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In Our View: Get Thee to the Fair

‘Summer’s Best Party’ has something for everyone — and their appetite

The Columbian
Published: August 1, 2016, 6:03am

You don’t have to live on a farm to enjoy a little of the country at the annual Clark County Fair.

Billed as “Summer’s Best Party,” the 2016 fair opens Friday, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 14. There’s a lot of entertainment, of course, including country music star Trace Atkins, nostalgia rockers Foghat, and a heavy metal band, Queensryche, though we prefer the demolition derby and the tuff trucks. But the fair board and management try to find something to appeal to everyone.

That’s a good thing, because most everyone comes to the fair. Attendance last year was 281,629, a 3.2 percent increase over the previous year and the best-attended fair in 11 years. With its 10-day run, Clark is one of the largest county fairs in Washington, and by far the biggest in the Portland metro area. (The largest fair in the Northwest, and one of the 20 largest in the United States, is the enormous Washington State Fair at Puyallup. If you go, be sure to buy scones with raspberry jam.)

Here are some interesting numbers from the fair, as gleaned from the 2015 fair report:

• $683,924 — estimated net profit from the 2015 fair, based on revenues of $3.1 million and expenses of $2.4 million.

• $1.4 million — total carnival revenue, up 4.6 percent from 2014.

• 1,140 — Facebook “likes” during the fair’s 10-day run.

• $22,500 — college scholarships awarded to fair participants.

• 231 — animals raised by 155 4-H and FFA members and sold at the Junior Livestock Auction. The auction generated more than $391,000, and the participating youths also donated more than 10,000 pounds of meat and poultry to local food banks.

• $68.69 — average withdrawal from the fair’s three ATM machines. Overall, 4,537 transactions resulted in cash withdrawals of $311,650.

• 49 — number of food vendors at the 2015 fair, with total sales of $1.83 million. At least $100,000 in food was sold every day.

Enough numbers. Let’s talk more about the food! Well, there will be heaps of hamburgers. French fried, baked and hash browned potatoes. Oodles of noodles. And, since it is a fair, lots of food on a stick. Be sure to save room for ice cream or a slice of pie.

Those willing to invest the time will get a coupon from the courtesy counter at Fred Meyer and muster early on Friday for the traditional free opening day pancake breakfast. Be prepared to stand in line!

Animals are a big draw. Because the fair is so long, the animals on exhibit are changed on Tuesday evening. Don’t plan to tour the barns then! Most varieties of animals can be seen any day at the fair with the exception of hogs, which are on the second half only. And 4-H dogs and cats rotate so they aren’t there together. When the 4-H animals are on exhibit, you can bet you’ll see their youthful owners participating in contests and quizzes. Ribbons, trophies and berths to the state fair are on the line.

The fair costs $11.25 for a general admission ticket, which is about the same price as a movie, plus another $6 to park. C-Tran will once again offer its shuttle service to the fair. This year the bus is free, and, even better, riders get a coupon worth $1 off admission. The shuttle is available from six Park & Ride lots.

We will see you at the party.

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