Entertainment - Fair

POSTED: Tuesday, Jun. 09, 2009

Admission increases for Northwest Washington Fair

LYNDEN - Admission prices for the Northwest Washington Fair are going up for the first time in 10 years.

Gate admission for adults will increase from $8 to $10, and the one-day wristband pass for carnival rides will change from $20 to $25.

Admission prices for children ages 6 to 12 will increase from $4 to $5. Admission for children 5 and under will remain free.

The admission price increases result from the rising costs of running the event, fair manager Jim Baron said. Insurance, fuel and labor costs have continued to increase over the years while admission prices have remained the same, he said.

"We finally had to bite the bullet," Baron said.

The good news is advance tickets are available at a lower cost for those who plan ahead, Baron said. Woods Coffee is partnering with the fair in sponsoring a "ticket blitz" from 7 to 11 a.m. Friday, June 12. All nine Woods Coffee locations in Whatcom County will sell adult gate admission tickets for $7 and one-day carnival wristband passes for $18.

Ticket discounts also will be available from July 31 to Aug. 16 at Haggen stores, all Peoples Bank branches in Whatcom County and local Papa Murphy's stores, Baron said.

This year's grandstand shows include a performance by country music band Emerson Drive Wednesday, Aug. 19, and a freestyle motocross competition Saturday, Aug. 22.

Tickets for the all of the fair's grandstand shows are already on sale.

For more information about the fair or to purchase tickets, visit northwestwashingtonfair.org. Tickets also can be purchased at the fair office, 1775 Front St., or by phone at 354-7777. Discounts are available for groups of 40 or more. For group sales call 354-4111.