For some reason I had the Evergreen State Fairgrounds on my bookmarks which I must have thought at some point attending the state fair was a good idea. But my visit here the past weekend wasn't for that. It was for the Oddmall which was held here. It seems like lots of other special events occur when the fair is happening here. The Oddmall is an eclectic assortment of merchants all under one roof primarily made up of artists, glass makers, exotic taxidermy, painters and merchandise that has been repurposed. There is a lot of items here that would appeal to someone of a Gothic nature or retro kitsch type of fare. I loved the repurposed lamps that were here and I was highly intrigued by the exotic taxidermy. I bought a small painting that I was thrilled with while Steve purchased some home made beard oil. I walked up the aisles of the odd mall several different times and each and every time I saw something new that escaped my eyes previously so it definitely kept my interest going. A really fun event and this was my second time to an Oddmall as I went to one in Tacoma years ago and had a blast there as well! read more

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I am a 4h horse rider here and I love it here. But it is sad to see how ppl who come top the fair don't come to see the horse shows. As a 4h kid to me its important to regain the history of the horse shows at the fair. It just makes me sad to sad not a lot of ppl go into the fair and just skip over the horses here..so if you plain on going to the fair PLS come and watch the 4h horse shows or just come and walk in the barns and see all the horses :D read more

We had a great time at this high quality county fair; much better than what we see in California. A bit pricey to park and get in, but we enjoyed the animals, exhibits and especially the pioneer museum with historic farm, logging equipment etc. Learned a lot! Food is absurdly expensive, but we did find a relative bargain at Maria's food stand (outside commercial exhibit hall on the barn side). Excellent street tacos (pastor ) with fast and friendly service. read more

This was our first time at a county fair. Knowing ahead what they were about set my expectations. After going to 2023's version of it I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Loved the animals. Loved the food. Loved the crafts. We got there early when there were less people. We do not like huge crowds and lines so left at 1pm. Overall a great time. read more

updated review. Apparently the noise on weekends does not bleed into the week days and the bathroom is open..Upping from 2 stars to 3. Showers are hot and we are the only ones in the park on a Monday and Tuesday. read more

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Don't drive over here at night during a rainy rush hour because the backroads are a bit harrowing. As we drove over I exclaimed to my sister who was driving, "I don't ever want to come here again." However, once we got there it was great. We went to the Great Junk Hunt where they have stands open for antiques and it was was very warm and welcoming. The guy who scanned our tickets played kitchey koo with our dogs in their stroller, then he told us which buildings to go to for all the activity so that we didn't miss a thing. The merch they had was a nice mix of cool antiques and new crafts. The buildings were. Warm in spite of the rainy, frigid temps. Would I come back to this location? Absolutely, but not in the dark. read more

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Here's the deal, it is a regional fair - and therefore, perceived as "smaller". For me, The Evergreen State Fair met and in a few cases exceeded my expectations. For me a fair is about: 1) Vendor options... what different or new 'thing' is available, 2) The animals ... a good variety of farm animals, educational opportunities and witnessing efforts some go to to take care of and "show" their animals; amazing demonstrated commitment for many so young, 3) The displays and what won - food, crafts, art & photography, 4) The rides - they got 'em, and finally, 5) The food - not gonna lie, I went today with express intent of making sure I got a fresh scone ... I was NOT disappointed! My scone was fresh and warm, saw amazing detail and effort on some crafts - found these cool eggs, watched a goat showing and even came across some goat humor (unexpected). Parking was easy and I found it worth my time today. read more

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I went to the fair to go to a concert. Since we had free admission to the fair we arrived a couple hours before the concert. This is not a review of the concert which was five stars. The food was very high priced and did not have a lot of variety. It seemed every other stand was selling corndogs. If you like an eight dollar corndog you could not find a finer place to dine. The animals were good. There are far fewer than most fairs I have been to, but what was being shown was fun to look at. The rides were ok as well - they range from three to five dollars per ride. There was a bracelet you could get which provided unlimited rides as well. Overall it was fun, but expensive. read more

Evergreen State Fair - These piggies went wee wee wee all the way home. - Local Flavor Near Me - Monroe, Washington

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Good fair but LINES ARE SOOOO LONG TO GET IN!!!! Parking is $10, entry is $12, Senior rate is $10. Shriners BBQ sandwiches are good, the corn on the cob, anything from the garlic place. No smoked salmon in the Longhouse this year. Not enough trash cans or hand washing stations... this place is bringing in big bucks. Ca-ching! read more

