This year’s Thurston County Fair , which starts 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, fair-goers 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 a non-perishable food donations for the Thurston County Food Bank may enter 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 fair-goers 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 fair-goers 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
Welcome Ceremony: Welcome ceremony and Thurston County official competition from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday on the Expo Stage
Professor Bamboozle: Morning, afternoon and evening magic shows daily on the Food Court Stage
Flying Sawdust: Chainsaw carving demonstrations on Wednesday and 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
Haley Prendergast Irish Dancers: Irish dance from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday on Expo Stage
South Sound Dance: Dance from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday on Food Court Stage
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
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