As summer begins to wind down, one of Washington’s favorite traditions returns with fair food, rides, animals, concerts, and generations of memories.
There are certain traditions that immediately make you realize summer is coming to an end, and around here, the Washington State Fair is definitely one of them. For generations of families across the greater Seattle area, a trip to Puyallup has become part of the transition from long summer days into the beginning of fall. Maybe you go every year for the rides. Maybe it’s the animals, concerts, games, or the excuse to eat something completely ridiculous and delicious. Or maybe you simply love walking around the fairgrounds and taking in an atmosphere that somehow feels familiar no matter how many years have passed.
This year, the Washington State Fair runs September 4 through September 27 in Puyallup, making Labor Day weekend the official kickoff to nearly a month of fair fun. The Fair is closed on Tuesdays as well as Wednesday, September 9. Part of what makes the Fair so special is that everyone seems to have their own tradition attached to it. Kids race toward the carnival rides while parents make their way toward their favorite food stands. Families wander through the barns to see the animals, friends compete at games they probably have no business spending that much money on, and live entertainment fills the fairgrounds throughout the day.
The Washington State Fair isn’t really about doing everything. It’s about returning to the things you look forward to year after year and sharing them with the people around you. The Fair itself describes the event as a 20-day end-of-summer tradition and one of the largest state fairs in the country. If you’re looking for something to do over Labor Day weekend, opening weekend is especially worth considering. From September 4 through September 7, guests ages 18 and younger receive free gate admission. Opening day also offers free admission from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a suggested nonperishable food donation benefiting the Puyallup Food Bank.
I love this time of year because it feels like we're standing between two seasons. Summer isn't quite finished, but fall routines are beginning to return. The Washington State Fair fits perfectly into that little window, a chance to squeeze in one more adventure, spend a day together, and carry on a tradition that has been part of life in Washington for generations. So before summer officially slips away, maybe it’s time to “Do the Puyallup” one more time.
