PORT ANGELES — The four-day Clallam County Fair will celebrate children in particular on its opening day today.
Admission to the fair before 6 p.m. will be free for children younger than 12.
Throughout the fair at the fairgrounds at 1608 W. 16th St., Port Angeles, many children’s activites are scheduled, said Shari Ioffrida, fair manager.
A new addition this year is a 25-foot rock climbing wall and bungee jumping harnesses.
“The carnival, of course, will be open and has been adding new rides,” Ioffrida said.
The KidZone, which will be open all weekend, will include pony rides, bounce houses, and a John Deere Kids Tractor Pull.
“There are so many events for the kids to enjoy,” Ioffrida said.
A historic event is planned on opening day.
For the first time in many years, the coronation of the Clallam County Fair Queen will be held during the fair.
Either Marissa Lee Ann Rose Wilson, 15, or Stephanie Ann Lindquist, 16, will be crowned at 7 p.m. at the Wilder Stage. Both are Port Angeles High School sophomores.
In the past, the coronation has been conducted before the fair begins, said Laurie Davies, Clallam County Fair Board member.
“We’re putting the coronation back at the fair,” Davies said.
The queen will receive a $500 scholarship, and the princess a $400 scholarship.
The fair will open at 10 a.m. with a Clallam County Sheriff’s Honor Guard presentation of colors.
Gates will open at 8:30 a.m. and events — antique tractors and logging equipment displays, 4-H demonstrations, entertainment and grandstand shows — will continue until 9 p.m.
The hours will be the same on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, gates will open at 8:30 a.m. and the fair will close at 7 p.m.
The carnival will open at noon and run through 10 p.m. today through Saturday and close at 7 p.m. Sunday.
At the grandstand today, a sheepherder demonstration is set at 2 p.m. and a draft horse and mule show at 6 p.m.
“We also will have a lot of fun local things that will happen throughout the day including the Fantasia Baton Team and the Port Angeles High School Cheer Squad,” said Ioffrida.
The fair will feature a rodeo at 5 p.m Saturday and noon on Sunday and the Demolition Derby at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The fair — which has the theme of “A Cluck, A Moo, A Carnival Too” — is also hosting a theme contest for the 2011 event, Ioffrida said.
“People can pick up the sheets of paper to enter at the information booth or at any of the gates,” she said.
“And we have ballot boxes all over the place.
“The main reason we did it this way this year is that people always seem to have really good ideas while they are at the fair.”
The winner will receive $100, a T-shirt featuring their theme and two season passes.
This year’s winner was Leslie Wilson of Sequim.
Music, games, animal shows and other events will pack the schedule throughout the weekend.
“And don’t forget, we have tons of really good food, too,” Ioffrida said.
Daily admission to the fair is $7.50 for adults 18 and older; $5.50 for people 62 and older and students from 13 to 17 years old; and $4.50 for children from 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger, accompanied with adults, will be admitted free. Parking is free.
Carnival rides are charged separately.
Demolition Derby tickets, which are $11 each, will be sold outside the Yellow Gate on the west side of the fairgrounds on Sunday beginning at 9 a.m.
For more information, see www.clallam.net/countyfair.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.