Going to a county honest is a summertime custom for many individuals. With the Skagit County Honest going down by means of Saturday, Aug. 12 in Mount Vernon, or the Northwest Washington Honest occurring Aug. 10–19 in Lynden, listed below are ideas to assist your honest expertise.
For many who are new to the realm or have not been to the honest for some time, it helps to know there aren’t any unhealthy seats at Lynden’s Grandstand auditorium — host to the PRCA Rodeo, Grandstand Horse Present and big-name leisure (extra on these occasions beneath).
One other spotlight of each festivals is the 4-H applications that enable space youth to attach with the general public by means of the animals they elevate. Whether or not collaborating in costume or agility contests with their horses, canine, goats, cows or llamas, it is worthwhile to see what they’re as much as.
Better of all are the surprises it’s possible you’ll encounter on the honest, corresponding to roving leisure from the likes of Wren the Juggler, a Bellingham Circus Guild member who will carry out at each festivals. Present up and put together to be pleasantly shocked.
Jeff Matter, 28, pushes Nick Marshall, 19, off the 3-meter board throughout a comedy portion of the Flying Fools Excessive Dive Present. 5 divers dazzled the viewers with advanced dives from 3, 6, 9 and 25 meters in to a 10-foot deep pool. The troupe performs day-after-day on the Northwest Washington Honest at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Each day Information)
Getting there
Don’t need to trouble discovering a spot to park? Skagit Transit gives quite a few bus routes to the Skagit County Fairgrounds from Anacortes, Burlington, Concrete, La Conner, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley and Bellingham. If you happen to do drive, be ready to pay $7 for on-site parking.
In Lynden, Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) will deposit riders immediately on the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds. From Bellingham, hop on the bus on the Cordata Station, or at one among many stops on Information Meridian. As a part of WTA’s annual Free Fare Days, all Whatcom County bus journeys will probably be free for riders during the 10-day occasion.
These selecting to drive will discover loads of pay-lots surrounding the fairgrounds on Entrance Road, but it surely’s free to park on the close by Fisher College and catch a shuttle, out there each quarter-hour, to the fairgrounds.
Skagit County Honest spotlights
On the Skagit County Honest, doorways open at 10 a.m., however foremost stage leisure kicks off at 11 a.m., and group stage leisure and carnival hours begin at midday. Preserve these occasions in thoughts when scheduling your go to, however know you’ll nonetheless discover a complete lot to do and see all through the day and into the night time.
Along with a plethora of native and regional stay music and various leisure, one spotlight is the Latino Leisure/Carnival stage. For the honest’s period, the stage will characteristic a variety of Latin performers, together with Banda Los Rafagos — a band from Nayarit Mexico who will carry out on closing night time Saturday, Aug. 12.
The Butterfly Encounter, the Museum of Curious Issues, a Honest Historical past Sales space, indoor exhibit halls and animal barns, the FFA Previous McDonald’s Farm Petting Zoo and an ’80s Vogue Present are additionally on the roster at Skagit County Honest. A 42-page booklet that includes the whole lineup might be considered on-line or in individual, so peruse it and choose your can’t-miss actions.
Tons to do in Lynden
Arrival on the Northwest Washington Honest generally is a sensory overload of sights, smells and sounds, so take a couple of minutes to acquaint your self with the environment.
Maps are offered, but it surely’s price it to take a leisurely stroll by means of the grounds. Take a look at the place to eat, what rides catch your eye, what video games to play with a view to win an enormous stuffed unicorn, and what’s occurring with the assorted animal sights.
Challenge superintendent Anggie Markland helps Pygmy Paradise 4-H clubber Eliza MacGillivray, 12, put a health care provider costume on her llama, Twist, on Thursday, Aug. 10 on the Northwest Washington Honest in Lynden. A number of llamas and alpacas participated in a fancy dress contest on the primary day of the honest. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Each day Information)
The place Grandstand leisure is anxious, it’s too late to safe tickets to the perennially in style Demo Derby. At press time, tickets nonetheless remained to 38 Particular (Saturday, Aug. 12), Los Chicos del 512 — The Selena Expertise (Sunday, Aug. 13), the PRCA Rodeo (Aug. 14–15), Needtobreathe (Wednesday, Aug. 16), Chase Rice (Thursday, Aug. 17), Ne-Yo (Friday, Aug. 18) and nation crooner Russell Dickerson (Saturday, Aug. 19).
Even should you don’t catch a Grandstand occasion, the honest is bursting with leisure from the likes of Lynden-born magician Sterling Dietz, hypnotist Tammy Harris Barton, the marching band Increase!, slapstick comedian Matt Baker, and 4-H Performing Arts.
Additionally free with gate admission are day by day occasions such because the canine circus generally known as Cartoon Poodles, Flying Fools Excessive Dive, The Reptile Present, and the Grandstand Horse Present, which begins Monday, Aug. 14. The horse present options one of many largest annual assemblies of draft horse groups in America — most born and raised on native farms by multigenerational Whatcom County households.
The cellular marching band Increase! blasts “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars whereas touring the fairgrounds. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Each day Information)
Folks-watching can be free of charge, so discover someplace comfy to take a seat whenever you want a break and behold the humanity.
Attend the NW Washington Honest from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. day by day from Aug. 10–19 at 1775 Entrance St. Admission is $10 for youth ages 6–12, $13 for seniors 62-plus, and $15 basic (free for youths 5 and youthful). Ten-day passes can be found for $45.
Low cost days: Free admission at Gates 1 and 5 takes place between 11 a.m. and three p.m. Friday, Aug. 11 as a part of Meals Drive Friday (carry a donation of 4 nonperishable meals objects). Additionally:
- Sunday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Free admission courtesy of Peoples Financial institution. Worship service at 10 a.m. on the grandstand.
- Monday, Aug. 14 for first responders and their households.
- Tuesday, Aug. 15 for all energetic responsibility, retired and veteran army personnel and their households.
- Wednesday, Aug. 16 for Children Day (children 12 and beneath enter free of charge).
- Thursday, Aug. 17: Western Washington College college students, alumni, college and employees get $2 off their tickets.
Honest meals recommendation
At all times select funnel muffins over gyros. Belief us on this. Attempt sorts of meals you don’t encounter day-after-day, and eschew banal menu objects corresponding to french fries or burgers. The identical goes for Little Caesars pizza.
On the Northwest Washington Honest, be sure to buy a Moo-Wich from Whatcom County Dairy Girls, the official maker of the domestically produced ice cream deal with.
If corndogs are your factor, search for the merchandising sales space in entrance of the draft horse barn. A CDN staffer mentioned he’s been going there for years, and it’s the place you’ll discover large corndogs worthy of reward.
What to put on
At each areas, it’s possible you’ll be in your toes for some time. Snug, sturdy footwear ought to be thought of over flip-flops or heels — particularly for many who get a thrill from being flipped upside-down on carnival rides such because the Zipper. Gown for summer time climate by sporting skinny layers that may be added or eliminated as crucial. Mother notes: Deliver sunscreen and hydrate recurrently.
For extra particulars in regards to the Skagit Valley Honest and the Northwest Washington Honest, go to skagitcounty.web or nwwafair.com.
