Tradition Amidst COVID-19

PUYALLUP, WASH- The Washington State Fair was founded back in the year 1900. At that time, there were no roller coasters, concerts or fried dough, but animals, agriculture, and a sense of community.

In 2020, the Fair readies itself for their 120^th anniversary with planned parties, new rides and a concert lineups filled with fan favorites. Everything seemed to be going according to plan, Stacy Van Horne said.

Stacy Van Horne is the public relations manager for the fair and has been looking forward to celebrate this monuments occasion with the rest of Western Washington, that is until COVID-19 put a pause to all large gatherings.

“It was really heartbreaking to cancel the Spring Fair…and if we had to do the same to the Fall Fair we will do all we can to ensure our guests experience something special,” Van Horne said.

In life you’re often told not to play the ‘what-if’ game, but Van Horne can’t help but wonder what will happen in the coming months that could put the Fair on hold.

The Washington State Fair is a mulit-million dollar industry that could see revenue lost if their big ticket event, the Fall Fair, is cancelled.

Renee McClain is the Chief Financial Officer for the Fair and has worked on there for twenty-five years. At the moment, the Fair is happening until we gather more information, the Fair is on, McClain said.

Worst case scenario for the Washington State Fair would account for them losing upwards of seven million dollars in revenue, noted in a detailed financial layout of COVID. Despite this hit, the Fair would recover because of its’ self-funded nature, McClain said.

What about loosing patrons, fans? The Concert series brings in roughly ten to twelve million dollars per season, Mike Nelson said. Mike Nelson is a member of the Fair Board and holds the position of Entertainment Director.

As Entertainment Director, Nelson is in charge of booking different artists, both comedic and musical, to bring to the grandstand. In light of COVID-19, restrictions on large events have put most concert goers at bay.

No concert has sold out yet, so thoughts of limiting seats to accommodate with the six-feet apart rule, Nelson said.

Limiting seats may just be one of the many changes the fair may see, and in actuality it may have to revert back 120 years and rely on food and animals to maintain an audience, Van Horne said.

We could have a drive through in the fair where you could grab a burger, or corndog, then go see our animals in the parking lot, McClain said.

The Fair will exist in some capacity this fall, what that may look like will be known as time goes.