Thousands of people attended the Grays Harbor County Fair over five days last week, enjoying the exhibits, animals, midway, car races, food and headlining concerts.
The fair opened on Wednesday, Aug. 10, and ran through Sunday, Aug. 14.
On Saturday evening, Aug. 13, Justin Sutherby, of Montesano, had already sampled scones, an onion burger, elephant ears and an Italian sausage sandwich.
“I’m pacing myself,” Sutherby said. “I definitely come for the food.”
Twelve-year-old Trust Timmons, of Raymond, also came for the food and tried to eat a whole chocolate cream pie in the pie-eating contest. However, Timmons said the experience was not what he expected.
“It was gross. I’m never doing that again,” Timmons said. The pie-eating contest was won by Jayda Edwards, 12, of Sioux Falls, S.D. and the hot dog-eating contest was won by Rachel Edwards, 12, of Aberdeen.
Others, like 11-year-old Sylvia Burkhart of Oakville, participated in the fair by showing animals. Burkhart showed chickens and a Rex rabbit named Otto. Burkhart, who received a grand champion ribbon and two blue ribbons, explained that winning wasn’t just a matter of looks — although Otto appeared to be a living version of the velveteen rabbit.
“We had to judge other rabbits and the judge would judge our judging,” Burkhart said of the rabbit showing experience as Otto nibbled one of his blue ribbons.
Tyler Adkins, 12, of Willapa Valley, won a giant stuffed animal in a carnival game on Saturday afternoon. The five-foot tall, pink gecko was draped across his shoulders as he walked the midway with his family.
“It was a lucky shot,” Adkins said.
Mike Bruner, Grays Harbor County fairgrounds and tourism manager, said he was pretty happy with this year’s fair.
“The entertainment was good, from the headliners to the grounds acts. It was a good, solid fair. The vendors said they did well, and many reported they were up (in sales) this year,” Bruner said.
Attendance overall was 62,208, with the biggest crowds arriving at the fairgrounds on Saturday drawn in by attractions such as the youth livestock auction, the car races at Grays Harbor Raceway and a concert by a Guns N’ Roses tribute band. According to fair officials, 19,928 people came through the gates on Saturday, about 1,800 more than last year and the fourth highest attendance in fair history.
Attendance on Thursday, at 11,661, was boosted by a kids’ day discount and headlining act, Tanya Tucker. Friday also saw large numbers of fairgoers, although the heat was cited as a factor for a slight dip in attendance. The head count for Friday was 10,494.
The opening day of the fair, Wednesday, Aug. 10, saw a smaller crowd with 8,457 people, down about 140 attendees from last year’s opening. The Brothers Osborne, another headliner, was a well-attended concert, fair officials said.
Sunday’s fair attendance was counted at 11,668, down just 60 people from last year’s attendance.
Bruner said the fair wouldn’t be what it is without help, and he thanked the sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, volunteers and fairgoers.
