MONROE — The Evergreen State Fair is ramping up this year to face competition in 2016.
The fair, which opens Thursday in Monroe, has long been held during the 12 days leading up to Labor Day. But beginning next year, the Washington State Fair in Puyallup will kick off on the Friday before the holiday weekend and continue through Sept. 25.
Organizers are adding extra days after a study showed other major fairs had successfully extended their runs, according to information about the change posted on the Puyallup event’s website.
That’s going to leave the Evergreen State Fair competing for attendance, exhibitors, entertainment and vendors, fair manager Hal Gausman said.
Snohomish County, which owns and operates the fairgrounds, has staff looking into ways to draw people to Monroe instead of losing them to Puyallup.
“We’ll continue to put on the best fair possible,” Gausman said. “My goal is every time you turn around, you see something that makes you smile.”
He plans to do that by increasing the amount of money spent on free entertainment during the 2016 fair and making improvements around the grounds.
Gausman is already trying to nail down vendors, exhibitors and entertainers for next year.
He wants Evergreen to take Puyallup’s place as the state 4-H fair. Evergreen already has the one of the largest 4-H programs in Washington, Gausman said.
“We’re focusing on a space where kids can learn about animals,” he said. “Puyallup is focusing on commercial space.”
Plans are in place to put on a youth livestock auction at the Evergreen State Fair in 2016. Organizers are promoting it this year in hopes of getting young people to bring their animals back to Monroe.
Fair attendance has been growing in recent years. In 2014, 348,628 people attended. That’s up 2 percent from 2013.
“We’re one of the few fairs around the country that’s growing,” said Troy Kleine, the fair’s marketing specialist.
Snohomish County spends about $2.5 million annually to put on the fair. In 2014, it ended up with about $1.1 million in revenue after covering costs of running the fairgrounds year-round.
The county is now putting that money back into repairs and upgrades around the grounds in hopes the improvements will give the almost 200-acre facility along U.S. 2 an edge over the competition.
After the fair, the Beef Pavilion is slated for a $250,000 revamp that includes a new roof. Plans are also in place to put in a covered walkway that connects it to the Event Center and other upgrades. It will allow for 51,000 square feet of space that can house larger trade shows.
Other smaller improvements are also planned for 2015, including safety upgrades and pavement repairs.
Gausman’s staff and the Snohomish County Arts Commission are working on ideas to beautify the tunnels at the fairground entrance.
“I just want people to start smiling when they get out of the car,” Gausman said.
The county has also been making improvements to the equestrian area, including putting better sand in the arena and patching leaky roofs. The hope is to attract more horse shows to Monroe, giving the fairgrounds a steadier year-round draw.
In the future, the county hopes to bring in a restaurant near the equestrian area, Gausman said. There’s also talk of putting in sound walls between the fairgrounds and U.S. 2 and around Evergreen Speedway.
People also have suggested that the county or the city of Monroe buy the general aviation airport next to the fairgrounds.
Gausman said the county would like to use the 32-acre property to expand the equestrian area or the parking lot but it can’t afford it now. The owner of First Air Field has asked for $6 million for the land.
City leaders in Monroe also have discussed putting a hotel there. A hotel would benefit events at the fairgrounds all year, Gausman said.
Other major projects being considered are a new commercial building that could compete with larger venues across the region.
The fairground’s old 24,000-square-foot commercial building needs to be torn down and replaced. Gausman said that could happen sometime after the 2016 fair, depending on whether the county has about $2 million to put into it.
Eventually, he said, the commercial building could be expanded to 100,000 square feet. The $12 million project could be completed in phases to make it more affordable.
“We have to remain competitive,” Gausman said. “To me the fairgrounds should be the best the county has to offer.”
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports.
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