Last day of carnival, recreation expo in Monroe
Published 11:53 pm Saturday, April 24, 2010
MONROE — Even if windy weather on Saturday didn’t exactly make for a perfect day at the spring fair, it made for a sweet little miracle for some kids at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.
As Brittany Harris spun teal-colored cotton candy at her stand around 4 in the afternoon, a strong gust of wind carried dozens of fluffy pieces into the air all around the stand. Several kids cried out in amazement and began chasing the airborne candy.
Harris, 19, of Monroe, just laughed. A web of candy covered her hands and hair, and bits got caught in her eyelashes. She’s working at the fairgrounds this weekend to earn some extra cash. That’s in addition to her two other jobs.
Harris and her fiance recently moved out on their own and are working hard to make a living.
For the first time this year, the county is holding the Spring Recreation Expo and carnival, a preview to the annual Evergreen State Fair. Rides cost money, but admission to the fair is free.
The expo was a good opportunity to get the word out for Erik and Julie Anderson of Everett. The couple run Cascade Adventure Guides, where they offer guided hiking, rock climbing and mountaineering trips.
“We are trying to get people to enjoy the outdoors. There’s so much to experience here,” Julie Anderson said.
They started the company about six months ago and hope it will turn into a full-time business someday. For now, Erik Anderson works at his day job as a recreation coordinator in Mountlake Terrace.
The Andersons specialize in beginners. Prices range from about $85 per hike to $500 for an overnight adventure in the mountains. They’ve led four trips so far but hope the pace will pick up once summer weather arrives.
On Saturday afternoon, the couple left their booth to walk around with their two young kids. Julie Anderson took a shot at the rock climbing wall. Her daughter, who is almost 5, got to go on some of the rides.
“We’re having a family experience,” Erik Anderson said.
Tom Muchoney, vice chair of the Evergreen Fair Foundation, has been involved with the fair for more than 25 years. He was greeting people at the gate on Saturday and passing out brochures to the 1,200 or so people who went through the gate where he was standing.
Muchoney loves being part of the fair and the giant effort to put it on each year.
“You meet the most interesting people in the world here,” he said.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
Today is it
Catch the last day of the spring fair today. The Recreation Expo runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the carnival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
