Don’t Miss Old-Fashioned Fun at Thurston County Fair: Enter Contests, Eat Your Fill and Delight in New Entertainment – ThurstonTalk

It’s not really summer until you’ve eaten your first Fisher’s Scone at the Thurston County Fair. This year, the fair is happening July 31 through August 4, 2024, at the Thurston County Fairgrounds. Why not make 2024 the year you finally enter an open class? Or experience the thrill of a carnival ride? Maybe your kids have never been to a farm. Give them a farm experience at the Thurston County Fair with animals, produce and flower displays. Enter your hobby, craft or collection! This family-friendly event in Thurston County is all about creating memories through experiences. You don’t want to miss it, so get your tickets online now.

“The Thurston County Fair has all your old favorites, a carnival, animals, family events, contests and more,” shares Theresa Reid, fair coordinator. “We are showing off what Thurston County has to offer and there’s something for everyone.”

What’s New at the Thurston County Fair

This year, the Thurston County Fair is bringing you the talents and mysteries of Vuelta La Luna Variety Circus! This troupe of clowns, aerialists, acrobatics, jugglers, and more will wow crowds on Fridays, Saturday and Sunday. Look for their stilt walkers roaming the Thurston County Fairgrounds daily.

Also new this year are paint-and-sip events with Artvana! There will be family-friendly painting parties from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on August 3. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the same day there will be adult-only painting parties happening in the adult beverage garden. The Paint and Sip events require special pre-paid tickets. Purchase online now for the Adult Beer Garden Paint & Sip and the Kids & Family Paint Party at the Fair.

Can’t Miss Favorites at the Thurston County Fair

Of course, you couldn’t go to the Thruston County Fair without experiencing all the tried-and-true favorites, such as fair food, carnival rides, kids’ games, animals and too many other things to list.

Come on opening day, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, and get in for just $1 with a donation to the food drive. “We want everybody to have a chance to come out and enjoy the fair,” shares Reid, “which is why we offer One Buck Wednesday. It’s also great for the Thurston County Food Bank as summertime is not when most places offer food drives, so it fills a gap in their giving before the holidays.”

They also offer free parking at North Thurston Public Schools bus barn and Woodland Elementary School with a free shuttle to take you to and from the fair.

Happening on August 3 at 8:30 a.m. is the Commissioner’s pancake breakfast. A Thurston County Fair tradition, the pancake breakfast is free with fair admission and the perfect way to kick off the fair season!

Play cornhole with the family by Heritage Hall; check out 4-H contests including archery on August 2; enjoy the hay scramble for kids up to 12 years old on August 3; and participate in the Animal Market Sale, also on August 3.

Be a Part of the Thurston County Fair – Get your Entry Ready Now!

“One of the best things about the fair is all the involvement,” shares Reid. “It really is a place for the community to come together. Volunteers from local groups run events, and residents get to enter things they have made, grown, collected, etc., to be judged.”

Make 2024 the year you finally enter that impressive shawl you crocheted, or that LEGO city your child built. Maybe you have a huge collection of keychains or My Little Ponies. Enter your best blooms or that huge tomato ripening in your greenhouse. “No matter what your hobby, craft or collection, we probably have a contest for you,” Reid says. “We can find a place for you at the Fair.”

Do you and your brother fight over who makes the best chocolate chip cookies? Let the Thurston County Fair judges settle the dispute with their free daily baking contests. That’s right, there is no entry free to enter these fun baking contests, all with great prizes! The winners will receive prizes and of course, coveted bragging rights. August 1 is chocolate cakes, August 2 is cookies, August 3 is Berry Pies (sponsored by Spooner’s Berries) and August 4 is cupcakes. There will be adult and youth categories, and parents can help young children, making it the perfect family activity!

Exhibitor information, including entry forms, drop-off dates and times, can all be found on the Thurston County Fair website.

Special Thurston County Fair Admission Dates:

Wednesday, July 31: $1 Day with a nonperishable item for the Thurston County Food Bank
Thursday, August 1: Kids Day, $2 admission
Friday, August 2: Military Day

Today’s world is more concrete jungle than ever before. Make sure your kids get to taste country life, see where animal products come from and learn how produce is grown while having some old-fashioned family fun at the Thurston County Fair. Summer is just not summer without it.  Check out the complete schedule, purchase your tickets and more on the Thurston County Fair website.

Thurston County Fair
July 31 – August 4, 2024
3054 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey

Fairground Hours
10 a.m. –   9 p.m.   Wednesday & Thursday
10 a.m. – 10 p.m.  Friday & Saturday
10 a.m. –   8 p.m.   Sunday

Carnival Ride Hours
11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday
11 a.m. –    8 p.m.  Sunday

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