PORT ANGELES – The Clallam County Fair returns this week after a two-year hiatus.
Due to COVID restrictions, the fair did not happen in 2020 and 2021.
But starting Thursday, Fair Manager Shari Ioffrida says the fair, themed Blue-Ribbon Dreams in Boots & Jeans, is back in pre-pandemic form with plenty of entertainment.
“Yes, we’re very excited to have the fair back and everyone I run into or calls me is just so thrilled that the fair’s back. So, I think it’s going to be great. I ordered the good weather. I have a variety of entertainment. I have country, rock, we have Stardust Big Band, barbershop quartet belly dancing, an improv group and marimba band. And so all across the board,” said Ioffrida.
Entertainment this year also includes a return of the grandstand concert. Country recording artist “Darin Jones and the Last Men Standing” is the headliner with local classic hits band “Black Diamond Junction” serving the opening set. That will be at 6 pm Friday in the grandstand and is free with the price of admission to the fair.
Ioffrida says she’s also expecting a bevy of food and full range of exhibits again this year. Plus, the carnival will be back in full force, including the animal displays.
“The barns will be full. We have some new things that I heard there will be eight tarantulas and I said, ‘you can have them here as long as a hundred percent, they will not get out’,” said Ioffrida.
However, there won’t be any live poultry on display, due to concerns about avian flu. Some poultry will be at the fair, but those animals are destined for the auction held at 12 noon on Saturday at the fair and will be butchered.
Fair officials have left prices where they were four years ago, so admission is still $8 dollars for adult, $6 dollars for seniors and teens and $5 dollars for kids 6-12. Gates open at 8:30 am and the buildings open at 9 am this Thursday through Sunday at the fairgrounds on West 18th Street in Port Angeles.