A vintage photo of the midway at the Clark County Fairgrounds. Notice the differences and similarities from the more recent picture of the midway (above).
Farm, Fun and Family Traditions are the themes for the 150th anniversary of the Clark County Fair August 3-12 at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Ridgefield. A grand parade will take over the midway at 1:50 p.m. Friday.
When the clock strikes 1:50 p.m. Friday, the Clark County Fair celebrates its 150-year anniversary with a grand parade through the midway.
“This is a big milestone not only for the fair but for the state, for the community and for the fact that we have been in existence for a long time,” said public relations manager Jim Beriault. “We have survived because of the community, because of fair goers, because of people investing their time as volunteers and investing their time to bring their families.”
This 20-minute parade features 25 to 30 entries marching up the midway, from the green gate to the blue gate. Beriault encourages spectators to arrive at least 15 minutes before the parade starts to get a good view.
“I know that the decorating, the pageantry from all the departments and the presentations are going to be great. People are excited to put their spin on the 150,” he said. “I have no idea what is going to be unveiled until opening day, so it will be as much as a surprise to me as it is for the spectators. We have thousands of volunteers and countless families who have been involved for generations. This is a big deal for them, too.”
Brad Tylman’s “Reptile World” returns to the Clark County Fairgrounds this year.
“See unique and mysterious, reptiles, amphibians and other fabulous animals that raise both hairs and curiosities,” Beriault wrote in the fair press kit. “It is through Brad’s interest and devotion that brings exhibits and programs that offer an unusual and memorable educational experience by making it a fun, entertaining and an interactive adventure.”
Nearby the reptile exhibit, Sandscapes will be building sandcastles and other creations throughout the duration of the fair. Guests are encouraged to stop by multiple days to see their progress.
Cowboy Boot Camp offers a self-contained wild west town with hands-on activities for youth. Once inside, they can dress like a cowboy or a cowgirl, pan for gold, milk a cow, play a game of horseshoes, lean to lasso and build a scarecrow. There will also be face painting, crafts and a cookout.
Once again, the DockDogs are ready to make a big splash at the fair. Dogs run down a 40-foot-long dock and leap into the pool or compete in vertical or retrieval events. The judges measure the distance or height and the top dogs receive prizes, a national ranking and possibly an invitation to the DockDogs National Championship Series.
These are just a few of the events Beriault believes capture the spirit of Clark County and keep bringing folks back to the fair for more, even after 150 years.
“It’s an important day in history, but we always try to do the best we can every year to be the best fair we can,” Beriault said. “There’s only so much a marketing department can do. It really comes down to the volunteers, the families and the people that make the fair theirs.”
See a full fair schedule here