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It was such a glorious day. We attended the 4-H open house and excited to see the different offerings. Easy parking. There was also a rock show and a few food trucks. Got some useful information from the 4-H open house. read more

Came here for the Evergreen State Fair 2024. Plenty of food vendors so bring a crowd to try them all. Monster truck show was entertaining. Plenty of fair games and entertainment. Would go again during night to see the the lighting at night. read more

Two words: fair food!!! I saw standard stuff here today, crusty pups (fav), scones, elephant eats, funnel cakes, onion rings, burgers, AND MORE! We visited on the first day, donating 3 cans of food for free admission. Yay! I didn't see anything that caught my eye as "oh wow" but we didn't stay too long. Fairs are a good time!! read more

You know, I've been going to this fair for years and in retrospect it's been pretty consistent. So my review is a conglomeration of over 10 years of experience and attendance. But you ask, "you gave it a pretty poor rating, why keep going?" That's a damn good question and the answer would be that there's really not a ton of options (and all fairs are pretty much the same with regards to what I'm going to review), it's a once a year thing, and at this point if it wasn't for our little sub-unit (child) I'd probably stop going. So bottom line, it's all about kid. Anyhoo, without further ah-do here's my critical review: 1. COSTS- They charge you for parking, they charge you for entry, they charge for rides, they charge you to play the games. They pretty much charge you for everything! Fair food is good, but WAAAYYY over priced for what you get. The rides, well we opted for the "Unlimited" rides band for the kid but that doesn't work on all the rides. So what's the F'ing point?! Then paying for games where you win cheap...CHEAP....prizes? Especially if they are rigged so you lose most of the time. Come on now? 2. CUSTOMER SERVICE- Or I should say lack of. I mean if you are going to charge everyone for everything at the prices you charge, try hiring some quality people. I swear every food, game or ride vendor we visited looked like the walking dead. Seriously, at one food booth for shaved ice, the gal literally didn't make eye contact, didn't acknowledge our wait, no "hello", no "thank you" (in fact she looked annoyed that we interrupted herTwitter time), just made the the shaved ice, took our money and gave change. Not a word uttered, then went right back to her phone where she was when we walked up. 3. GAMES- It's a fair/carnival thing I'm sure. Games that somehow take your hard earned money in order to win cheap dollar store prizes. That is if you actually win because in order to win those cheap dollar store prizes you've got to either figure out the trick or hell, there is no trick, it's just set up in a way that only a 1 in 100 shot will win. regardless, it's a scam, they are all rigged and honestly not worth it. Yes, it's all about he experience and fun of it, but it's also fun to win on the occasion. That seems to cover the major reasons for my review. I keep in mind that it is a fair and that the quality of people, customer service and products isn't meant to be 5 star service. It's like not expecting poop to smell like poop. I'm just getting old and pragmatic, not to mention cynical and jaded. Regardless, this is my review, my opinion, and more than likely we'll be back next year...for the kid. read more

I was surprised by how small the fair was. I'm glad we went on a day where the admission was only $5 because we stayed less than an hour. On top of that the parking was $10 per car. Other than the mandatory funnel cake I didn't get anything else food wise. There weren't that many food vendors to choose from. I was intrigued by the elephant ears though since I've never heard of them before. I'll have to try them next time. For those who don't know what they are either it's just fried dough with sugar and cinnamon. I did like that the ride tickets were available in a self service machine. I don't think I'll come back again next year, but I can see the appeal for family with kids since it's not super crowded. Hopefully the Washington State Fair has more to offer. read more

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First time @ ESF. For a County fair it checked most all the boxes....which is why I gave it a 4...problem was the food prices, which were too high. Tasty but expensive. Rides/games were also high but the unlimited pass made it more reasonable. To be fair, I didn't think parking or entry cost was out of line and it was cool that you had the cars track running (at least when went). Kids loved the farm animals. Missed the rodeo but will try to catch that next year. read more

we waited in line for an hour and got right up to the ride and then they told us we could not go on and then proceeded to unload it and run it without any one in it read more

