Organizers expect fans from all over Southwest Washington to return to “their fair”

For fair organizers, it has been too long.

For fairgoers, it has been way too long. 

The wait, however, is about to come to an end.

The Clark County Fair returns on Friday, the start of a 10-day run. Organizers are calling this fair “Worth The Wait.”

The government’s reaction to the pandemic led to the cancellation of the Clark County Fair in 2020 and again in 2021. 

“There is definitely a palpable excitement,” said Jim Beriault, the PR manager of the Clark County Fair. “Our fair fans, of course, were disappointed with the fair being postponed. We’re going to have people coming from every nook of Southwest Washington to come back to their fair. We’re excited to see the kids again and see the animals, and have all the family fun. All the ingredients are there for amazing fun.”

The fair opens with the traditional Fred Meyer Free Pancake Breakfast, going from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday. A reminder: This is free only with a free entry voucher, which can be picked up at Southwest Washington Fred Meyer locations while supplies last.

Also on opening day will be the Worth the Wait Parade at 1 p.m. Entertainers, fair participants, and other special guests along with some surprises are in store for the parade.

Expect the everyday entertainment that the fair has always been known for throughout its history. There will be dozens rides at the carnival courtesy of Butler Amusements. There is the Main Hall Marketplace, which showcases dozens of vendors. Plus there are the arts and crafts exhibits, with award-winners in hobbits, foods, floral, photography, quilting, and more. 

This year, Wild Science will encompass 11,000 square feet of events. Families are invited to experience the wild world of science with numerous interactive and visually captivating displays and activities. 

Enjoy NASCAR? Want to know the thrill of what it is like to race at 190 mph? Try the NASCAR Experience. The simulator puts you behind the wheel. 

And the fair is thrilled to host the return of DockDogs. Who says dogs cannot fly? OK, they can’t fly, but they can catch some “Big Air” as they leap from a dock into a large pool of water.

Of course, no Clark County Fair could happen without livestock. Goats, sheep, chickens, cows, and more will be on display.

Also showing daily will be Pirate’s Parrot Show and Brad World Reptiles. 

There are different nightly entertainment options, as well, with some big-name performers on the schedule at the RV Inn Style Resorts Grandstand.

Daughtery will perform Friday. Cheap Trick is set for Saturday. Martina McBride will sing on Sunday. And on Monday, it’s Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Admission in the grandstands is free, with fair admission, and there are VIP/reserved tickets available at a cost.

The grandstand will transition from concerts to other activities for the rest of the fair’s run. Mutton Bustin and Hell on Hooves Rodeo is Tuesday, Aug. 9. A Demolition Derby is set for Aug. 10. A new event at the fair, Side by Side Racing, will be Aug. 11. That puts racers in a Utility Terrain Vehicle racing around a short track at dirt-burning speeds. Tuff Trucks will take to the dirt on Aug. 12 and 13. And Monster Trucks will invade the fairgrounds on the final day of the fair, Aug. 14.

These are just a handful of events scheduled for the fair. 

Admission to the Clark County Fair is $9 in advance and $11.25 at the gate, or $7 in advance for seniors, and $9.25 at the gate. Children 7 to 12 are $6 in advance, $8.25 at the game. Children 6 and under are free. (To purchase advanced tickets, and for more information on the fair, go to https://www.clarkcofair.com/)

There is an $8 charge for parking. No advanced parking tickets are available.

But if you want to save money on parking, there is always C-TRAN. Take the bus for free. C-TRAN is offering free round-trip service from its six main transfer stations to the fairgrounds in Ridgefield.