Fair offers fun for all

Weather, variety of activities make event popular this year

By Keri Brenner | The Olympian • Published July 31, 2008

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Sunny skies and a small-town, friendly feeling won over scores of Thurston County Fair attendees on opening day Wednesday. – Sunny skies and a small-town, friendly feeling won over scores of Thurston County Fair attendees on opening day Wednesday.

What you need to know about the fair

• What: The Thurston County Fair continues through Sunday.

• Where: Thurston County Fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Road S.E., Lacey.

• Times: Regular hours 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Some animal exhibits and activities, such as Saturday's pancake breakfast, will take place between 8 and 10 a.m.

• Cost: Daily admission $6 adults; $4 seniors (older than 60) or children 6-14; children younger than 5 free.

Four-day passes $18 adults/$12 children and seniors. Today is "Kid's Day," and children 14 and younger get in half-price.

Carnival ride armbands cost $21. Today, "Buddy Day," the second armband is free.

• Parking: $5/day or $15/season.

• Shuttle bus: Because of construction, the free shuttle bus will stop at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 4300 Carpenter Road S.E., next to Woodland Elementary School. The other shuttle is at the North Thurston Bus Barn, 6620 Carpenter Road S.E.

• Today's schedule: Farm animals, horses and dogs competitions and judging; 8 to 11 a.m.; Explosion Extravaganza, 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Kids tractor pull, noon, 3 and 7 p.m.; Comerford Irish Dancers, 12:30 and 6:30 p.m.; Ronald McDonald, 1 p.m.; Kayla's Singalong, 1:30 p.m.; Echoes of Creation, 2 and 5 p.m.; Professor Bamboozle karaoke; 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Yelm Gymnastics Center, 6 p.m.; High Impact Dance, 7:30 p.m.; Summer School of Rock, 8 p.m.

• For more information: Call 360-786-5453 or go to www.co.thurston.wa.us/fair

"This is really the best Thurston County Fair I've seen," said Linda Tanner of Lacey, who attended many fairs when her daughter was growing up and active in 4-H. "There's a lot of things for kids — petting zoos and the bird exhibit."

Tanner said her daughter, Doreen Tudor, now runs the dog exhibit, which has grown from about 25 to 75 dogs — all presented by their 4-H owners and friends for visitors' petting pleasure.

"I'm just seeing a happier crowd," Tanner said.

Fair Manager Rick Storvick said he expects, if good weather continues, to possibly top last year's record attendance of 37,000. The fair runs through Sunday at the fairgrounds on Carpenter Road Southeast.

"This is my first time at the fair," said 4-H member Emily Hansen, 11, of Olympia, who was offering good-natured Mikey, a 2-year-old caramel and white Brussels-Griffon mix, for petting in the dog project wing.

Ten-year-old Philip Dailey of Olympia said he liked the boa constrictor in the exotic petting zoo.

"I like its color," Philip said.

This year's fair has a turtle mascot, fair board member Ann Shipley, whose "shell" was two saucer snow sleds painted green. Turtle look-alike projectiles also dominated a bean bag toss competition among county and city elected officials. Tumwater Mayor Ralph Osgood nabbed first place, a gold-painted toilet plunger.

Last fair

"This is the one thing I get to do that is really neat — to be at the fair," said Diane Oberquell, who was presiding over her last fair opening ceremonies as a county commissioner. Oberquell, who retires this year after 20 years in office, was instrumental in obtaining funds to build the fair's Expo building and has supported the fair board and 4-H, Storvick said.

"I love this fair," Oberquell said after 4-H members presented her with a stained glass wall hanging and photo collage.

Opening ceremonies also included tributes to three longtime fair supporters, Lois and Joe Sokolik and Warren Simons. Both families will have fair buildings renamed in their honor, including bronze plaques with their names on them.

Storvick said the nightly concerts are a big draw. Tonight's event is Summer School of Rock.

Friday night's Colgate Country Showdown should bring in a huge crowd for local competition in country music, Storvick added.

"It's amazing, the incredibly talented people we have in this area," Storvick said. "The dream is that one of the people would go on to win the nationals."

Keri Brenner covers Thurston County for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-5435 or kbrenner@theolympian.com.