Washington State Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washington State Fair |
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| Genre | State fair |
| Dates | Main fair in September Spring fair in April |
| Location(s) | 110 9th Ave SW Puyallup, Washington, U.S. |
| Attendance | 1,065,208 (2010) |
The Washington State Fair is a super fun event that happens every year in Washington State. It used to be called the Puyallup Fair. It's one of the biggest fairs in the whole United States! At the fair, you can see amazing farm animals, enjoy exciting rides, and listen to live music concerts.
The Washington State Fair actually hosts two big events each year. There's the main Washington State Fair, which lasts for 21 days in September. Then there's the Washington State Spring Fair, which is shorter, lasting four days in April. The fairgrounds are also used for other events and gatherings throughout the year.
The fairgrounds are located in the city of Puyallup. This is about 35 miles (56 km) south of Seattle and 10 miles (16 km) east of Tacoma. It's also close to the beautiful Mount Rainier. The fairgrounds cover a huge area of 160 acres (0.65 km²) and have many buildings. These facilities are often rented out for different events like festivals, races, car shows, and sports events. Many people work at the fairgrounds all year, and even more are hired when the big fair happens in September!
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History of the Fair
The fair started a long time ago, in October 1900. Back then, it was called the "Puyallup Valley Fair." In 1913, its name changed to "The Western Washington Fair." But most people still called it the "Puyallup Fair."
In 2006, the name officially went back to "The Puyallup Fair." The place itself became known as "The Puyallup Fair and Events Center." Then, in 2013, it got its current name, the "Washington State Fair." Even with the new name, many local people still like to say "Do the Puyallup!"
Fair During World War II
The fair did not happen for a few years during World War II. After the 1941 fair, the fairgrounds were used by the army. During this time, many Japanese Americans from the Seattle-Tacoma area and Alaska were temporarily moved to the fairgrounds. They stayed in converted horse stables and new buildings built on the parking lots. This was a difficult time for these families.
By September 1942, the Japanese Americans moved to other places, and the temporary camp was taken down. The fairgrounds were then used by a U.S. Army group for a short time. The fair finally reopened in 1946. That year, it set a record with 100,000 people visiting on the very first day!
Recent Fair Cancellations
In 2020, the fair had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time the fair was canceled since World War II. The fair returned in 2021. Visitors had to wear masks, and fewer people were allowed in at one time. Even with these changes, many people still came to enjoy the fair.
How Many People Visit?
The number of people visiting the fair has grown a lot since it first started in 1900. Today, more than one million people come to the fair every year!
Visitor Numbers Over Time
- 2021: 816,000 people
- 2012: 1,117,323 people
- 2011: 1,059,182 people
- 2010: 1,065,208 people
- 2009: 1,183,035 people
- 1993: 1,420,037 people (This was the highest number of visitors ever!)
- 1900: About 5,500 families visited the very first fair.
Other Fairs to Explore
- Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, B.C.
- Central Washington State Fair, held in Yakima
- Evergreen State Fair in nearby Snohomish County
