This year's Thurston County Fair, which started Wednesday and ends Sunday, is hosting an array of farm animals rarely seen at the small fair, including two dairy cows, a gaggle of turkeys and the most sheep the fair has seen in years.
Also joining them on the Thurston County Fairgrounds this week will be new performers, new vendors and on-site beekeepers — a nod to this year's mascot, Betty Bee.
Besides the additional attractions, fairgoers will still find the features they love: carnival, fair food, performers, vendors, and other exhibits of animals, produce, arts, crafts and goods.
To fair and event center manager Thomasina Cooper and fair coordinator Theresa Reid, the Thurston County Fair has something for everyone.
"We want to represent what Thurston County has to offer," Reid told The Olympian. "And we want to make sure everybody has a chance to come."
To that end, the fair is continuing to offer special entry days. On Wednesday, fair-goers with non-perishable food donations for the Thurston County Food Bank entered the fair for $1.
On Thursday, children will get in for $2, and those with military identification pay $2 for admission on Friday.
Regular entry fees are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children ages 6 to 14, and free for children 5 and younger.
Parking on the fairgrounds is $7, but fairgoers can park for free at Woodland Elementary School or the North Thurston Public Schools Bus Barn. Volunteer bus drivers will shuttle continuously between the free parking areas and fairground gates, transporting fairgoers to and fro for free.
No pets are allowed at the fair.
"Our vendor booths are full, our animal cages, pens are full," Cooper told The Olympian. "We're packed to the gills with fun stuff for the fair this year."
The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday; from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Here are the details of the rest of the fair.
Displays, demonstrations and activities
• Professor Bamboozle: Morning, afternoon and evening magic shows daily on the Food Court Stage
• Flying Sawdust: Chainsaw-carving demonstrations on Thursday, competitions and auctions from Friday through Sunday in the Heritage Hall parking lot
• Vuelta La Luna: Children's zone from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, afternoon circus shows Friday through Sunday on the North Expo Stage Lawn
• Paramount Martial Arts: Daily martial arts demonstrations on the Expo Stage
• Reptile Isle: Afternoon and evening reptile shows daily in the Kiddie Zone
• 4-H Fashion Review: 4-H fashion show from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday on the Expo Stage
• Rayven the Clown: Clown roving Thurston County Fairgrounds from from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday
• Harai Dojo: Martial arts demonstration from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Expo Stage
• Youth Market Animal Sale: 4-H auction starts at 6 p.m. Saturday at Hicks Lake Barn
• Pancake Breakfast: Pancakes, juice and coffee served by the Thurston County commissioners from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Heritage Hall
• Artväna Paint & Sip: Painting classes from 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Beer Garden
Contests
• Cornhole: Cornhole games from 10 a.m. to closing time daily at West Lawn Heritage Hall
• Hay Scramble: Needle-in-haystack searches from 1 to 1:30 p.m. daily in West Food Court
• Egg Spoon Race: Egg spoon races from 3 to 3:30 p.m. daily in West Food Court
• Baking Contests: Entry at noon, judging at 2 p.m. Thursday for chocolate cakes, on Friday for cookies, on Saturday for berry pies and on Sunday for cupcakes in Expo Center Lobby
Music
• Yotes: Rockabilly, country and Americana performances daily on Expo Stage
• Olympia Highlanders: Bagpipes and drum performance from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday on Expo Stage
• Raeann Phillips: Performance from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday on Expo Stage
• Off Boulevard: Performance from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday on Food Court Stage
• Catherine Loyer: Performance from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday on Expo Stage
• Capital Area Concert Band: Performance from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday on Expo Stage
• Backlash Band: Performance from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday on Expo Stage
• Tiffany Baldwin: Performance from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday on Expo Stage
• Rebecca Terry — Baby and the Noodles: Performance from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday on Expo Stage
Dance
• Tanglefoot Cloggers: Clog dance from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday on Food Court Stage
• Kinetic Dance Academy: Dance from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday on Expo Stage
• Winlock Dancers: Dance from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday on Expo Stage
• Troupe Rashaad World Blend Dancers: Dance from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday on Food Court Stage
• Mas Uda: Belly dance from noon to 1 p.m. on Sunday on Food Court Stage
Southwest Washington Fair
The Southwest Washington Fair in Lewis County opens Aug. 13 through Aug. 18 at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.
Look for a special section highlighting activities and events at the Fair in The Chronicle next week.
Learn more at https://southwestwashingtonfair.org/.
