Capital Lakefair to bring back car show, feature new vendors this year
Capital Lakefair, Olympia’s annual festival that features rides, performances and vendors, will return to Heritage Park from Wednesday to Sunday.
The fair, which began in 1957, was canceled in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. After its return last year, Lakefair will again feature its Saturday evening parade, Sunday night fireworks and senior day.
Another favorite is also set to return. The car show, which displays both modern and vintage vehicles along Deschutes Parkway from Marathon Park north, already has about 70 entries, said Capital Lakefair President Karen Griggs. Vehicles will drive in at 5:30 p.m. Friday and stay until 8:30 p.m.
Another major attraction at the fair is Navy Region Northwest Command Cutter Old Man IV, a 66-year-old antique wooden boat designed to transport admirals. It will dock midday on Thursday and be open to the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Uptown Grill, a local restaurant, will make its Lakefair vending debut, selling American classics such as chicken pot pie, mac and cheese and blueberry pie.
Griggs said this year that Lakefair organizers are taking on more work, even though they have less staffing. About 15 people took part in the process, she said.
“It’s a year-round process to put on Lakefair, it doesn’t just happen,” she said. “But it’s about giving back. I love putting this on for the community.”
Full programming for this week’s Lakefair can be viewed on the Lakefair website.
This story was originally published July 11, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
