Silvana Community Fair hosts a bundle of activities

Published 7:52 pm Thursday, July 23, 2015

SILVANA — Shows, exhibits, food, music and games are on the agenda for the Silvana Community Fair. But the main attraction is showing and judging of animals, vegetables, crafts and other projects by children, teens and some adults.

The one-day festival starts Saturday at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Parking and admission are free. A shuttle runs from Peace Lutheran Church at 1717 Ole Larson Rd to the fairgrounds behind Silvana’s Viking Hall, 1331 Pioneer Highway.

There are formal competitions with prizes and ribbons for people ages 6 to 18. Younger children also can show small animals or enter produce and crafts in less competitive displays.

Judges critique the entries and if a child or teen shows up with something they want to enter, fair coordinators will find a category for it, said Lynn Pattison, vice president of the Silvana Fair Board.

“The best thing to me is it’s a small-town fair,” she said. “It’s very low-key and low-stress for the kids.”

The event has been a yearly tradition since 1947. It kicks off fair season in the region, prepping participants for shows and contests at other festivals in August and September.

Unlike some of the larger fairs, children don’t have be in 4-H or Future Farmers of America to enter an animal or crop in the Silvana fair.

Anyone can take part, and the fair usually has about 300 entries, Pattison said.

“And everything is ripening so early this year, so we’ll probably have more than usual,” she said.

Games include sack races and the greased pole, where players try to climb up and snatch money at the top.

Local food makes for a good lunch stop, Pattison said. There also will be live music around noon. The food costs money, but the music, indoor exhibits at Viking Hall and outdoor animal shows are free.

“I don’t know of anywhere else you can take four or five kids and not have to pay anything and have a great day,” Pattison said.

The fair is put on by volunteers and the fair board raises money by selling fair T-shirts and holding auctions at Viking Hall every March.

“It’s all just local people who love kids and want to help out,” Pattison said.

For more information about the 68th annual Silvana Community Fair, go to www.silvanafair.com.

Kari Bray; 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.