Here’s your 12-day Evergreen State Fair planner

Published 11:45 pm Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Here’s your 12-day Evergreen State Fair planner

Thursday, Aug. 21

It’s Kid’s Day. Opening day admission is free to those age 15 and younger. Also, a $25 wristband gets a kid on the carnival rides all day. Contest of the Day: bubble-gum blowing at 3 p.m. at the Courtyard stage. Imagine Children’s Museum offers a petting farm until 7 p.m. Reptile Man is onstage at the Courtyard at 11:30 a.m., and the 4-H dog trick performance team is there at 4 p.m. In the Grandstand, see a classic car display and watch the “Diamonds in the Sky” fireworks display at 9 p.m., free with fairgrounds admission.

Friday, Aug. 22

Snohomish County Agriculture Day. Celebrate county farms with a visit to the fair. Contest of the Day: kids can find the quarter in the haystack several times during the day, Courtyard stage. Aztec Indian dancers perform at 4:45 p.m., also at the Courtyard. The Western Regional Clydesdale Show with the 4-H Hilltop Hayburners Drill Team starts at 6 p.m. in the Arena. Monster Madness, with trucks and freestyle motocross, begins at 7 p.m. at the Speedway. Purchase tickets for Grandstand/Speedway shows at the West Gate box office or the Grandstand box office.

Saturday, Aug. 23

It’s Northwest Life Day. A $2 discount on general admission is offered with a Community Transit bus voucher. Catch the Monroe Fair Days Parade at 11 a.m. in downtown Monroe before heading over to the fairgrounds. Gardening guru Ed Hume speaks at 1 p.m. on the Courtyard stage, where Gerry Andal and the Rough Riders sing country at 5:30 p.m. Also at the Courtyard, the Evergreen Country Idol finals starts at 7 p.m. That’s also when the figure 8 nationals rev up at the Speedway.

Sunday, Aug. 24

Fiesta Sunday features the Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana band at 1:30 p.m. at the Courtyard stage. Mexican folk dancing is scheduled there at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m., and the New Age Flamenco dancers perform at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Courtyard. The 10th annual salsa taste-off contest is scheduled at 1 p.m. in the county agriculture building, where the Contest of the Day, Guess the number of Jelly Beans, is held. 4-H beef awards are at 3:30 p.m. in the beef judging barn. Jars of Clay and Leeland perform in concert at 7 p.m. at the Grandstand.

Monday, Aug. 25

On Senior Citizen’s Day, those age 62 and older have free admission. People who are 100 years old or older are especially encouraged to attend — the Contest of the Day is the Guinness World Record attempt at the largest gathering of centenarians, 11 a.m. in the county agriculture building. Stan Boreson, the king of Scandinavian humor, performs at 12:45 p.m. on the Courtyard stage, followed there by garden expert Ciscoe Morris at 2 p.m. The draft horse and mule extravaganza begins at 5 p.m. at the Arena. The Moonlight Swing Orchestra plays big band music at 8 p.m. at the Courtyard. At the Grandstand, Gary Allan and the Lost Trailers perform at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 26

It’s Twosday Tuesday and that means general admission is only $2 before 2 p.m. Contest of the Day: hula-hoop race, 1 p.m. in the farm animal judging arena. In for a visit from the Seattle city dump, famous TV clown J.P. Patches is set to arrive at the Courtyard stage at 2:30 p.m. The 4-H sheep costume show is set for 11 a.m. in the animal judging arena. Ruby’s Basement plays music from the 1950s and ’60s at 8:45 p.m. and comic Weird Al Yankovic entertains at 8 p.m. at the Grandstand.

Wednesday, Aug. 27

On Family Day, an admission charge of $25 pays for two adults and up to four children or seniors. Contest of the Day: bubble-gum blowing at 3 p.m. at the Courtyard stage. Draft horse competition begins at 2 p.m. in the Arena. The open class Scottish Highland beef cattle show is set for 1 p.m. in the beef judging area. Fritz and the Freeloaders play music of the 1960s at 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the Courtyard stage. Creedence Clearwater Revisited performs at 7:30 p.m. before a Grandstand audience.

Thursday, Aug. 28

Kid’s Day, again, so those age 15 and younger get in free at the gate. (For everybody else, there’s a $2 off coupon in The Herald.) Contest of the Day: pie-eating at 3 p.m., Courtyard stage. Cowboy Buck and Elizabeth perform their children’s show at 1:15 p.m. on the Courtyard stage. A kids karaoke contest is set for 4 p.m. and an air guitar contest is planned at 6 p.m., also at the Courtyard. The popular open class hand- milking competition is set for 6 p.m. in the dairy judging pavilion. Country stars Blaine Larsen and Bill Engvall are in concert at 7 p.m. before a Grandstand audience.

Friday, Aug. 29

It’s Armed Forces Day. With identification, all armed forces and emergency services personnel get free gate admission. Contest of the Day: 1980s hairdo contest. Send a postcard to overseas troops at a booth near the main entrance. The Navy Band plays at 12:30 p.m. and the Armed Forces Day ceremony is set for 2 p.m. at the Courtyard. Women show how to milk cows in open class competition at 6 p.m. in the dairy judging pavilion. At the Evergreen Speedway, watch the Hornet Open Invitational and crash cars.

Saturday, Aug. 30

The final Saturday of the fair is Techno Day and NASCAR Night. Contest of the Day: texting contests at 1, 3:30 and 6:45 p.m. around the fairgrounds. At 7 p.m. at the Speedway, it’s NASCAR racing. In between, look for the Evergreen State Fair Roving Band. At 11 a.m. catch the open class hog fitting showing competition in the swine arena, as well as the 4-H dog costume show at 1 p.m. in the dog ring. The Snohomish County Windjammers barbershop chorus performs at 11:45 a.m. at the Courtyard stage. The Green Hornet rock band plays at 9 p.m. at the Courtyard.

Sunday, Aug. 31

It’s EverGREEN Day. Ride the bus to the fair and use your Community Transit coupon for $2 off admission. Go to www.communitytransit.org for details. A question-and-answer session on biodiesel is set for 12:30 p.m. at the Courtyard. Contest of the Day: Guinness World Record attempt at the largest hokey-pokey, at about noon at the Speedway. Needed are 6,748 people to dance. The 16th annual wool spin-in is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the craft area of the Display Hall. The Leight Fantastics perform at 3 p.m. on the Courtyard stage. Western equestrian games, 6 to 10 p.m. in the Arena. Demolition Derby at 7 p.m. and fireworks finish up the day at the Speedway.

Monday, Sept. 1

It’s Labor Day, the last day of the fair, and the theme is “Look to the future,” which is celebrated with the Contest of the Day: the Baby Diaper Derby Contest, 2:45 p.m. at the Courtyard. The Odegaard Memorial Miniature Horse Show is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Arena. The 4-H Snohomish County Style Show is set for 2 p.m. in the 4-H building. Brendan Wires plays solo electric bass at 1 p.m. on the Courtyard stage. The fair closes for the year at 7 p.m.