I love this Fair, because it's a community fair, showcasing the agricultural community and the local 4-H kids. If you think $10 is too much to park, come to downtown Seattle sometime and you will think it's a real bargain. Plus they have speedy shuttles! My favorite part is the dairy barn and the dairy shrine. Hot tip: they have a milk vending machine for $2! The purple cow next door has well purple cows, ie: blackberry floats. Delicious and reasonably priced. I really love seeing the animals and the exhibits. Fabulous flowers. The most amazing thing about this fair is how clean it is. Even the porta potties are clean. I much prefer this to the Puyallup Fair. read more

Attended yesterday. Had a good time. I like the animals--my main reason for going. Learned a few things this time. Not too fond of some home accessory vendors, but understand their interests and why they participate. (Who would buy a big hot tub at a fair, and not a local pool store?!) Anyway, we were turned off by the food prices. I have a mental barrier for prices. $12 for an ear of corn or hot dog is too much for me. We didn't buy food this time. Usually it's the traditional corn dog. Yes--it's only once a year, but...... Overall, we had fun, and a lot of nice walking. Got to see my little piglets. The grounds were not packed people to people, so walking was pleasant. I'm Not a ride person--we usually do that if kiddo is in town. It's An annual tradition. We'll go next year. read more

Went today for work event. Good day since you can bring canned food donation and get in free. Parking is disjointed and expensive for small fair. Lots of food options. Good for dates, families work, and haning with friends. Skippl the burgers they are no as good as the Puyallup fair. The elephant ears were hot and sugary. Yum!!! Also tried onion rings and cheese curds. Not as crowded as Puyallup fair which is nice. read more

Don't go to this food booth for Elephant Ear ! I taking in front of the booth while waiting for my orders with my friends, the cashier all suddenly shouted @ me " you can't take picture & videos"! I was so embarrassed in front of my friends ! It's like if I commuted crime or something !?! This is the social media century, if you are in the business but no want ppl to take picture or flash their cellphone, please post a big sign so ppl will he awarded of it ! read more

Evergreen State Fair - Don't go to this food booth to buy Elephant Ear ! The cashier was so rude! - Local Flavor Near Me - Monroe, Washington

Maybe it's because I've aged that the fair no longer seems as fun as it once was. Either that, or the novelty wears off after you visit this fair every summer of your whole life. Okay, I don't come here that often, but you can kind of run out of things to do even if you don't attend the fair every year. They don't do a very good job of keeping things new and fresh. Even if you live near Monroe, there is not much of a point to repeated visits because you can see the whole fair in just a few hours. It took me less than four hours on my most recent visit. The price to get in is ten dollars for adults. That's actually... not that bad in my opinion. Yeah, I'll pay ten dollars for a few hours of fun. The movies are more expensive nowadays. Ages 6-15 and 62-89 get in for seven dollars, and it's free if you're 5 and under or 90 and over. I think it sounds kind of fair. Of course, you'll most likely be spending more money on things like rides, games, and food. It might be a good idea to withdraw some cash in advance for that reason. I actually got here in the afternoon this year, and I was starving because I hadn't had lunch that day. I rushed over to the food stands and was dismayed at how overpriced everything was, but I was hungry and had to eat. I spent over twenty dollars on food from three different stands before I was full. That's right, I spent more than twice as much on food as I did on admission. That kind of sucks when the foods are almost entirely unhealthy and consist mostly of standard fair snacks. The barns are kind of cool. You get to see farm animals like cows, goats, and pigs just lay there and do nothing but eat. They also have alpacas, a South American animal, here. It's fun to take pictures and show the kids what the animals they learned about in school actually look like up close. They have a Native American exhibit of sorts here; they show some of the dances and artwork. Inside one of the buildings is a taco stand where they sell frybread. I wasn't hungry when I came by here, and when I returned, they had run out of supplies! I didn't get to try any, so if you see where they sell food, try to buy some before it's all sold out. The games are pretty interesting, and it's actually fairly cheap to play considering the prizes if you know what you're doing. It may seem impossible to win at certain ones, but I've won the one where you toss plastic rings onto bottles. You're only paying five dollars for a few chances to win one of their fairly big prizes, so I'd say it's at least worth a shot if you're interested. I brought home a huge toy tiger that I gave to a friend's baby. There's something at the fair for everyone. You just might get tired of it after a while. read more

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Love the fair. It's a tradition!! So much to do, so many shows to watch and see, and such good food. What a fun atmosphere!! Highly recommend for families and friends!! read more

