Northwest Washington Fair plans return from coronavirus cancellation with new manager
As the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden navigates its first Whatcom County summer without a fair since World War II due to the coronavirus pandemic, it will have a new leader at the helm.
Chris Pickering was recently appointed the fair’s new chief executive officer by the fair board, succeeding Jim Baron, who served as the fair’s manager for more than 16 years, according to a press release Tuesday, May 19.
“We know that postponing this year’s fair is a blow to many in our community who pour their hearts into projects every year, as well as those who earn much of their income during the best week in August,” Pickering said in the release. “We look forward to bringing everyone together again in celebration just as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.”
Pickering served as assistant manager to Baron since February 2019 and helped plan last year’s fair, according to the release, and previously served as communications director for the Western Fairs Association in Sacramento, California. Pickering also is a lifetime member of the Lynden Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9301 and an active member of the Mount Baker Rotary Club.
He was initially supposed to take over for Baron in September but when the 2020 fair was canceled last month, Baron decided to step into his new role as director of capital campaigns EARLY.
“It was always my goal to hire someone who could take the Northwest Washington Fair to the next level, and I am so excited to be able to leave with the full confidence that we found that person,” Baron said in the release.
The 2021 Northwest Washington Fair is scheduled for Aug. 16-21.
