Puyallup Fair

I’ve grown up with the fair. I am completely, 100%, totally biased in favor of the Western Washington Fairgrounds. This is a great adventure, held in both the spring and fall of every year, full of carnival rides and games, greasy fair food, and nothing but happiness. We’re talking roller coasters and caramel apples, onion burgers and ferris wheels. Yes, this place gets crowded, but its worth it. Spending six or seven hours at the fair, as the sun begins to set and the carnival lights and neon begin to buzz, listening to the whirr of engines and diesel, laughter and cricket chirps—it’s these kinds of things that make you realize how wonderful life is worth living. This is a special, magical place.

ok, so it’s only worth one trip, in my opinion. i’d say i’ve gone probably 20 times in my life and really, twice is more than enough. every year it just gets worse and worse (crowd wise) and now, the fair tradition is to drive down, pick one person to go in and get earthquake burgers while the others drive around waiting for that person and the amazing burgers. otherwise, i could do without this place. well, okay the cotton candy is great too.

Well, I went a couple of years ago, but the people I was with were no fun, so I want to go back and check it out again this year. Plus, you can get a fried snickers bar.

We go for the dog shows. It is a mixed blessing. There is some okay food to be found and the shows are fun. Bonus points if you are looking for a hot tub, a new car, or a stove.

Oh lord, it’s a fair. If you go expecting it to be not over commercialized, loud, dirty and obnoxious…then you have issues. But for a fair, it’s great.

FUN!!!

I’d need to be drunk and drugged to ever go back there. Jesus.

As fairs go, this isn’t a bad one, if over commercialized. But really, old fairs were about selling cows, snake oil, and stealing kid’s money with “games”.

Now it’s all about selling cow chips, chamois, and stealing kid’s money with “games”.

As long as a good time is had, what’s the big deal? There is definately some keen junk to be had at the fair, and some just plain junk, but there’s also some good fun. Rides for those that like them including one of oldest remaining wooden roller coasters (the 6th oldest if memory serves).

They keep a strong effort in having things for people of all ages which is nice for family entertainment, too – from petting zoos to jugglers, to hot tub vendors.

Nice to visit. I probably have gone too much to see much spectacle anymore, but I still find myself going almost every year.

I’m sure it’s tacky and hot and potentially terrible, but I still would like to check it out at least once.