We've been coming to the Evergreen State Fair for oh 15 or so years? So yeah I'm a fan. Yes the parking fee @ $10 is irksome. Hint, ride your MOTORCYCLE, its $5 and you get to park right next to the GATE. Yeehaw! Getting in, there are lots of ways to go to the fair for much less than the standard fee, look for those discount tickets, the $2 Tuesday, the half off last day, or better yet ENTER something! CONTRIBUTE! You get a BOGO coupon for adults. Maybe I'm just old but I like all the 'old school' exhibits and entertainment. The loggers. The local artists. The Grange Hall exhibits, photos, art, music and evening grandstand events, horse shows, and my favorite the FAIR FOOD. And ya gotta have a big ear o'corn from the Lions Club! Yes its a little spendy. Yes I did a little mad-dance at a smallish lemonade for $4. Eat and then go calm your nerves looking at all the various breeds of chickens, goats, sheep, rabbits, and walking steaks. Over by the loggers is our new favorite, the PETTING ZOO which is for EVERYONE not just kids, go there, you'll smile and laugh when a baby fawn comes over and tries to eat your shirt. So cute. And kids love the rides. No reason to go to that dern 'biggest' fair down in Pewyallup! Its even more expensive. So as far as 'state fairs' go in Washington, this is as good as it gets, and by Yelp definition thats 5 stars read more

Evergreen State Fair - Wings corn and lemonade $14 - Local Flavor Near Me - Monroe, Washington

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It was very fun affordable I wish I could give it 5 stars but due to the guy in the picture 3 Stars is me being nice not only did he call me a idiot he tried saying he only spoke Spanish when I started to speak Spanish he quickly changed he's mind on that. The problem was we were at this fair since 11 am the time was 1030 pm so you can imagine those bands on ur hand getting a little messed up especially on my 8 year old neice he did not let her ride the roller coaster he instead called me a idiot and right after that we went to another ride and no problems their I will not say the other rides because those people deserve to be left alone if anything they deserve praise. read more

Evergreen State Fair - The guy who denied my 8 year old neice to enter a ride even after I paid the 35$ whole day pass - Local Flavor Near Me - Monroe, Washington

We just finished up another fair season in Monroe and I have to say that each year it seems to get a bit less and less exciting and a bit more and more expensive. This year, we were able to get in for $12 a person and shell out another $35 for ride bands for the kids. For the four of us, it ended up being just over $100 for entry and rides. Of course, that's to be expected at a 'carnival' style setup, but it would be nicer to see those bands back down to the $25 mark where they were last year. After we got it, we found more and more vendors that charged a separate entry fee for activities and sadly, many of our favorites that had passed on the Evergreen Fair to head to the early start of the Puyallup Fair this year. Between the price increases on favorites like Elephant Ears (this year they were $8 each) and the less than stellar concert selection, there just wasn't as much to do at the fair this year. Hopefully a good plan can be put in place to make the 2018 Fair better, but you can still bet that we will be there to check out the chickens, the goats, ride some rides and hopefully find some fun activities to do in the evenings that aren't quite so expensive for the family. read more

I have attended the Evergreen State Fair most every year since back into the 1970's. I always saw this event as one of my never miss events of the year. In the past it was a great regional fair with informative commercial, government, and farm displays. This year I went on Monday August 28th (seniors day), the fifth day of the fair. Frankly, I was disappointed in seeing many of the animal stalls empty, commercial displays only at a minimal amount, and sky high prices for food. I ordered a phllly cheese sandwich for $13.00 plus tax that was small in portion and lackluster in flavor. There were almost no commercial displays under the grandstands, as in past years. The wood carving display was extensive and well displayed. Additionally, I see first responders are no longer honored with their day and discounted admissions. The bottom line, while fair staff were friendly and courteous, the 2023 fair was only a ghost of itself. read more

The fair manager is making it difficult to use tickets we purchased at a charity auction.

Great place with many events year round. Fairly clean and easy to navigate. But the staff can be at times.

