The 23rd annual Spring Fair – one of the Northwest’s biggest celebrations of the season and the seventh largest fair in the state – returns April 19-22 at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW.

Free activities range from Motorsport Mayhem with monster trucks and demolition derbies to baby animals, the Garden Show, 4-H and FFA students showing animals in the Northwest Junior Livestock Show, Fiesta Mexicana, and Junior Poultry Show.

Some highlights

• The Timberworks Lumberjack Show, presented by Famous Dave’s, features men of steel challenging each other in head-to-head competition in ax throwing, chopping, log rolling, cross-cut sawing, hot sawing and chainsaw carving. Several shows appear daily.

• Garden guru Ciscoe Morris is switching it up, appearing to answer gardening questions on Friday, April 20 from 1-3 p.m. at the Garden Show Stage.

The annual KMPS Showcase also is changing dates, slated for Saturday, April 21 at 6 p.m. at the Coca Cola Stage, with a free concert featuring an up-and-coming country musician.

• The Northwest Junior Rodeo returns, with 200 youth competing Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The activities are free with gate admission.

• The Monster Truck Show, produced by WGAS Motorsports is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 20. Slamfest Demolition Derby, produced by Evergreen Speedway/High Road Promotions, features trucks is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and big cars at 2 p.m. Sunday. The demo derbies include figures eights, the rollover contest, and Slamfest (the last car standing wins).

• A fireworks show follows the Saturday Slamfest show.

New this year

The Institute of Rock ‘N’ Roll, and free hands-on exhibit where guests can try out different instruments, or step on megasized piano keys like Tom Hanks in the movie, “Big”.

Also new in Auto Alley is the NASCAR Experience, giving guests an opportunity to experience the thrill of a race car in this simulator. There’s even a simulator for kids.

Free admission opportunities

Kids, up to age 18, can take advantage of BECU Free Kids Opening Day, with free gate admission on Thursday, April 19, from 2-10 p.m., with a recommended non-perishable food donation for Puyallup Food Bank.

Value prevails in other areas, too. Military Appreciation Day, presented by 94.1 KMPS and KZOK 102.5 FM is Friday, April 21 with free gate admission to active, reserve, retired military and their dependents with valid military ID.

For more savings, guests can purchase gate admission tickets, ride tickets or monster truck/demo derby tickets in advance at www.thefair.com.

Tickets, hours

Advance gate tickets is available online, as well as the combination event and gate tickets for the Monster Truck Show and Slamfest Demo Derby. Print your tickets online in advance, and omit standing in line at the gates. Visit www.thefair.com for an updated list of activities and times.

In addition to purchasing discount tickets in advance, gate tickets can be purchased from discount gate tickets starting March 26 at participating Fred Meyer stores, Safeway stores, and South Hill Mall for $7.50 (adults), and $5.50 (students 6-18 years). A coupon is included with the discount tickets at those locations, which offers six rides/games for $16 (excludes Extreme Scream and Roller Coaster).

Adult gate tickets are $9 at the gate, and Students (6-18 years) are $7 at the gate. Children 5 years and under are free. Parking is free.

Hours are 2-10 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 .m Sunday.

For further information, visit www.thefair.com.