Published on September 18th, 2011 | by simeon

NW Fans: There’s Still Time to Do the Puyallup

The Puyallup Fair once known as the Valley Fair originally opened its doors in October of 1900 and netted a profit of $583 from a total of 3,000 visitors. This year the Puyallup Fair expects over 384,000 guests offering new and exciting entertainment along with old favorites to provide you a memorable experience.

The Big Aerial show can be enjoyed in the Thrill Zone and is one of the new shows this year. It offers guests exciting and daring entertainment that involves aerial artists, extraordinary jugglers and acrobats who use an 85-foot sway pole in their act. The MBS Mountainboard Big Air Show located near the Green Gate brings the excitement of mountainboarding to the fair. This amazing stunt show combines speed, flips, rail sliding and much, much more.

There is a lot of other entertainment to be found at the Coca Cola stage (Tina Marie-Hypnotist, Fables of the West, Stoddard & Cole- Musical Comedy, Peter Gossamer-Illusionist and my personal favorite Vocal Trash) and at the Fountain Plaza (Billy Hill and The Hillbillies, Hanna Michelle Weeks, Varlee for Ransom, Fortune Dwellers, Mad Silence, Dennis Lee and Band, The Konzelman Family, Seniors and Perscription Drugs, Gospel Explosion and Catch A Rising Star Talent Show). There are a number of strolling entertainers as well, such as: The Flying Carpet Magician, Linda Hulet the clown, Mango and Dango who are stilt characters, The Procrastinators who are an urban percussion band and we can’t forget about those famous Storm Troopers, although these guys only come out on the weekends.

A couple of other new additions to the fair this year is a thrill ride called Vertigo. The tower is 100 feet tall which is about 10 stories high that spins a total of twenty four riders at 30 MPH almost like a crazy adult version of the regular swings at the fair. Just watching people on this ride make you dizzy. Because this year marks the 200 year anniversary of the fair you can step back in time and view the history of the fair from past to present in the Made in America: The Story of the Modern Fair display at the Americraft Showplex.

The one and only thing I can’t leave the fair without is one of the famous Fisher scones. This year marks the 100 anniversary of these scones. The lucky customer who orders the 100 millionth scone will be the owner of $1,000 and a years worth of scone mix so that you will never be without those yummy scones. With over 160 food locations and two new food stands there is always something to satisfy everybody’s palate.

There are plenty of activities for kids and kids at heart. There is the all time favorite face painting, Let’s Pretend Farm Time, Mutton Bustin’, Kids Tractor Pull, World of Music, Giant Pumpkin Carving and the Pioneer Farm Planting Patch. The requisite animal exhibits always make for a fun walk-through, and this year there are even camel rides.

The 2011 Puyallup Fair runs until September 25th, 10am-10pm Sunday-Thursday and 10am-11pm Friday-Saturday. Admission is $11 for Adults, $9 for Youth (6-18yrs), $9 Seniors (62+), Five and under are Always free! While Pierce Transit no longer offers bus service to the fair, there is a “Fair Express” that leaves from the South Hill Mall, Tacoma Mall, Lakewood Towne Center and on River Road. Cash only, $3 one way and $4 round trip. Please visit www.thefair.com for more information.