How to ‘do’ the other state fair — you know, the one in Puyallup

Big Foot.

Star Trek.

The Star-Spangled Banner.

Batter fried corn-on-the-cob.

Are you ready for Round 2 of fair fun?

It’s time to do the Puyallup at Washington State Fair, which runs through Sept. 27.

For Snohomish County folks still sticky from cotton candy at the Monroe fair, it’s the “other” state fair.

About 1 million people annually attend the fair formerly known as the Puyallup Fair before getting its fourth name change as Washington State Fair in 2013. It was the Valley Fair from 1900 to 1913 and Western Washington Fair from 1913 to 1976.

The hot selfie magnet this year is a happy, hairy giant named Big Washington. He’s like the jolly version of Bigfoot. Kids will want to hug him, not run from him.

Selfie sticks are allowed, said fair spokeswoman Karen LaFlamme, though guests might be asked to refrain if it becomes a safety hazard in large crowds.

Also, please be careful about pointing these things around livestock.

You won’t want to miss Jayden Terry-Olson, 10, of Everett, when she sings the national anthem at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 before the Bea Miller concert.

Jayden, a fifth-grader at Everett’s Penny Creek Elementary School, has performed on stages and sang solo at AquaSox games. To land the fair gig, she entered the “Oh Say Can You Sing” contest earlier this year, then made the cut after auditioning at the fairgrounds.

This girl is on fire for her biggest show ever.

“I don’t get nervous, I get mostly excited,” said Jayden, speaking like a seasoned performer.

New this year at the fair is a special exhibit all about candy.

“This is a free exhibit for the kid in all of us,” LaFlamme said. “It has the history of candy making from early days to high-tech processes.”

Get beamed to another dimension in “Star Trek: The Exhibition,” a special attraction that’s an additional admission from the fair.

“It has a wide range of artifacts, clothing and props from the original TV series and movies,” LaFlamme said. “This is the first time it has been to this area.”

Thirsty? How about a beer?

Belly up to Beer Haven, a mega mobile tap room on wheels with 60 microbrews plus games and live music.

“It is a new concept,” LaFlamme said. “Meet with the brew masters and sample a variety of craft beers, many from Washington.”

Stop here after, not before, you hit those hurly-whirly-twirly rides.

Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.

If you go

The Washington State Fair, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, is open daily through Sept. 27.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Admission: $12.50 adults; $9 for ages 6 to 18 and seniors 62 and older. Free for kids 5 and younger. Military Appreciation Days, Sept. 14 and 21: Free admission to active, reserve and retired military and National Guard and their dependents, plus disabled veterans.

Parking: $10 Monday through Friday; $12, Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, go to www.thefair.com.

Getting there

Skip the pain, take the train. The Sounder Train Fair Express will run Sept. 19 and 26 to the fairground that’s about 60 miles south of Everett. The express deal includes round-trip Sounder fare and gate admission. Trains take passengers between Everett, Mukilteo, Edmonds and Seattle’s King Street Station. Snohomish County passengers will change trains at King Street Station, crossing the nearby platform to board trains that stop in Tukwila, Kent, Auburn and Sumner before reaching their Puyallup Station destination. After the Fair, head to the Fair’s Red Gate to take the shuttle back to Puyallup Station.

Cost: $17 for adults; $12 for ages 6 to 18. Ages 5 and younger are free.

Times: Train leaves Everett at 8:40 a.m. and 9:40 a.m., with pickup stops in Mukilteo at 8:52 a.m. and 9:52 a.m., and in Edmonds at 9:07 a.m. and 10:07 a.m. The return train from Puyallup is at 5:50 p.m. or 6:50 p.m. Shuttle service from Puyallup Station to the fair is free.

Another way to get to the fair is by bus. The Sound Transit Express route runs daily between Seattle and Puyallup. Buses run daily from Snohomish County transit centers to Seattle.

For more information about the Washington State Fair, go to www.thefair.com.

Special exhibits

“Sweet! A Tasty Journey”: A nostalgic look at the confections beloved by generations of Americans. All about the “farm to fork” role in candymaking, with artifacts and real life “Willy Wonka” stories from notable inventors such as Forrest Mars and Milton Hershey. This exhibit is included in fair admission.

“Star Trek: The Exhibition”: Sit in the chair where Captain Kirk took command of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Pose in front of a replica of the spaceship, hands-on activities and interactive kiosks. This is a separate ticketed exhibit from fair gate admission. Located inside the Red Gate. Admission is $8. Ages 5 and younger are free with a paid adult.

Beer Haven: A mega mobile tap room tap room on wheels with 60 microbrews. Craft breweries include Black Raven, Balebreaker, Dicks, Harmon, Iron Horse, Leavenworth, Mac &Jack’s, No Li Brewing, NW Brewing, Pyramid, Schooner Exact, Silver City, Sound, 7 Seas. Open daily. Special beer festivals are noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 12, 19 and 26. Budweiser Designated Driver: Designated drivers in areas of the fair with bar service can get an “Enjoy Responsibly” wrist band and free cola beverage.

State Fair by the numbers, 2014