PORT ANGELES — Ask a 4-Her about her turkey, munch on some curly fries, try to win a prize playing Skee-Ball or take a bee for a walk. (More about bees later.)
You would have to put some effort into being bored at the Clallam County Fair that starts Thursday and runs through Sunday.
Last year, 29,408 people attended the four-day agricultural celebration founded in 1895.
Striking the right balance between traditional offerings and new attractions has been important for the fair board. The goal is to keep longtime fans returning and attracting those who might think there’s nothing of interest to see, eat or do.
Fair Manager Shari Ioffrida said offering fair visitors a wide variety of music, food, activities, exhibits and merchandise vendors is key to being successful.
Musical entertainment, for example, features a different tribute band performing Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. If your taste doesn’t lean toward the Eagles, Journey or Lynyrd Skynyrd, then look for performances by the Stardust Big Band (at noon on Friday) and Sound Waves, the Five Acre School’s marimba band (at 2 p.m. Thursday). Among the local favorites performing are the Buck Ellard Band (at 4 p.m. Thursday) and Black Diamond Junction (at 3:30 p.m. Saturday)
The Noon Kiwanis Club will once again sell hand-dipped ice cream bars and, not to be outdone, the Lions Club will sell hand-dipped corn dogs. For the 61st year, the Dry Creek Grange will bake and sell scones slathered with butter and jam.
For more adventuresome fair diners, there’s Breakthrough Huli Huli chicken, freeze dried candy and ice cream from Mix-it Shack and a fruit- and herb-infused mini donut from High Country Doughnuts.
Along with the focus on variety, the board has worked to keep the fair affordable for families. There are no price increases over last year’s, and the first day of the fair is still free for children 12 and younger.
All of the grandstand events are free with admission to the fair.
Entry to the fair is cash-only; ATMs are available near the entrances.
Among the changes visitors will see is an upgrade to the dog barn, which is being remodeled thanks to a $150,000 grant from the state Department of Agriculture.
“It’s about 50 percent finished, but the dogs aren’t going to notice,” said Melanie Greer, the Clallam County 4-H coordinator.
“There is a new roof, the fluorescent lights are being changed to LEDs, the ventilation is new and there are new benches for the dogs.”
Greer encourages visitors to the barns to engage with 4-Hers because the interactions benefit both.
“Talk to the kids and ask them about their animals,” Greer said. “It’s part of getting them to talk to the public, and it’s good that they feel they can teach adults things.”
Cap’n Arrr will back performing at the KidZone after a one-year hiatus. Also appearing in the KidZone will be Peninsula College’s Pirate Pete and the Sequim High School Robotics Club. Strait Up Foam Fun will have a foam cannon and nine-hole mini golf for a fee. Redline Laser Tag also will be available for a fee.
Like last year, the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts’ beer garden will be located on the east side of the grandstand. It will only operate from one hour before the rodeos start until an hour after they end. Friday’s rodeo starts at 6 p.m. and on Saturday it starts at 5 p.m.
About the bee on a string.
It is one of the activities at the North Olympic Peninsula Beekeepers’ Association booth in the agricultural barn next to the grandstand.
NOPBA President Mark Urnes said the group wanted to share its passion for Apis mellifera by giving people an opportunity to see them up close.
“Some people have an aversion to bees,” he said. “But they’re just really trying to get along in their lives. They just want to be left alone to go about their business.”
The club will have on display observation hives where the bees and their stingers can be viewed safely. Kids especially like turning the crank of a honey extractor and watch as the honey is spun out of the comb, Urnes said.
Another favorite kid activity: taking bees on a “walk” — accomplished by gently tying a piece of string or thread around its body and letting it fly around.
Urnes said he uses drones — male bees — because they don’t have stingers and because worker bees start kicking them out of hives this time of year anyway.
“It’s kind of their last chance to show off,” he said.
Unlimited wristbands
Today is the last day to purchase a ticket for an unlimited carnival ride wristband. They are $30 each — cash only — and available for purchase at Swain’s in Port Angeles, Forks Outfitters in Forks and Dungeness Kids Co. in Sequim. You can also purchase them online for $30 plus a $3 handling fee at tinyurl.com/3vxrc5c8.
Tickets are redeemed at one of the booths in the carnival area for a wristband that is good for one day of unlimited rides. It does not include admission to the fair.
Survey
The Clallam County Fair Board is conducting a survey of visitors about their experience at this year’s event in order to gauge the popularity of activities and exhibits and to guide improvements. Signs with a QR code for the survey will be posted around the fairgrounds, or participants can go to tinyurl.com/mryf663z.
________
Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
Schedule of events
Highlights: all free with admission to the fair
Thursday
10 a.m. 4-H western games, grandstand
Friday
1 p.m. Draft horse show, grandstand
6 p.m. NPRA rodeo, grandstand
Saturday
10 a.m. Pro logging show, grandstand
Noon Pacific Northwest Junior Livestock Auction, swine arena
5 p.m. NPRA rodeo, 5 p.m.
Sunday
4 p.m. Demolition derby, grandstand
Admission
Youth (6-12) $7; Thursday, Kids Day Free
Child (5 and younger) Free
Adult (18 and older) $10
Senior (65-79) $8
Senior (80 and older) Free
Active military and veterans (with ID) $7
Four-day passes also are available
Parking is free
Fair hours
Thursday/Friday/Saturday
Gates open: 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Buildings open: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Carnival open: noon-10 p.m.
Sunday
Gates open: 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Buildings open: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Stephen Shoff, a member of the Olympic Peaks Camera Club, sorts entries in the photography exhibit on Tuesday at the Clallam County Fair in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
