Clark County families can enjoy the outdoors, animals, entertainment, games, rides and food this week as the annual Clark County Fair opens for its 153rd year.
The fair, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield, opens Friday, Aug. 4 and ends Sunday, Aug. 13. Hours are from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 and Saturday, Aug. 5; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 through Thursday, Aug. 10; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11 and Saturday, Aug. 12; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13. Rides open at noon daily.
In a change from last year, Fair Manager John Morrison said there will be no pancake breakfast on opening day. Instead, a Fred Meyer store coupon will give people free entry on opening day.
For those waiting in lines or arriving late, the fair has extended the hours to enter free with a coupon to 1 p.m. up from noon in previous years.
This year’s featured exhibit will be the Wizard’s Challenge. Morrison explained it as making science fun in a medieval themed environment. The Wizard’s Challenge will be open daily in the exhibit hall across from the event center.
A children’s fun zone of inflatables will also be in the same exhibit hall as the Wizard’s Challenge and will be open daily from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.
In the non-agriculture animal world at the fair, Butterfly Adventures, Curly the Camel and Friends, as well as the new DogTown will begin each day at 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. and run until various closing times in the late evening.
Morrison said he is excited for DogTown as it will provide consistent activity throughout the day, along with the three-times daily Dock Dogs competition.
The opening day parade takes place at 2 p.m. on the main midway.
Entertainment and shows are scheduled multiple times during the day daily, including Pirate’s Parrot live bird show, the Professor Smart science show, Magician Adam The Great and many more.
The grandstand concerts this year kick off at 7 p.m. beginning with Trace Adkins on opening day, George Thorogood and the Destroyers on Saturday, Aug. 5, Blue Oyster Cult on Sunday, Aug. 6 and LOCASH on Monday, Aug. 7. The Washington State Fiddle Championships will take place from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5 and Sunday, Aug. 6 on the Columbian Stage.
Other Columbian Stage entertainment includes various eating contests throughout the fair. A watermelon-eating contest is slated for Saturday, Aug. 5; a hot dog-eating contest on Sunday, Aug. 6; a donut-eating contest on Friday, Aug. 11; a cheeseburger eating contest Saturday, Aug. 12; and a pie-eating contest will conclude the contests on Sunday, Aug. 13. Registration for each of the contests is at 12:30 p.m.
Agriculture events and animal showings are scheduled throughout the week. See Horse and Ranch on page B4 for a brief look at the schedule.
“The history of fairs in this country is the celebration of agriculture, whether it’s farmers coming together to bring their best crops or coming together to meet once a year,” Morrison said.
The featured agriculture exhibit showcases important crops grown in Clark County. This year’s featured agriculture exhibit will be potatoes.
“I don’t think I ever thought of Clark County being a big potato-producing area,” Morrison joked.
On Tuesday, Aug. 8 the Mutton Bustin’ contest will take place at 2 p.m. at the grandstand. At 7 p.m., the Rough Stock Rodeo will is scheduled at the Grandstand.
At 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, the Demolition Derby is at the Grandstand.
At 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, the Side x Side racing and monster truck rides will take place.
The Tuff Trucks events will take place at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11 and Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Grandstand.
Monster trucks conclude with events at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13.
For more information, including daily schedules of all events, visit clarkcofair.com.
