For the Reporter
The Washington State Spring Fair returns to Puyallup this week for its traditional Thursday-to-Sunday run.
The Washington State Fair Events Center will be abuzz with animals, hands-on activities, an inflatable rubber duck posing for your next selfie, motorsports, thrilling pig racing and a lumberjack show.
Four more acres have been added to the footprint in the ride area.
Gates open at 2 p.m. Thursday, with free gate admission for kids 0-18 years until 10 p.m.
A nonperishable food donation is recommended for the Puyallup Food Bank drive.
Quack
Rubber ducks take center stage again this year. A duck scavenger hunt is being offered, with the chance to win a pair of concert tickets at the state fair.
There are other activities to meet a myriad of interests, ranging from baby animals to the Northwest Living & Garden Show to Motorsport Mayhem, with monster trucks and demolition derbies. Check out the FFA and 4-H students at the Northwest Junior Livestock Show showing their steers, hogs and lambs.
More than 325 vendor booths will sell their wares, while the midway will be alive with rides like Rainier Rush and the Extreme Scream.
Fair food? Who could resist scones, onion burgers, and all of the other favorite fair foods.
What’s new?
Try the TimberWorks Lumberjack Show, with Paul Bunyan-clad athletes rolling logs, hot sawing and ax throwing. There are several shows a day, and mix raw lumberjack talent with side-slitting humor.
Another new feature is Outdoor Adventures, a place to learn about the outdoors in the Pacific Northwest. Fishing, boating, hiking are included, as well as an encounter with a live stingray.
Also
Three separate buildings are created for kids. Fun on the Farm, is an interactive exhibit that shows children what farmers do on the farm, from milking cows to planting potatoes to learning where your food comes from. There’s even the Fair Farm, where kids of all ages can pet baby animals.
KidZone offers the Creative Kids Exhibit, master gardener activities with kids, and a new feature, Kids Can Cook. A celebrity chef teaches kids fun, healthy and tasty recipes. Tot Spot includes hands on fun and Mother Goose.
Students from the Puyallup School District will be showing their talents in a variety of ways at the STEM Showcase, where students are encouraged to team up on invention and technology projects in this science, technology, engineering and math curriculum-based learning program. Students will also take part in Diversity Celebration, and their artistic talents will be showcased in the poster contest display.
Other events
Friday marks Military Appreciation Day, presented by KVI 570 AM and KOMO AM 1000/97.7 FM. It will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, with free gate admission to active, reserve, retired military and their dependents with valid military ID.
A Friday night highlight is the KMPS Showcase, with rising country star, Jordan Rager. The free concert is at Showplace Stage at 7:30 p.m. Also on Friday is the Monster Truck Show in the grandstand at 7:30 p.m, finishing with a fireworks show.
Saturday-only features range from gardening to cars and trucks colliding. Garden guru Ciscoe Morris will answer gardening questions live on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Sleep Train ShowPlex. A fireworks show will capture the attention of guests around the Fair on Saturday evening at approximately 9, following the Slamfest Demolition Derby.
Two popular features that are free of charge to fair attendees include the leaping canines at DockDogs. Exclusive to the Spring Fair are the Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, sponsored by Reber Ranch.
Tickets
Advance discount gate tickets to the Spring Fair are available at www.thefair.com and at Fred Meyer, Safeway and Albertsons stores, Reber Ranch in Kent, and South Hill Mall for $7.50 for adults ($10 at gate), and $6.50 for students 6-18 years ($8 at gate).
Combination event and gate tickets for the Monster Truck Show and Slamfest Demo Derby are available at a discount at www.thefair.com by April 14.
Parking is free in official Fair lots. Reserved premium parking is available at www.thefair.com.
Hours
Hours are Thursday from 2 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Visit www.thefair.com for updated activities and times.
