First Evergreen State spring fair previews big summer event
Published 10:13 am Friday, April 23, 2010
MONROE — For two weeks each summer, the Evergreen State Fairgrounds are a blur of cotton candy, flashing lights and squealing children.
Then things quiet down.
“It really is an amazing fair we put on,” said Tom Teigen, Snohomish County parks director. “But we’ve got this other 50 weeks.”
The county will try to fill a few of those days this weekend as it launches its Spring Recreation Expo and carnival.
From this afternoon through Sunday, rides and games will light up the fairgrounds near the grandstand, which itself will host a recreation expo on Saturday and Sunday.
In theory, that activity will help the county kill two birds with one stone, drawing people to the fairgrounds during a quiet month while inspiring people to enjoy the mountains, forests and rivers that line U.S. 2.
“It really is that kickoff to get outdoors, go see all the county has to offer,” said Mark Campbell, fairgrounds manager.
The expo will feature two outdoor stages near the grandstand.
Kids can take a picture with Tow Mater, a full-sized replica of a cartoon tow truck from “Cars,” while their parents scale a rock-climbing wall.
Speakers will explain the basics of archery, kayaking and camping. Indoor stages will host presentations on gardening, cooking and dancing.
Visitors also can get some tips on entering into competitions for the summer fair, which this year runs from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6.
“We’re not wanting to distract from the bigger fair,” Campbell said. “We’re wanting to enhance.”
Unlike the recreation expo, which is free, the carnival has its costs.
Funtastic Traveling Shows of Portland, Ore., rolled out a dozen games and 16 rides on Thursday. Most rides will run fairgoers about $4.
County officials chose this weekend to launch the spring event because it lined up with other activities at the fairgrounds. The site also is hosting an equestrian competition, a statewide 4-H dog show and three days of auto racing.
Organizers are optimistic about the weekend, and not only because of that line-up.
Spring fairs can draw a crowd. The Spring Fair in Puyallup attracted 127,000 people earlier this month, setting a new record as it marked its 21st anniversary.
Teigen expects more modest returns for Snohomish County’s inaugural event. If their spring fair grosses $20,000 for the cash-strapped county, he’ll be thrilled.
As for attendance, well, the parking lot has 6,000 spaces.
“We haven’t even put a guess out there,” he said.
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455; arathbun@heraldnet.com.
>Correction, April 23, 2010: This article originally included the wrong times for the spring fair carnival on Sunday.