Great time. Come during the later hours because it gets pretty dang hot and there's minimal shade. What I love about this fair is there's actual clean bathrooms and not porta johns. No alcohol sold on site so it's totally chill and family friendly. We'll be returning next year. read more

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I had real problems riding the large Ferris Wheel. I was alone and the ride operator would only ask people if it was OK for me to ride with them. The sign and recorded message says that people will be sat with them if they have less than 4 people. 1 father with small children said, "No" . I understood perfectly but the operator wouldn't seat me with any of several young couples (i.e. just young man and a woman). He just kept passing over people and I had to stand there while he had the ride do 1 or 2 full turns before he would put me on. There's is really no other ride except the carousel if you want to sit on the bench, if you are an adult. As for seeing the local produce and livestock, it's the same thing each year. Yes people work hard, but it doesn't change and it's boring. The food is all fair food with the exception of Greek Gyros, which I had and was excellent. The main showrooms are just people selling their wares like roofing etc. Generally there were no takers. No one was even talking to the sellers. Unless I'm really at whit's end as to what to do next summer, I'll pass. read more

I literally just need pictures & memories to be happy. This is the best time of the year in a Washington and it can be quite hot so you may want a hat. Sunscreen and plenty of water. The Evergreen State Fairgrounds hosts the annual 12-day Evergreen State Fair every August through Labor Day. The Fair is one of the largest events held annually in the Pacific Northwest and is the largest single attraction held in Snohomish County. We went to the fair on Thursday - The Evergreen State Fair in Monroe. Opening Day - Free Gate Admission for everyone until 1 p.m. It's not the biggest fair in Washington - that honor goes to the Puyallup (pronounced pew-al-up for those of you who don't live around here). But for me, the Evergreen State Fair is just the right size and just the right flavor. The fair grounds are located about an hour from Seattle. It's a great reminder that just outside the land of Starbucks, Microsoft, and Amazon is some of our state's most beautiful farmland. You The fair is going to be crowded. Always. Best to jump into the happy mayhem with both feet and a smile (and your hands firmly ahold of your kiddos) and you'll be fine. Weekday mornings are your best bet to beat the crowds. There are many great ways to save yourself a buck (or two or three!) on gate admission or rides. Check the online calendar of special days and deals. Just remember... if you choose these specials, chances are the Fair is going to be crowded so pack your patience. Overall, We had such a good time. There's more I can keep talking about but it's best to experience for yourself =) *2016 Special Gate Admission Days: Opening Day: Thursday, August 25 - Free Gate Admission for everyone until 1 p.m. Agriculture Day: Friday, August 26 - "Fair Cares" Food Drive - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. one Free Gate Admission until 1 p.m. with three cans of food per person (Must be present to qualify).  Senior Citizen's Day: Monday, August 29 - Ages 62 and up receive free Gate Admission all day Twosday, Tuesday: Tuesday, August 30 - $2 Gate Admission before 2:00 p.m. for everyone ages 6 - 89 years old. (Fair-goers must enter the gate before 2 pm) Family Day: Wednesday, August 31 - $5 Gate Admission per person before 5 pm  (Fair-goers must enter the gate before 5 pm) Kids Day: Thursday, September 1 - Ages 15 and under receive Free Gate Admission all day Armed Forces Day: Friday, September 2 - Free Gate Admission for those with valid military or first responder's I.D. Or "Fair Cares" Food Drive - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. one Free Gate Admission until 1 p.m. with three cans of food per person (Must be present to qualify. No tickets will be given out to use later during this day.) Labor Day: Monday, September 5 - Reduced Fair Gate Admission - $10 for adults and $6 for kids *Normal Gate Admission Adults (16-61 yrs): $12 Senior Citizens (62-89 yrs): $8 Senior Citizens (90 yrs and older): Free Youth (6-15 yrs): $8  Kids (5 yrs and under): Free read more

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Over the last few years, I've made this my primary fair of the summer. I used to go to another fair down south but have changed that over the last three years. When I was a child in VERY rural Hawaii, the fair was a big thing that everyone always went to. A part of me will always get excited when the fair is around. I find this fair less stressful compared to others. Yes, there are other people there but not so many that I can't walk around without bumping into people. Also, the vibe is much different. It feels more family oriented. The lack is police presence is a good way to judge how laid back it is. The space is arranged well and allows for personal space. As others have mentioned, you pay a fee to get in addition to other costs. Don't bother paying for single rides. Get the bracelet and ride free all day. Believe me, it's worth it if rides are your jam. I like how the animals are laid out and folks flock to see dog shows, pet the rabbits, and maybe even touch a chicken. There are tons of other animals as well, most of them furry - yay! The lumberjack competitions are always fun. From chopping down logs to log rolling, it's something that I was never exposed to as a child. I find it all amazing. You can find typical fair attractions - concerts, vendors, fair food, etc. Honestly, the food is not great but I always go for a funnel cake, Fleischkuekle, and Fisher Scones. read more

