $25,000 in scholarships to 17 college-age students.
In keeping with the fair’s approach of always the same, but always slightly different, there are a few changes this year. Butler Amusements will bring its new Footloose! thrill ride, and there is a new Wacky Shack funhouse. In the grandstand, the demolition derby moves from Friday to Thursday so the popular Tuff Trucks event can expand to two days, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11-12 ( 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. both days.)
The first Washington State Fiddle Champion will be determined in a two-day event starting this Sunday, with the final rounds taking place Monday.
The DockDogs are back at the fair, and the FairCon fantasy and cosplay experience is returning. For kids who prefer western wear, Cowboy Boot Camp is back for a second year.
Finally, it looks like the first few days of the fair will be hot. Be sure to drink lots of water (free from Clark Public Utilities’ booth in the air-conditioned exposition hall). But don’t miss Summer’s Best Party.
