Central Washington State Fair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Central Washington State Fair
Genre	State fair
Location(s)	Yakima, Washington
Years active	1892–1916, 1919–1923, 1925–1929, 1932–1936, 1939–1941, 1946–2019, 2021–
Attendance	304,000 (2012)
Website	http://fairfun.com/

The Central Washington State Fair is a big annual event held in Yakima, Washington. It takes place every September at the State Fair Park. This exciting fair first opened its doors way back in 1892!

The Fair's Exciting History

How the Fair Began in Yakima

The very first fair in Yakima happened in 1892. A group of local business people decided to organize it. They held the fair in a building downtown.

Before this, people in Washington State were debating where the state capital should be. On February 16, 1892, a decision was made. Olympia became the capital, and Yakima was chosen to host the state fair!

Soon after, a law was passed to create the State Agricultural Fair. Money was set aside to build fairgrounds. By 1894, they had bought 120 acres of land. They built a large grandstand for 2,000 people and a racetrack. There was also an exhibit hall and many horse stalls.

Early Fair Attractions and Fun

Farmers from all over the state brought their crops and livestock to show off. The fair had many exciting activities. You could watch Indian races and war dances. There were also coyote hunts and thrilling horse races.

Around 1915, cars became very popular. The fair started having an "Auto Show" where new cars were displayed. But horse racing, farm products, and animals remained the main attractions.

From 1925 to 1929, horse races and car races were big hits. Fireworks shows were also very popular at night. Many free acts entertained the crowds between the races.

Challenges and Changes for the Fair

The fair faced some tough times. In 1930 and 1931, no fair was held. This was because of the Great Depression and a lack of money from the government.

The fair returned from 1932 to 1936, but it wasn't very successful. So, the state government stopped supporting it. No fairs were held in 1937 or 1938.

A New Start for the Fair

On April 13, 1939, a group of 45 people met. They represented farmers, animal breeders, and businesses. They wanted to bring the fair back to Yakima. The old fairgrounds were still available.

This group decided to hold a fair in September 1939. It would happen at the same time as the State 4-H Fair. The new group called themselves the Central Washington Fair Association. They had no money at first. Eight men each gave $5 to pay for the paperwork to start the association.

The main goal of this new group was to promote farming and livestock in Washington. They elected seven people to run the fair. They also sold shares for $5 each to raise money. No matter how many shares someone bought, they only got one vote at meetings.

Growing Success and World War II

The people elected to the board were involved in farming and 4-H. The 1939 fair was a huge success! Everyone voted to hold another fair in 1940. The fairs in 1940 and 1941 were also very successful.

However, in July 1942, the governor asked all fairs to be canceled. This was because of World War II. Fairs did not happen again until 1946.

The Fair Expands and Grows

Just three days after World War II ended in August 1945, the fair's board met. They immediately started planning for the 1946 fair.

From 1946 to 1976, the fair was a five-day event each year. In 1977, more and more people were coming. So, the board decided to make it a nine-day event. In 1996, they added a second Sunday, making it a ten-day fair, running from Friday through Sunday.

Fair Attendance Over the Years

More and more people have visited the fair over time:

• In the 1920s and 1930s, about 50,000 people attended.
• In the 1940s and 1950s, the average was 75,000 visitors.
• In the 1960s, attendance grew to over 150,000. In 1969, over 200,000 people came!
• The numbers kept growing. In 1983, over 300,000 people visited the fair.

The Fair's Main Purpose

Since it first started in 1892, the Central Washington Fair has had a clear goal. Its purpose is to hold an annual fair and support farming. When the association was officially formed in 1939, they wrote down their goals:

• To help grow interest in farming and gardening in Central Washington.
• To host the Central Washington Fair in Yakima.
• To get boys and girls excited about farming.
• To give young people a chance to show their farm products.
• To encourage everyone in Washington State to be interested in farming activities.

In 2020, the fair had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fair Facilities

Horticulture Building

The Horticulture Building, also known as the Ag Building, is the oldest building on the fairgrounds. It was built in 1907. Some experts believe it was actually built earlier, in 1895. The building has a beautiful Beaux-Arts style.

Yakima SunDome

The fairgrounds are also home to the Yakima SunDome. This is a large arena with 6,195 seats. It was built in 1990 and hosts many different events.