This was my first trip to the Evergreen State Fair. Since I moved to N Kirkland, I figured it would be a good day trip, it's only about a 20 minute drive. It's about $10 to get in, which is honestly a bit much for the small fair. It's an ok fair, but fairly small. I think the best part was the Pig races. They have all the usual 4-H animals, art contests, and people in booths selling crap no one actually needs. The best part of going to the fair is the food, and honestly, I wasn't too impressed with the food selection. We got lots of Fair Scones, which is obviously very, very important. And delicious. We tried the Krispy Kreme Chicken sandwich from the "Totally Fried" place, and we both took 2 bites, and threw it away. It was quite disgusting. I had my usual corn dog, my once a year fair treat, and it was fine. It's much closer than the Puyallup Fair, and a bit cheaper, but not as good. read more

Evergreen State Fair 2007 - next year is 100 years!!! This is not the "State Fair" - think Michelle W would relate more to The Puyallup Fair which is the Official Western Washington State Fair. The animals are still all there. The secret is to go in from the East (blue) gate instead of the West (red) gate. The East gate is less crowded and virtually no lines - had to wait while my sister-in-law was in a 20 minute line from the red gate. Yes, the bunnies, chickens, dogs, cats, cows, pigs, sheep, llamas, zebras (yes they had some this year) are all near the blue gate. The commercial exhibits are never very interesting - no matter what fair. The arts and crafts were great, again. We didn't time to see many of the animals this year (only half a day) so we saw the horses for the first time ever and we visited the pigs - two sows with babies and the one litter(?) was born last night. The Frontier Village area is great, the Aztec Dancers are fabulous! The pig race is always a scream. I am not very impressed with the logger competition - now if Paul Bunyon was there, maybe! There are more food booths than I remember from several years ago. Michelle W. must have missed the main food court, the section near the rides is less than 1/4 of the total food booths. We went for the Barbecued Beef Sandwiches from the Shirners and the Corn on the Cob from the Lyons (might as well support charities while we eat great food!) As well as the elephant ears - my wife just can't seem to resist them. Pizza at a fair? Why when there is barbecue and hamburgers with mounds of fried onions? If you go, plan to spend the whole day and look at all the fair, not just one end of it. I prefer it to the Puyallup, as it is smaller, easier to get to and has everything, just in lesser quantities. Well, that is, unless you are a Roller Coaster fan, then you NEED to go to the Puyallup. For next year's information, not only will it be the Fair's 100th anniversary, but keep in mind that the first week, the animal exhibits are 4H and the last week, they are general entry so pick the week that suits your fancy. For this year - read this tonight and leave early tomorrow morning and catch the last day - quit dragging your feet - just go! It's over on Labor day and what better way to spend the day then looking at animals and getting sick on the rides after gorging yourself with all that fair food! read more

Okay, let's do some Clover math: it's been awhile. 5 stars for price and ease to fun ratio. "All you can ride" bracelets are $25 weekday/$30 weekend, admission is cheap $10 adult (16+), $7 youth (6-15) and free 5-under. GET THE BRACELET. The rides are stupidly priced at 4 tickets ($1 each) for a maze with a slide and other 'killer' rides are 3 tickets- WTF? 4 stars for selection of food items available- oh, we've got your Fischer scones right here, lady. Chicken on a skewer with rice and peanut sauce was DELISH. 1 star for WTF with the LOUD games right near the kids rides? One had bursting balloons the other was the 'Test Your Strength' um, too loud right there scaring kids. 1 star for fixing the rides randomly/taking breaks seemingly on schedule while tons of people are in line and in no way communicating what's up to those people 3 stars for the fact that there's an entire kids area hidden that both years I couldn't find until I happened upon it. My tips: try and look at the fair map first, we ended up wandering more than I would have liked but overall, it's less busy and crazy than the Puyallup but still tons of fun to be had for the 5 year olds. You can get tickets online but it's only a few $ cheaper. You can bring in your own water and etc if you wish. GET THE BRACELET! read more

