PORT ANGELES — The 2014 Clallam County Fair opens today with opening ceremonies, animal judging, the presentation of fair royalty, a jousting show, a draft horse show and two shows by country music singer Chance McKinney.
The gates open at 8:30 a.m., buildings open at 10 a.m., and the carnival cranks up at noon for the four-day event at the Clallam County Fairgrounds, 1608 W. 16th St., next to Lincoln Park and William R. Fairchild International Airport.
The theme is “Race Ewe to the Fair.”
Buildings and exhibits close at 9 p.m., and the carnival ends at 10 tonight.
Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for youths ages 13-17 and seniors 62 or older.
Today is Kids’ Day at the Fair; children ages 5-12 enter free until 6 p.m., $5 after 6 p.m.
Children 5 or younger attend for free with adult admission.
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony, featuring a performance by the Sequim City Band, will begin at 10 a.m. at the Sunny Farms Center Stage.
Fair royalty Queen Mia Steben and Princesses Hannah Fritz and Hannah Gauthun will be introduced at 6 p.m. at the Wilder Auto Community Stage.
Cavallo, an equestrian performing arts troupe from Florida, returns to the fair with the “Dark Knights of the Empire” show — a new performance that includes jousting, trick riding, sword fights, a master of the whip and other entertainment with a medieval theme.
The free 40-minute show will begin at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the grandstand.
Cavallo also will perform Friday at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
For more horse-loving action, the Draft Horse Show will begin at 2 p.m. today at the grandstand.
McKinney, a Montana-bred country music singer based in Seattle, will perform at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Wilder stage.
He has opened for such country music stars as Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift and Brooks & Dunn.
This year, McKinney is touring on his own in Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado and Nashville, Tenn.
The 4-H and FFA animal show classes begin at 9 a.m. in the animal barns.
Today’s events include dog obedience and fitting and showing, cats, poultry, goat, cattle and horse showmanship classes.
KidZone
In the KidZone, Cap’n Arrr, an interactive comedic pirate show, will begin at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The fair will continue through Sunday with additional activities, concerts and events each day.
For more information, visit www.clallam.net/Fair.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
