Grays Harbor Fair rides past attendance record

Fair was dedicated to long-time worker who is retiring.

August 15, 2019 5:30 pm

A new record for attendance was set at the Grays Harbor County Fair.

This year, 72,011 people explored the rides, food, farm animals and more at the fairgrounds. The previous record was 67,866 in 2017.

Attendance Sunday, the last day at the fair in Elma, was down more than 2,500 from last year. However, it was enough to set the new record, fair organizers said.

“We would like to thank all of our fantastic volunteers, our awesome sponsors, our exhibitors and all of the fairgoers that helped make this a very special fair,” Mike Bruner, Grays Harbor County Fair manager, wrote.

This year, the fair was dedicated to Shannon Johnson, who is retiring after years working and helping at the fair.

Johnson “is one of the hardest working and passionate people he has ever worked with. She has shown that she is also an incredibly loyal person, through her devotion and care for her long-time partner in crime, Art Erickson,” Bruner wrote. “She is a unique spirit and a true character. She has made the workplace a fun and interesting place to be. We will miss her a great deal, but are happy that she will still be coming around from time to time, as an event participant, and helper. We can’t thank Shannon enough for all that she has been to the Fairgrounds and our community.

Riders go for a spin Thursday at the Grays Harbor County Fair. (Photo by Mike Lang/Grays Harbor News Group)

Carnival worker Albert Horton welcomes children onto the ferris wheel at the Grays Harbor County Fair on Friday. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)

Games and rides await at the fairgrounds in Elma. (Photo by Mike Lang/Grays Harbor News Group)

Junior Parris, left, and Tim Stangeland check out the engine of Parris’ El Camino at the Grays Harbor County Fair on Friday. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)