I have loved the Evergreen State Fair since I was a kid, and now I live in Monroe, so it's right around the corner. It's perfect to do in a day, but enough interesting that going back for another day is well worth the trip. This year, I spent one day at the fair with four kids in my care, ages 2-5. One of the parents had the great idea of a rope with knots, and we got a lot of looks as we traipsed along each kid holding their knot and me at the front of the line! It was really fun to see the fair from the kids' perspective, which included a ride on the merry-go-round, the petting area, "be a farmer," and corndogs. Possibly their favorite part, though, was the parking area shuttle--a wagon with seats pulled behind a tractor (yeah, they are farm kids). I spent another day at the fair with my husband. We did totally different things and I got yet another perspective of the fair and all it has to offer. My favorites from that day were the goats, and some time spent watching a 4-H dog agility trial, and obedience competitions. Oh, and for my husband, we spent a lot of time looking at and talking about tractors. (I see a theme, here; possibly we aren't so grown up after all.) read more

I don't care what anyone says...I love the fair!!! I went again this year and as usual it did not disappoint! The beautiful handmade quilts, the display of homemade cookies you can drool over but can't touch (nor would you really want to with the fact they've been sitting in that case for a while), all the folks on their rascals...ah, good times! This year I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, so I was so starving I was dizzy, the first thing I ate was a brat with kraut and onions and mustard, damn, that sucker was good, then I had some Lopez Island ice cream, when you order one scoop they actually give you two and you can have two different flavors, then last, but not least, I had the corn cob soaked in a vat of butter - YUM!!! One year I will have that turkey leg...my shyness about digging into it hasn't subsided so for now it's just a dream... The highlight of the night was the Clydesdale competition, it was 20 minutes of awesomeness - the majesty, the brass that jingles as they trot in their teams around the arena! And they played the Bud music during the Free Ride portion! I swear I'm adding raising Clydesdales to my list of things to do before I die... read more

Geez, what a ripp off! - $10 parking - $10 Entry Fee for Adults - Way Overpriced food and drink You're basically being charged to have access to marketing? At these prices, parking and admission should be free! Be prepared to pay $60+ bucks just for a couple of adults. Gonna take the kids? Good luck! Sheesh! Feels alot more like a consumer gouge than a county fair! read more

I know this fair is not as big as the Puyallup, but that's exactly what gives this one some added charm. A fair is a fair is a fair, for the most part, save for a few differences. When they're at a smaller venue they feel a bit more 'Merrican though, if you know what I mean. There is just enough at the Evergreen Fair to entertain everyone - animals, crafts, infomercial-style vendors, and rides and games of course. I like the car races, which is something Puyallup certainly doesn't offer. My kids love the animals, and of course the food. Actually, the food options seem a little better than average here (though you'll still pay for it). I have a couple tips to attach to this review: * If you haven't done it before, try hitting it up in the evening when the heat is less intense and the lights make for a good show. Less tiring this way! * We found free parking a couple blocks away from the paid lots. A little extra walking will save you some cash if you're open to it. * You can bring your own water bottles (and maybe food?) into the fair. They didn't even check our bags this year. Awesome! No more paying $3-$4 for a bottle of water. I must say it is mind boggling to me that with the huge Latino crowds these days, we still don't see any authentic taco/torta stands or agua fresca stands. Just one of those would make bank! Don't go getting any ideas though, ok? I thought of it first! read more

I want to like the fair, but I spent $30 before I even officially walked through the gate. $10 for parking, $20 to get in. It just is not what it used to be which is good, reasonable family fun. Same vendors, selling the same stuff every year. Never changes. Always fun to look at the animals and the hobby halls. My son really loved the petting zoo this year and so did I. I wish they would limit the amount of people in there at once though. I feel like it gets a little chaotic and traumatizing for the animals. Especially when people do not watch their kids and let them literally chase these poor animals around. Food, I love fair food, who doesn't? But the prices, jeeze. $4.00 for a small drink on a hot day is highway robbery. Bring your own bottles of water and refill them, the installed fillers at all the water fountains which is a nice touch! Rides, get the bracelet, even though it is $25, which is still insane for the amount of rides they actually have there, it is still way cheaper than getting tickets. Most of the rides are 3-4 tickets, even in kiddie land. We got one just for my son since he can ride all the kids stuff alone. He had a blast doing it. I am not sure I will make it a point to come out next year which is unfortunate, but it is really not a "hometown" fair anymore, it is a lot of money and random marketing stuff, that is it. read more