Northwest Washington Fair announces bigger plans to bounce back from COVID-19 in 2021
The Northwest Washington Fair will run for 10 days when it returns in 2021, officials announced Monday, Aug. 17.
The fair in Lynden was canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic— marking the first time it hasn’t run in 75 years.
When it reopens next year, it will run for four more days instead of its usual Monday through Saturday.
The new fair days in 2021 will be Thursday, Aug. 12, through Saturday, Aug. 21.
The Fair Board approved the expansion earlier this month after studying the issue for a number of years and consulting with a wide array of business and community partners, according to a news release.
“This move will position us to better fulfill our mission of providing agricultural education, positive competition, wholesome entertainment and lasting memories,” Nate Kleindel, president of the Fair Board, said in the release on Monday, which would’ve been the first day of the fair this year.
When it returns in 2021, Lynden fair officials said they will add:
▪ Discounted admission to get into the fair from Monday through Wednesday.
▪ Discounted “season passes” for all 10 days of the fair.
▪ A free kids’ play area with STEM activities and exotic animals.
▪ A split livestock show so exhibitors have a chance to enjoy the fair.
▪ A Sunday morning worship service in the Grandstand with free fair admission before 10 a.m.
In addition, vendor booths will be allowed to close on Sunday.
Expecting that people may not yet be ready to return because of COVID-19 concerns, officials are budgeting for a 20% drop in attendance in 2021, according to Chris Pickering, chief executive officer of the fair, which had 111,000 visitors last year.
Being open for more days will allow for attendance to be spread out a bit more and give people two weekends to attend, Pickering told The Bellingham Herald on Monday.
A Sunday opening will be the first for the fair in Lynden, according to Pickering.
“Lynden is a very religious community and traditionally has been closed on Sunday as a Sabbath,” he said, adding that the Fair Board researched this topic, and others, and received an overwhelmingly positive response to the Sunday opening. “People are very excited for the opportunity to have more days of the fair.”
Prior to the announcement, Skagit County Fair officials had been urging the Lynden fair to reconsider, saying the expanded days will overlap with their fair dates. That, in turn, could mean an end to the smaller Skagit fair, they said, because the two fairs share vendors, some entertainment and a sound company.
The Skagit County Fair lasts four days. It’s set for Wednesday, Aug. 11, through Saturday, Aug. 14, next year. It has been a flagship event in the community for more than 120 years, officials said.
A host of other officials in Skagit also asked the Northwest Washington Fair Board not to expand its dates — the Board of Skagit County Commissioners, as well as the Mount Vernon mayor, city council, downtown association and chamber of commerce.
“Historically, fairs have operated cooperatively, to the benefit of all. Please do not disregard this ongoing tradition of mutual respect and advancement,” they said in a letter to Kleindel. “We look forward to hearing that your organization will consider other means by which to rebound from this difficult year in which we all find ourselves. And we are confident that there are alternatives to seeking success at the expense of a supportive neighbor.”
In response, Pickering said those concerns were studied.
“Everything was looked into,” he said. “All of the things that were alleged to overlap do not.”
He said the fairs don’t share a carnival. The two fairs shared one judge, which the Northwest Washington Fair shared with Skagit to help out. Three vendors do overlap, “so very few,” Pickering said, adding those could come to Lynden after the Skagit fair wraps up.
As for possible impact on attendance, Pickering said “people are fiercely loyal to their individual fair.”
“It’s really been disappointing to hear so much negativity,” he said.
As for 2021, Pickering said: “We’re really excited that after a year without a fair we’re able to come back bigger and better than ever. It’s going to be the biggest party in Whatcom County.”
The Northwest Washington Fair said it will announce the 2021 Grandstand entertainment this week as part of its Virtual Vendor Village at nwwafair.com, which will run online from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Saturday, Aug. 22.
It will feature many of the vendors who usually have booths at the Lynden fair. The virtual event also will have a magician and trivia night as well as daily announcements for next year’s fair at 1 p.m., officials said.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 2:00 PM.
