With a motto of “Ticket to Fun,” Grays Harbor County Fair organizers hope this year’s event in Elma is the biggest yet.
After last year’s record-number of 67,866 attendees, fair manager Mike Bruner hopes to hit 68,000 fair-goers this year.
Notable headline performers are the original Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Aug. 8 and country star William Michael Morgan on Aug. 9. Other performers due that week include Humptulips, Tony Wintrip and Ericka Corban.
On July 12, the fair held a media VIP session to highlight a few attractions at the fair. In the demonstration garden at the fairgrounds, Cindy Burton toured reporters through beds of flowers and produce dedicated to the founding fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
“Thomas Jefferson was really an avid gardener,” said Burton. “His focus was on finding good crops for America, to make the nation better.”
Some of the gardeners will be wearing costumes to match the founding era theme during the fair.
This year, the fair is being dedicated to Burton, who is the garden’s superintendent and works in it everyday with volunteers and other gardeners.
“It’s impressive, she is out here every day, whether it’s snow, pouring down rain or 100 degrees,” said fair supervisor Rod Easton.
Johnny Cash fans will also have something up their alley, as Dan Whyms is set to perform a tribute to the country legend on Aug. 9.
For the first time, attendees can purchase their tickets with credit or debit cards at the fair instead of cash.
The fair board also sponsors families in need who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford fair passes. Each family fair pass provides tickets for two adults and two children, as well as free parking and two carnival ride wristbands for kids to ride all day.
Those interested can still donate to sponsor a family. The full family pass costs $91, but donors are free to donate less than that.
The fair is scheduled from Aug. 8 through 12. Daily passes cost $10 for adults, $7 for kids 6-15 and seniors over 63, and free for children under 5.
To find out more, contact the fair at 360-482-2651, or online at www.ghcfairgrounds.com
