PORT TOWNSEND – The Jefferson County Fair returns this weekend for the first time since 2019, and while it’s been a challenge to get things back on track, organizers say they’re excited about the community’s response so far.
“We have some beloved things that people have really lost with COVID,” said Danny McEnerney, fair manager for the Jefferson County Fair Association.
“We have an immense amount of horse events — junior roping and barrel racing — we’re basically full of horse events.”
But when organizers began planning this year’s event, McEnerney said that wasn’t a guarantee.
Several of the groups or programs that supported fair events were disrupted by the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the local 4-H Club only had four horses.
“But we had a lot of interest from different horse clubs and people who really want to get involved to support riding,” McEnerney said.
The outpouring of volunteer support has been encouraging, McEnerney said, with community members stepping up to help in any way they can.
The fairgrounds buildings have been unused for three years, McEnerney said, and there was a strong push to clean them up enough for the fair.
Doors officially open at 8am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but breakfast at the fairgrounds restaurant starts at 7am each day. Doors close at 8pm on both Friday and Saturday and at 6pm on Sunday.
Most of the fair’s events will focus on youth, McEnerney said, noting there were a number of “inflatable things” throughout the three days.
Events throughout the day each day of the fair include free bounce houses and mechanical bull riding for kids. according to the fair calendar.
Part of the youth focus is a requirement of the funding the fair receives from the state Department of Agriculture, which promotes agricultural fairs throughout the state.
There are 69 agricultural fairs in Washington state, according to a Report of the Department of Agriculture 2021 on the economic impact of fairs, which said in 2019 the combined economic activity of fairs across the state generated $397 million in business revenue and $10 million in various state tax revenues.
The fair will feature a series of animal shows hosted by members of the Jefferson County 4-H Club, a federal youth development program facilitated through local land-grant universities; in the case of Jefferson County, Washington State University Extension.
Animals on display over the three days include cats, rabbits, horses, sheep, pigs, goats, cattle and llamas, but according to a state recommendation, no poultry events will be held this year due to concerns about avian diseases such as birds flu
McEnerney said there would be chicks and ducklings at the fair, but no adult birds.
Aside from animal shows, the fair will also feature food, crafts, vendors, music and performances by children’s entertainer Professor Bamboozle.
McEnerney said he was happy to see popular events like the draft horse pull and 4×4 mud pulls return. Advance ticket sales ended Monday, but McEnerney said the vast majority of the fair’s sales happen at the door.
“Our vision for our fair parents can sit back and relax and have an ice cream and let their kids have the place and still feel safe,” McEnerney said. “That’s the kind of atmosphere we’re trying to create.”
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Journalist Peter Segall can be reached by email at [email protected]
