Fair days are almost here

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Ticket prices
• Adults, 16-61: $10
• Senior citizens, 62 to 89: $7
• 90 and over: free
• Youth, 6-15: $7
• Kids under 5: free

Hours:
• Fair: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Carnival: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

How to get there
The Evergreen State Fairgrounds are at 14405 179th Ave. SE in Monroe, 14 miles east of Everett on U.S. 2 and about 30 miles northeast of Seattle via I-405 and Highway 522.

Community Transit Routes 270, 271 and 275 will serve a special stop near the entrance to the fairgrounds with service

between Everett and Monroe every 30 to 60 minutes. Schedules for each route are available on buses or at www.communitytransit.org. No service Sundays or Labor Day.

Parking is $8 weekdays, $10 weekends, no re-entry.

Information:
• Website: www.evergreenfair.org
• 24-hour line: 360-805-6700

Highlights at the fair
Below are our picks for things to see and do each day at the fair, just a sampling of the events planned. For a complete fair schedule, go to www.evergreenfair.org. Click one of the links below to skip to a specific day:

Thursday, August 25: Opening day
Friday, August 26: X-Treme Fry-Day
Saturday, August 27: Agriculture Day
Sunday, August 28: Fiesta Sunday
Monday, August 29: Senior Citizens Day
Tuesday, August 30: Twosday Tuesday
Wednesday, August 31: Why Work Wednesday
Thursday, September 1: Kid’s Day
Friday, September 2: Armed Forces Day
Saturday, September 3: Rodeo Day
Sunday, September 4: Demo Derby Day
Monday, September 5: Play Day

Thursday, August 25: Opening day
Gerry Andal Day. Free admission for all until 1 p.m. Celebrate the opening day ceremony at 2 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage. Take part in the bubble gum blowing contest at 4 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage. Come 15 minutes early to sign up. See the Western Regional Clydesdale Show at 6 p.m. at the Arena. Or check out the motorsports sampler at 6 p.m. at the Grandstand.

Friday, August 26: X-Treme Fry-Day
Free general admission with three cans of food to donate to the food bank. Stop by Northwest’s largest totem pole 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the chainsaw carvers exhibit. See a performance by the Applause Studio at 10:30 a.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage. Watch motorcycle jumps, stunts and world record attempts during Mr. Dizzy’s Crash Factory Live at 6 p.m. at the Grandstand. Cheer for participants of the 4-H performing arts instrumental and vocal contest at 7 p.m. at the cat display area.

Saturday, August 27: Agriculture Day
Start the day with the Monroe Fair Days Parade at 11 a.m. in downtown Monroe. Don’t miss JP Patches at 2 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage. Have fun at the legendary all-Alaskan pig races at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 and 6:30 p.m. See 4-H Cow Olympics at 6 p.m. at the beef judging arena.

Sunday, August 28: Fiesta Sunday
Treat yourself to a salsa taste-off at 1 p.m. at the Snohomish County Agriculture Display. Show your kids sows and their newborn piglets 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the swine barn. See a mariachi band at 3 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage. Support your favorite candidate in the Evergreen Idol contest finals at 6 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage.

Monday, August 29: Senior Citizens Day
Free admission to those 62 and over. Feel the rhythm with the senior dance group Antique Kids at 11 a.m. at Xfinity Courtyard stage. Stroll through the Snohomish County Agriculture Display from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stay for the concert of Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey — of Peter, Paul & Mary fame — at 7 p.m. at the Grandstand. Or hear the Moonlight Swing Orchestra at 7:45 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage.

Tuesday, August 30: Twosday Tuesday
General admission is $2 before 2 p.m. Take your teen to see young country singer Dakota Neuman at 1:15 at Xfinity Courtyard Stage. Meet master gardeners with the Washington State University Extension program 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the display hall. Get your groove on with Aztec Indian Dancers at 2 and 8 p.m. at the chainsaw carvers’ exhibit. Watch the Draft Horse and Mule Extravaganza at 5 p.m. at the Arena.

Wednesday, August 31: Why Work Wednesday
Adult tickets are buy one, get one free. Start the morning off by visiting the chainsaw carvers display from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Enjoy live country and pop music performances starting at 10:30 a.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage. See the International Lumberjack Show at noon, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Finish a fun day with a classic rock music performance by Cheap Trick at 7 p.m. at the Grandstand.

Thursday, September 1: Kid’s Day
Kids 15 and under get in free. Watch the Reptile Man at 11:30 a.m. at Xfinity Courtyard stage. If you’re hungry, sign up for the pie-eating contest at 3 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard stage. Let your kids turn into farmers for a day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Snohomish County Agricultural Display. Don’t forget the popular band OneRepublic at 7 p.m. at the Grandstand.

Friday, September 2: Armed Forces Day
Members of the armed forces and emergency service personnel get in for $5 with proper ID. Admission is free until 3 p.m. for those who donate three cans of food. Come in time for the Armed Forces Ceremony at 2 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage. Support 4-H students during the dogs advanced obedience competition at 4 p.m. at the dog barn. Catch a concert during the Northwest Rockfest from 2 to 10 p.m. at the Grandstand. Watch the Pro-West Rodeo with performances by High Valley Riders drill team and Warm Beach vaulters at 7 p.m. at the Arena.

Saturday, September 3: Rodeo Day
See Joe Black, master hypnotist, at 1 and 5:30 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage. Don’t miss Snohomish County Western Games from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Arena. It’s NASCAR night at 6 p.m. at the Grandstand. Take your kids to look for Quarters in a Haystack at 11 a.m., 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. at the Snohomish County Agricultural Display.

Sunday, September 4: Demo Derby Day
Learn something new at the Western Heritage Interactive Museum from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Show your skills in a frisbee throwing contest at 4:30 p.m. at the animal judging arena. For a wild evening, watch Eve of Destruction with Mr. Dizzy’s Metal Madness demo derby and contests starting at 6 p.m. at the Grandstand. Followed by fireworks.

Monday, September 5: Play Day
Discount admission for everyone. Fair closes at 7 p.m. Show your competitive spirit at the barrel races from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arena. Watch Quil Ceda Carvers make their art from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Track down roving comedy and juggling artist Eric Haines from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sign up your baby for the Baby Diaper Derby contest at 3 p.m. at Xfinity Courtyard Stage.