The Puyallup Fair – “Free Your Glee” – begins its 17-day run Friday.

The fair, the seventh largest in the United States and the largest in the Pacific Northwest, will open at 10 a.m. at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW.

Hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The streets of downtown Puyallup will come alive at the Western Rodeo Parade and Cattle Drive at 10 a.m. Friday.

Rodeo cowboys will herd cattle through downtown Puyallup along Meridian Street from West Main to 7th Avenue Southwest, turning west two blocks to 2nd Street Southwest and gather at a temporary corral near the fair.

After the cattle drive has passed spectators, the parade begins. Local marching bands from Sumner, Bonney Lake, Emerald Ridge and Puyallup will perform.

Non-perishable food donations to the Puyallup Food Bank are encouraged and will be accepted throughout the day at all fair gate entrances.

For those driving through Puyallup on Friday, Meridian Street will be closed from West Main Street to 7th Avenue from 9:50 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. due to the parade route.

Other things to watch

• The Puyallup Rodeo is Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The rodeo, which is presented by Schuck’s O’Reilly Auto Parts, will feature 24 contestants in each event, including bull riding, bareback riding, tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and barrel racing. The contestants are competing to be one of the top 12 competitors moving on to the Justin Boots Championships taking place Sept. 23–25 in Omaha, Neb., just one step away from the National Finals Rodeo in December at Las Vegas.

• The fair will be rocking on opening night, Friday, thanks to the Puyallup Rodeo Justin Boots Playoffs, followed by a performance by Bret Michaels, front man for the legendary rock band, Poison.

For a complete concert lineup, tickets and other information, call 253-841-5045 or visit www.thefair.com.