Your 12-day fair planner
Published 6:06 pm Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Thursday, August 23
It’s Kids’ Day. Opening day admission is free to those age 15 and under. Also, a $25 wristband gets kids on the carnival rides all day. … Imagine Children’s Museum has an activity tent and petting farm, open until 7 p.m. … Reptile Man performs at 12:30 p.m. on the Courtyard Stage. … KBSG Kids Karaoke Contest, also at 3 p.m., Family Fun Stage. … And Monster Madness starts at 7:30 p.m., Grandstand.
Friday, August 24
Hoppin’ Friday (following this year’s fair theme of “Be Somebunny! Hop to the Fair!”) includes an attempt at a Guinness World Record for the Longest Bunny Hop. You must sign up at the MOViN 92.5 booth. The first 2,000 hoppers get free bunny ears. … The 4-H cat costume show, 2 p.m. in the 4-H building, followed by the 4-H dog games at 4 p.m. in the Dog Barn. … A variety show for teens begins at 3:30 p.m., Courtyard Stage. … Monster Madness continues at 7:30 p.m. … African All Stars, world music, 7:45 p.m., Courtyard Stage.
Saturday, August 25
It’s Northwest Life Day, so a $2 discount on general admission is offered with a Community Transit bus voucher. … Catch the Fair Days Parade at 11 a.m. in downtown Monroe before heading over to the fairgrounds. … Sheep shearing begins at noon in the sheep barn. … Baby boomers take note: J.P. Patches, Northwest kids’ TV icon, entertains at 1:15 p.m., Courtyard Stage. … Take part in the egg toss contest, 5:30 p.m. in the Arena. … At the Speedway, watch super stocks, figure-8 nationals and bombers, beginning at 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 26
Fiesta Sunday features Mexican folkloric dance and mariachi music throughout the day on the Courtyard Stage and a salsa taste-off at 1 p.m. in the Agriculture Display building. … It’s also another day to get a break on your admission ticket by riding the bus. … The Western Regional Clydesdale horse show continues at 2 p.m., Arena. … The first grandstand concert of the fair is by Christian vocalist Jeremy Camp, who performs at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at the West Gate box office or the Grandstand box office.
Monday, August 27
Senior citizens age 62 and older are admitted free. … Snohomish County Windjammers sing barbershop style, 1 and 3 p.m., Family Fun Stage. … Stan Boreson, legendary king of Scandinavian humor, 1 p.m., followed by Ed Hume’s gardening seminar, 2:30 p.m., both on the Courtyard Stage. … The Moonlight Swing Orchestra plays for a dance at 7:30 p.m., Courtyard. … And country music stars Josh Gracin (“American Idol”) and Joe Nichols perform a 7:30 p.m. concert, Grandstand.
Tuesday, August 28
“Twosday” at the fair means you pay only $2 general admission if you arrive by 2 p.m. on Tuesday. And the first 1,000 adults through the gates receive a free lottery ticket. … The Junior Loggers Contest is in Arena 606 until 11 a.m. … Cheesecake taste-off, 1 p.m. agricultural display building. … Bavarian Village Band plays at noon and 3 p.m. … Gerry Andal and the Rough Riders sing at 5 p.m. and the Green Hornet, a rockabilly band, plays at 8 p.m., Courtyard. … Singer Jesse McCartney performs at 7:30 p.m., Grandstand.
Wednesday, August 29
It’s Family Day at the fair, so $25 admits two adults and up to four children or seniors. … The International Lumberjack show is set for noon, 4 and 7 p.m. in Frontier Land. … One World Taiko Drummers, 2:30 p.m., Courtyard. … Pig races, 11 a.m. 1:30, 3 and 6 p.m., Frontierland. … Evergreen Country Idol contest finals begin at 6 p.m. on the Family Fun Stage. … Rocker John Kay and the band Steppenwolf “head out on the highway” at 7:30 p.m. at the Grandstand.
