PORT ANGELES — Familiar fun and new offerings continue at the Clallam County Fair today through Sunday night.
For the 98th year, locals can experience the thrill of the rides; see the efforts to earn a blue ribbon, taste the fine, fried and baked foods; listen to a variety of music; and experience much more at the fairgrounds, 1608 W. 16th St.
Gates open at 8:30 a.m., buildings open at 10 a.m. and the carnival starts at noon. The grounds close at 9 p.m. today and Saturday, and the fair concludes at 7 p.m. Sunday after the demolition derby.
Tickets cost $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $6 for students ages 13 to 17 and $5 for children ages 6 to 12, while children 5 and younger enter free. Tickets for the day can be purchased at the gate.
Last year was a scorcher weather-wise, but this year’s anticipated moderate temperatures should help bring people in, said fair manager Shari Ioffrida.
“Thursday through Saturday last year broke all [heat] records in Port Angeles,” she said. “It definitely affected attendance.”
Earlier this year, Ioffrida and other county fair leaders across the state were concerned about budget cuts. However, she said, they received their funding through 2019.
Despite the weather and budget scare, the fair received some major accolades for this year.
Ioffrida said cowboys in the Pro West Rodeo circuit voted the Clallam County Fair the association’s top rodeo in the Northwest.
Her hope is that the award translates to more competition and notoriety for the rodeo, which runs at 5 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.
Ioffrida continues to bring in a diverse crowd for music offerings, too, from hip-hop to rock to country to bluegrass between the Sunny Farms Stage and Wilder Auto Community Stage.
One of the big draws comes near the end of the fair with the seventh annual variety and talent show at 2 p.m. Sunday with 14 musical contestants.
For adrenaline junkies, the fair hosts Jet City FMX Motocross stunts for three evening shows again today.
On Saturday, the annual Logging Show features the precision and strength of Northwest ax men.
Jim Bissonette started organizing the show more than 20 years ago — so long ago now that it’s difficult to pin down a precise date, he said. Bissonette became involved after competing in logging shows across the United States and Canada for 20 years himself.
About 10 to 12 competitors will participate in seven events Saturday at noon, he said.
The “hugely popular” demolition derby caps off the fair Sunday at 5 p.m.
Tickets for $12 will be sold outside the yellow gate on the west side of the fairgrounds starting at 9 a.m. Sunday. You won’t want to delay, as tickets usually sell out, said Joel Winborn, county parks, fair and facilities director.
“The stands are always packed,” Winborn said. “It’s a good capper for the fair.”
Family time
Plenty is available for families and children including the return of popular pirate variety show “Cap’n Arr” in the KidZone four times daily today and Saturday.
Members of local 4-H and FFA clubs will try to sell their animals at the Junior Livestock Auction at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Sheep/Swine Arena.
Daniel Bender of Port Angeles, a member of Pure Country 4-H, plans to sell his pigs for the first time at the auction. His goal is to make the money back he spent on them.
His mom, Lesley, said they like 4-H because it’s something their whole family can eventually do when her children are old enough.
“It’s fun to have our kids involved because 4-H is a great organization for leadership skills,” she said.
The sights, sounds and smells of animals will be on hand in all the animal barns throughout the weekend, too.
Children such as Daniel will be available to answer questions about their animals.
This will be 15-year-old Ashlyne Money’s seventh year showing horses at the fair through the Silver Spurs 4-H Club.
“I love being in the group,” she said. “It’s like having another family away from family.”
Schedule highlights
Event highlights at the fair today through Sunday include:
• Jet City FMX Extreme Moto-X-Nitro 5 — 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. today.
• Logging Show — Noon Saturday.
• 4-H/FFA Junior Livestock Auction — 1 p.m. Saturday.
• Magician Jeffery Dial — Three shows Saturday.
• Rodeo — 5 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.
• Seventh annual variety and talent show — 2 p.m. Sunday.
• Live music every day on the Wilder Auto Community Stage with Lions Ambition at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. today, Three Too Many at noon and 6 p.m. today, and Foreign Figures at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday.
For more information on the fair, see the Peninsula Daily News’ special section, included with Wednesday’s paper, or visit clallam.net/fair.
John and Lelah Singhose arrange vegetables for the display in their Crescent Grange booth in the AG building. The fair opened its four-day run Thursday. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Amber Guy with Rainier Amusement of Portland, Ore., helps set up the merry-go-round at the Clallam County Fair on Monday. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Ellie Hiigler and Justin Jackson with Port Angeles Junior ROTC look at a building block display created by 7-year-old Digeo Waterkotte of Port Angeles. This year, the Junior ROTC helped set up the Arts and Crafts barn. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Members of the Silver Spurs 4-H Club — from left, Ashlyne Money, 16; Sierra Steffen, 12; Marissa Steffen, 10; and Lisi Hanson, 15 — design posters for their horses’ stalls Monday in a horse barn at the Clallam County Fairgrounds. Their group will show 18 horses throughout the fair, which runs through Sunday. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Jeff Bender, with help from his sons Daniel, 9, left, and Grant, 8, right, tries to fix a flat tire on a wheelbarrow outside the swine barn at the Clallam County Fair. Daniel belongs to Pure Country 4-H and will show pigs, rabbits and goats throughout the fair. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
