State Fair opens today with new attractions

Published 11:33 am Friday, September 5, 2014

For the Reporter

A big party – the Washington State Fair – opens today at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

A tradition for Pacific Northwest residents since 1900, the Fair is one of the largest in the country with more than one million guests expected to attend the 17-day event. The Fair has represented the people, animals and agriculture and arts in Washington for decades.

New features

• Vision Dome – 360° Cinematic Journey(Daily): An awe-inspiring cinematic journey featuring three domes: WorldTour/Outdoor Adventures/3D Gaming. The screen encompasses the entire interior of the domes, offering a unique vantage point. The 21-meter dome, WorldTour, takes guests on a tour of some of man’s most amazing achievements: pyramids of Giza, Machu Picchu, Apollo 11 Moon Landing and more. The 12.5-meter dome features interactive 3D gaming, while the smallest dome, six meters in size gives guests a 360° view of extreme outdoor sports at their finest. This is a separate ticketed attraction, $6 for all three experiences. Children under 36 inches are free with a paying adult.

• Classic Coaster Park: Take in the beauty and relaxation of Classic Coaster Park, which was funded by the Washington State Fair Foundation. The park is beautifully landscaped and has kid-height peep holes to see riders on the Classic Coaster. Seating areas for parents make waiting for their children a pleasure as their children enjoy the midway.

• Fair Game Sports Bar: While most everything is fair game at the Fair, the new sports bar certainly fits the bill. Fair Game Sports Bar, located right inside the Red Gate across from the Oldfield Heritage Center features libations to cool you down, and a great place to watch your favorite game, either collegiate or professional.

• Pierce Transit “Fair Express” Bus: This service went on hiatus in 2010, and its return is welcome throughout the South Sound. Direct service to the State Fair will be offered from free parking at South Hill Mall, Lakewood Towne Center and Tacoma Community College to the Blue Gate on a regular basis every single day. For more information, visit www.PierceTransit.org.

• Sounder Train (Saturdays, Sept. 13 and 20 (Saturdays): The train will serve nine stations between Everett and Puyallup. Shuttle service will be offered from the Puyallup Station to the Fair.

Tradition is still a strong part of the Fair, since both the 4-H and FFA State Fairs are held at the Washington State Fair. Other popular favorites include animal shows, home arts cooking contests and quilts, the International Photo Exhibition that draws entries from all corners of the globe, Hobby Hall, floral designs and rides.

Entertainment

Top-name entertainment highlights the Columbia Bank Concert Series again this year. Headliners range from Keith Urban to Fall Out Boy, and Florida Georgia Line to comedian Jeff Dunham. Purchase tickets at www.thefair.com/concerts/, and you can select your seating. Four free entertainment stages and strolling entertainers feature something for all ages.

Fiestas Patrias will be held Sunday, Sept. 14, with free entertainment all day at the Showplace Stage. Festivities start at noon, including music, dancing and entertainment. That evening on the grandstand stage, Vicente Fernandex Jr., Antonio Aguilar Jr. and Mariachi Azteca will perform. Purchase separate concert tickets at www.thefair.com/concerts. Children 12 and under can enjoy free admission to the concert with parents. Presented by La Gran D 99.3 FM and Latino 1210 AM.

If you want to see the best athletes in the sport fight for their rodeo lives, then attend the Washington State Fair Rodeo, Sept. 5-7. This PRCA-sanctioned rodeo is one of the largest in the country. Purchase tickets at thefair.com/rodeo/.

Special days

Free admission for kids on the first Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6 and 7. To take advantage of BECU Free Kids’ Weekend, download a coupon at www.becu.org/freekids, and turn it in at the gate either day in lieu of gate admission (up to 18 years).

Special activity days include Military Mondays on Sept. 8 and 15, offering free gate admission to all active, reserve and retired military and National Guard and their dependents, plus disabled veterans when each shows valid military ID at the Fair gate, thanks to partners 570 KVI, KOMO Newsradio AM 1000/97.7 FM, KOMO 4 and KOMOnews.com.

Joint Base Lewis McChord also will have an exhibit featuring a traveling dental office, as well as demonstrating capturing aggressors.

Asian Cultural Day is Saturday, Sept. 13, and will feature ten local Asian organizations highlighting their music, dance and culture on the Aqua Rec’s Showplace Stage and Mountain Mist Stage.

Fireworks are a Friday night feature again this year at 10 p.m.

Discount gate and ride savings

Buildings open at 10 a.m. Friday–Sunday, and 11 a.m. Mondays-Thursdays. Season passes are $29.50 for adults and $19.50 for students, and provide unlimited gate admission to the 2014 Fair. They are available at www.thefair.com. Advance gate admission tickets are available through Sept. 21 at participating Safeway stores in western Washington, and South Hill Mall, while supplies last:

At gate, advance

• Adults, $12.50, $10

• Students (6-18), $9, $7.50

• Seniors (62 years and older) $9, $7.50

• Kids (5 & under) free

A sampling of ride deals featured this year include:

• Extreme Deal – Ride the Extreme Scream for only $7.50, Mondays-Thursdays, Sept. 8-11, 15-18.

• Opening Weekend Comcast Dizzy Pass Ride Bracelet – Get unlimited rides on Midway and SillyVille rides for just $40 on all rides (except Extreme Scream), plus one free game. This Dizzy Pass is valid on Saturday, Sept. 6. Or purchase the pass at the Fair on Sunday, Sept. 7.

• Comcast Weekday Dizzy Pass Ride Bracelet – Get unlimited rides on Midway and SillyVille rides for just $27.50 on all rides (except Extreme Scream), plus one free game. The Dizzy Pass is valid Monday-Thursday (Sept. 9-12) and Monday-Thursday (Sept. 16-19).

Food

New food features are always a highlight, and this year is no exception. A new booth, Bacon! Bacon!! Bacon!!! features – yes, bacon! Sample bacon on a stick covered with a maple syrup glaze, or chocolate-covered bacon. While the Buff Chick won’t make you svelte, it is delicious with chicken tenders served with buffalo sauce, blue cheese, carmelized onions, and swiss cheese in a bun.

For more information, visit www.thefair.com.