Grant County Fair starts tomorrow

MOSES LAKE — This week, cooler forecasted temperatures in the 90s will likely boost attendance at the Grant County Fair from last year.

The event runs Tuesday through Saturday.

Less than 45,000 people attended the event in 2008, decreasing attendance by between 3,000 or 4,000 people, said Bill West, fairgrounds marketing manager.

“We mostly blame that on the heat,” he said. “There was 100-plus degree temperatures for two or three days of the fair last year.”

“We are expecting more people, but a lot of it is weather-related,” West commented. “People won’t come out when it’s 100-degrees plus.”

Another change to this year’s event is the removal of parking fees. They started last year because of problems with double parking, blocking people in with medical emergencies, he said.

But parking will be monitored for safety by the Columbia Basin Job Corps, he explained.

Also this year, to increase exhibit entries, the fair consolidated exhibit entries.

In the past, people in outlying areas would have to repeatedly drive back into Moses Lake if they have multiple entries, he said.

As a result, some people wouldn’t enter all the categories they wanted, decreasing exhibit entries.

In the commercial building, it appears the number of vendors increased because they were about ready to run out of room, he said.

Laura Cobb, fair association board director/vendor committee chairman, said she thinks there will be a good variety of vendors.

She mentioned vendors covering a variety of services and topics, including fuel additives for better gas mileage, Cold Creek Candles, iFiber Communications, Home Town Sales, a reverse mortgage program for seniors, candidate booths and Kagles’ Cache.

The entertainment schedule is about the same as last year’s, but there’s “a great deal of really, really worthwhile entertainment to be had,” West said.

The hypnotist puts on a “great show,” as well as a juggling act performed by the group “Brothers from Different Mothers,” presenting all five days of the fair.

“They will have you in stitches,” he said.

West also mentioned improvements made at the fairgrounds since last year.

There are new lights in the blue parking lot, off Valley Road, and four new bathrooms throughout the fairgrounds.

He also noted how the fairgrounds “looks fantastic” with green grass and colored flowerpots to brighten its appearance.

“I don’t think the fairgrounds has looked as good as it does now,” West says.

Tickets are available at the fair office, 3953 Airway Drive N.E., Moses Lake.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call 509-765-3581 or visit www.grantcountyfair.com.