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The Feel-Good Guide to Sports, Travel, Shopping & Entertainment
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Located only minutes from Tacoma and 35 miles from Seattle, the Washington State Fair (formerly known as the Puyallup Fair) is the state's biggest annual event. Every year, it attracts some 1 million visitors to fun, food, and entertainment at the 160-acre Puyallup Fair and Events Center. First organized by a handful of families in the early 20th century, the big event became known as the Puyallup Fair in 2007 before changing its name to the simpler Washington State Fair in 2013. Today, the Washington State Fair in Puyallup remains one of the state's most popular early fall attractions combining a concert lineup with state-of-the-art amusement rides. That also includes old fashioned bronco busting, folk art and farm animal exhibits .... and lots and lots of deep fried fair food! As usual, the fair will be closed each Tuesday throughout its three-week run.
Another spectacular concert lineup is planned in 2024 that in the recent past has included such names as Carrie Underwood, Kane Brown, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, and Tim McGraw. This year, fair orgnaizers have already annouced country star and Grammy award winner Thomas Rhett willl be headlining for this year’s concert lineup on Thursday, September 19th. Usually, ticket prices range from $30 - $75 and includes general admission to the Fair. Meanwhile, keep it here for updates as the full fair concert schedule is announced over the summer.
What else to see and do at the Fair For a unique blend of entertainment, also check out a very popular hypnotist act guaranteed to amaze and delight kids of all ages. For more local wizardry, don't leave the fairgrounds before taking in the Hobby Hall — featuring wood carvings, egg art, ceramics, stained glass, hand crafted dolls, doll houses, and all manner of operating whirligigs and doodads. While the Washington State Fair features the familiar cotton candy, lemonade and deep fried everything, it's also often recommended that visitors find their way to the Young Life Pie Booth for a warm smile and a fresh slice of "the best pie on earth." For roller coaster fans, don't miss a climb aboard the antique wooden roller coaster built in 1935, offering old-fashioned clickity-clack turns, spins, and thrills. As one recent fair goer put it, "I wish the Fair was open all year round!" Have fun!
• Opened on a vacant lot (near the present location of Pioneer Park), the "Valley Fair" first opened from October 4-6, 1900. Admission was $1 per family for all three days. • The Fair had its first carousel in 1923 featuring a Wurlitzer band organ. Today, the restored antique carousel is now valued at $1.3 million and located in its own building in front of the Exposition Hall. • In 1991, the Puyallup Fair was the first major fair in the United States to feature the latest craze, bungee jumping. • Fisher Fair Scones (dripping with honey butter and jam) celebrated their 100th Anniversary by serving their 100 millionth scone during the 2011 Puyallup Fair. • By 2016 the Washington State Fair became so popular than it extended its schedule from two weeks to its present three-week run.
This Christmas in Washington State
Washington State Fair- Check out the Wikipedia guide to the annual fair including a brief history, attendance records, photos and related resources. The Puyallup Fair Photography Collection - Fun facts, history and photos covering the entire history of the fair from the 1900s to the present, courtesy of the Tacoma Public Library. |
