Evergreen State Fair returns to Monroe on Thursday

Dan Bates / The HeraldVeronica Oberst, who was 11 at the time, grooms Iris, a young female Jersey Wooly rabbit that she entered in competition at the 2012 Evergreen State Fair.
Dan Bates / The Herald
Veronica Oberst, who was 11 at the time, grooms Iris, a young female Jersey Wooly rabbit that she entered in competition at the 2012 Evergreen State Fair.

Source: The Herald

U.S. 2 heading into Monroe will start to clog up earlier in the day next week as the Evergreen State Fair gets rolling Thursday.

The fair begins at 10 a.m. Thursday and continues until through 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Monroe fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. SE, Monroe.

Admission is free until 1 p.m. on the first day of the fair.

After that, tickets are $10 general, $7 for senior citizens and youth and free to seniors 90 years and older and kids 5 years and under

Complete information on pricing and ticketing are at www.evergreenfair.org.

Grandstand entertainment will include monster trucks, stock car races and music.

The music schedule includes The Oak Ridge Boys at 7 p.m. Aug. 26 (tickets are $22 to $32); Brantley Gilbert at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27 ($32 to $55); 3 Doors Down at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 ($32 to $55); REO Speedwagon, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29 ($32 to $55); and Mercyme, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 ($25 to $37).

Tickets are available at www.evergreenfair.org.

The fair has always been the showcase for 4-H and FFA animal exhibitors, showing off cattle, dogs, rabbits, sheep and llamas. Kids will also exhibit their areas of expertise in photography, plant and soil science, veterinary science, home economics and herdsmanship.

This year the Monroe Chamber of Commerce has created Parade Central, on the grounds of Wagner Performing Arts Center, 639 West Main St., Monroe.

Parade Central is the new location for the judges’ reviewing stand, vendor booths, shaved ice, face painting, kettle corn and Monroe-based Hook-n-Ladder BBQ.

These vendors will be at Parade Central to serve the crowds who show up early to get a good seat for the parade.

The route begins at 11 a.m. at the intersection of West Main Street and 179th Avenue on Aug. 24 and ends at West Main Street and Blakely Avenue. For more parade information go to www.ChooseMonroe.com or call the Monroe Chamber at 360-794-5488 or stop by the office, 125 S Lewis S., Monroe.

Highlights of this year’s parade include the Seahawk Sea Gals cheerleaders, the SeaFair Pirates, drift and drag cars from the Evergreen Speedway, the Pirates of Treasure Island, Ixtapa Horses, local bands, drill teams, and tractor and motorcycle clubs, according to a chamber press release.

Bleachers are being brought into Parade Central to accommodate parade viewers and participants near the judges’ reviewing stand.

Butler Amusement will again provide the carnival rides.