Fair adds some new to the old

Fairgoers will be busy as bees at this year’s Evergreen State Fair.

In its 96th year, the annual Snohomish County tradition continues through Sept. 6 with all the fair favorites, along with some new attractions.

The official theme to this year’s fair is “The Land of Milk and Honey … Bee There!” Depicted by a bee with a yellow ball cap and a laughing cow wearing a straw hat, Bub the Bee and Belle the Laughing Cow join the rest of their barnyard buddies as the newest additions to the Evergreen State Fair’s Barnyard Buddy Club.

In addition to the traditional fair exhibits, including animal and home exhibits, fair foods, rides and live entertainment, this year’s fair welcomes the Happy Cow Round-up contest.

The Happy Cow Round-up contest is an opportunity for fairgoers to collect stamps at each of 30 locations on a wrangler guide. Once completed, winners’ entries will be entered into a drawing for prizes.

Some of the prizes include a trip for six to Whistler, B.C., two Mountain Dew “Hulk” boogie boards and a pair of Europa watches. Other prizes include Columbia Fleece Zip and Holloway Rally Diet Pepsi jackets, a “Cat in the Hat” fleece throw and Nike Triax heart rate monitor.

Winners need not be present to win and will be notified by telephone of their award.

Other fun fair activities include the Jest in Time circus tent, petting farm and equestrian events. Displays include antique tractors, raptors and sow ‘n’ litter displays.

There are performances by the Aztec Indian Dancers, and appearances by The Reptile Man, J.P. Patches, Ed Hume, Stan Boreson, and Ciscoe Morris.

Other fair contests include the Evergreen Idol contest, hog calling contest and pig races, and international lumberjack shows.

This year’s live entertainment features performances by Stacie Orrico, The Smothers Brothers, Sawyer Brown and Peter Frampton (see related story).

Guest services at the fair include information booths at various locations, a first aid and security station and wheelchair and stroller rental. Cash machines, baby changing stations and people movers are also available. .

Avoid traffic and parking hassles by taking Community Transit buses directly to the fair entrance. Service is every hour during the fair from Everett, Snohomish and Gold Bar on routes 270, 275 and 271. The first bus arrives just before the gates open and additional trips provide service until after the fair closes each night.

Parking is free at Everett Station and at the Snohomish Park &Ride on Highway 9 and Bickford.

Fares are $1 for adults, 60 cents for ages 6 to 18 and 30 cents for ages 65 and older.

Special fair bus schedules are available at fairgrounds information booths, on Community Transit buses or at www.communitytransit.org.