In focus: Thurston County Fair draws exhibitors, visitors across the region

Ahead of the Southwest Washington Fair from Aug. 15-20 this year, exhibitors and visitors are showing up, or showing off, at the Thurston County Fair this week.

The fair opened on Wednesday and runs through Sunday at the fairgrounds in Lacey, offering carnival rides, agricultural displays and sales, fair food vendors and more.

Though Thurston County’s fair is smaller than Lewis County’s, it draws 4-H, FFA and open class agriculturalists and students just the same. Exhibitors hail from throughout the region, including Yelm, Tenino, Rainier, Tumwater, Rochester and Centralia. 

Many see the smaller fair as a way to gear up for mid-August in Lewis County, said Callie Thomas, of the Chehalis FFA in an interview with The Chronicle last year while showing her goats.

“I think it’s fun to experience the fair with different people, a different crowd. I think that’s why I like going to different fairs. Different competition is the main thing,” Thomas said at the time.

The Thurston County Fair will run into the evening on Sunday, with carnival rides set to close at 8 p.m. Visitors on Sunday can see the Winlock Dance Center perform at 4 p.m., watch clog dancers at 2:30 p.m. or catch acrobatic performances throughout the day. Starting at noon, visitors can also enter a cupcake contest.

Tickets to the fair cost $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (age 60 and over), and $5 for kids between the ages of 6 and 14. Admission is free for kids age 5 and under.

For more information, visit https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/fair.

To prepare for the Southwest Washington Fair, visit https://southwestwashingtonfair.org/.