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Five Things to Do Out of Town This Weekend

Summer’s still kicking in Port Townsend, Yakima, and Lake Chelan.

Posted by: Allison Williams on Sep 09, 2011 at 11:15AM 0 Comments

What is mutton busting? It’s a rodeo for kids. On sheep. And it’s hilarious.

-It’s Puyallup Fair time! The 17-day shindig is the state’s single biggest event, drawing over a million visitors for fried food, mutton busting, and a giant pumpkin contest. Country crooner Joe Nichols kicks off the whole fair tonight.

-At the Wooden Boat Festival, through Sunday in Port Townsend, half the fun is finding the weirdest boat names, right? At this year’s 35th annual gathering, there’s musical performances, woodworking demonstrations, and workshops (learn how to tie a monkey’s fist!)—and also boats named Madman, Merry Wherry Two and Pepe: Skunk Island Skiff.

-A massive appetite is necessary for the Second Annual Skewered Apple Barbeque Championship, running Saturday and Sunday in downtown Yakima. Cooking demos, music, and a beer garden are available for spectators, while the chefs will be competing for $35,000 in prizes and grill fame. The sacrifice of your waistline is all in support of the The Yakima Valley Museum.

-The competition isn’t cutthroat at the Lake Chelan Sailing Regatta; friendliness is encouraged, and water balloons are an acceptable conflict-resolution tactic. That’s probably how contests were handled back in ancient Greece.

-The TBA Festival in Portland doesn’t stand for To Be Announced—it’s Time-Based Art. The contemporary arts fest runs through September 18, and our sister mag Portland Monthly has selected the best of the fest.

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Tags: Festivals, Weekend Excursions, Day Trip, Fairs

Fairs Are Everywhere

How far are you willing to go for an elephant ear?

Posted by: Allison Williams on Aug 25, 2011 at 11:00AM 0 Comments

Wait, does your stomach feel a little funny?

Photo courtesy Flickr.

Roll out your blue-ribbon-winning giant pumpkin! Today marks the beginning of the Evergreen State Fair, but it’s not the only deep-fried food opportunity on the horizon.

Evergreen State Fair in Monroe
Today through Sept 5
Highlights: Classic rides like the Zipper and Tilt-a-Whirl, a bubblegum blowing contest, and drag and drift races at the speedway.
Concerts: Country upstarts the Band Perry (Aug 30), the two dudes of the old Peter, Paul & Mary trio (Aug 29), and ’70s rock survivors Cheap Trick (Aug 31).

Kitsap County Fair & Stampede in Bremerton
Today through Aug 28
Highlights: The stampede! Xtreme Bulls riding (Aug 28) and other rodeo events.
Concerts: Up-and-comer Lee Brice (tonight).

Kittitas County Fair in Ellensburg
Sept 1–5
Highlights: A Yakama Indian Nation tepee, the interactive Frontier Village, and a mechanical bull.
Concerts: Seattle group Cody Beebe & The Crooks (Sept 1) and reality show contestant Charley Jenkins (Sept 3 and 4).

Puyallup Fair
Sept 9–25
Highlights: Livestock barns (pygmy goats!), a kickoff parade (Sept 9), and all the fair food you can eat: funnel cakes, scones, and a booth called Totally Fried.
Concerts: Tweenybopper Selena Gomez (Sept 12), twang princess Miranda Lambert (Sept 17), and everyone’s obsession in 1994, Counting Crows (Sept 23)

Central Washington State Fair in Yakima
Sept 23–Oct 2
Highlights: A ride called the Super Shot Drop Tower and Hypnotist Mark Yuzuik messing with your mind twice a day at a stage near the food court.
Concerts: Cowboy crooner Trace Adkins (Sept 24), rock band Hinder (Sept 27), and Motown Phillies Boyz II Men (Sept 29).

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Tags: Fried Foods, Fairs