Evergreen State Fair: you can attempt to set a world record for hokey-pokey

Exactly when do you put your backside in?

And how do you shake a nose all about?

Folks will find out when they recall a childhood song at the Evergreen State Fair. Organizers are attempting to provide a record number of singers to put hands, feet and heads in and out, while singing “The Hokey-Pokey.”

Yes, that’s the song you used to hear at the roller rink. Everyone circle up, and don’t fall over on those four wheels.

Last year, the fair offered an attempt to set a world record in the number of folks doing the Bunny Hop.

Snohomish County Treasurer Kirke Sievers said he wore a fuzzy pink-and-white suit last year to participate in the Bunny Hop world record attempt. He found the costume in his basement.

“It was something to do that day,” Sievers said.

He said he is not planning to do the hokey-pokey.

Sue Knipe, children’s librarian for Everett Public Library, said Elmo and school children in Toronto, Canada — 196,569 of them — danced the hokey-pokey at the same time Aug. 25, 2003, but it was an unofficial record.

Elizabeth Grant, marketing specialist for the fair, said the Guinness World Record for the largest circle dance was set in 1995 at Bangor, County Down, in Northern Ireland, when 6,748 people danced the hokey-pokey.

As per Guinness requirements, officials will be on-site to authenticate and document the event. Participants also will be eligible to win a bicycle from Pepsi.

Join the crowd by registering from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 31 at a radio booth at the West Gate, at ParentMap near the East Gate, or at the radio booth at the south end of the Grandstand.

Gates will open at noon to the Evergreen Speedway Race Track, where participants will line up in a circle around the track. The West Coast Country Heat Dancers will demonstrate how to “turn yourself about” at 1:15 p.m.

The record breaking attempt is planned for 1:30 p.m.

And that’s what it’s all about.

Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.