Thursday, August 30
It’s another kids’ day at the fair, with those age 15 and younger admitted free. … Hollywood-educated parrots converse at 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. … The Jest in Time Circus, Roberto the Magnificent comedy juggler and magician Ken Wolfe have several performances today on the Family Fun Stage. … A pie-eating contest is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Courtyard. … The draft horse and mule “extravaganza” continues at 6 p.m. in the Arena. … Country music stars Josh Turner and Keith Anderson perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Grandstand.
Friday, August 31
It’s Armed Forces Day, with free admission for military and emergency services personnel with proper identification. … Dairy goats hand-milking contest, 10:30 a.m., goat barn. … Fabulous Roadstars, patriotic jazz, 10:45 a.m., and Buck and Elizabeth’s “Tribute to America,” 11:45 a.m., both on the Courtyard Stage. … The Armed Forces Ceremony is set for 2 p.m., followed by a Navy Band performance at 3 p.m., Courtyard Stage. … Pro-West Rodeo starts at 7 p.m. in the Arena. … At the Speedway, Crash Cars, Hornets and Bump to Pass begins at 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 1
Celebrating agriculture, it’s Grange and Ag Day at the fair. Get a $2 discount with a Community Transit bus voucher. … It’s also NASCAR Night, and you can check out the NASCAR exhibit beneath the grandstand before heading to the speedway at 7 p.m. for races. … The Pro-West Rodeo continues at 2 p.m. in the Arena. … The Snohomish County Agriculture Display is open until 10 p.m. … Swine fitting and showing, 11 a.m. … Soul Purpose plays soul, funk and rock at 9 p.m. on the Courtyard Stage.
Sunday, September 2
It’s Demolition Derby Day, but don’t drive your jalopy to the fair. Instead, ride the bus and get a couple bucks off your admission ticket. … Check out the Western Equestrian Games in the morning and the evening in the Arena. … The Hot Shot Tap Dancers kick up their heels at 1:45 and 6:45 p.m. on the Courtyard Stage. The Portage Bay Big Band follows at 8:15 p.m. … Fireworks follow the speedway’s demolition derby, which begins at 7 p.m.
Monday, September 3
Labor Day is Tail End Day, the last day of the fair, so everybody gets discounted admission. … The mini horses take over the Arena until 4 p.m. … The Evergreen Youth Jazz Band plays at 1 p.m. at the Courtyard. … Drag racing and drifting begins at 2:30 p.m. at the speedway and the rodeo continues at 2 p.m. in the Arena. … The fair closes at 7 p.m.
When it happens
Snohomish County’s 99th annual Evergreen State Fair is Aug. 23 through Sept. 3. It opens each day at 10 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m., except for Friday and Saturday nights when it closes at 11 and on Labor Day when it closes at 7 p.m.
Official programs are available at the fairgrounds or information is available online at www.evergreenfair.org or by calling 360-805-6700.
What it costs
Look for special admission deals, but most days general admission tickets (for age 16 to 61) are $9 each, senior (62-89 years) tickets are $7 and youth (6-15 years) tickets are $5. Seniors age 90 and older and children 5 years and younger are admitted free of charge. Family tickets, available Monday through Friday, go for $25 and admit two adults and up to four children or senior citizens, or six per ticket.
Rodeo, speedway and grandstand concert tickets are extra, as are carnival rides. For information about those events, combination tickets, or group or multiple-day passes, call the fair at 360-805-6700 or Ticketmaster at 206-628-0888.
How to get there
The fairgrounds are located one mile west of Monroe and 14 miles east of Everett on U.S. 2.
Parking is $6.
If you’d rather not drive, take a Community Transit bus to the fairgrounds on Routes 270, 275 or 271. Park free at Everett Station or the Snohomish Park and Ride at Highway 9 and Bickford Avenue. Bus fares are $1.25 each way for adults, 75 cents for youth age 6-18 and 50 cents for seniors. Plan a trip at www.communitytransit.org.
