Fewer incidents, increased attendance at 2026 Grant County Fair

MOSES LAKE — An increased law enforcement and security presence helped keep incidents at the 2026 Grant County Fair to a minimum.  

“The extra security we added made a big difference, and I think it did last year, too,” said Jim McKiernan, fairgrounds director.  

There were no drug-related or weapons-related incidents during the week, according to information from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.  

“There were fewer incidents compared to past years, and the incidents were less serious than before,” wrote Kyle Foreman, GCSO public information officer, in answer to questions from the Columbia Basin Herald. “About 12 people were trespassed for bad behavior, including two fights.” 

The GCSO presence was supplemented by officers from the Moses Lake Police Department, who worked 27 shifts during fair week, Foreman said. That was in exchange for GCSO assistance during the Spring Festival, Moses Lake’s annual celebration on Memorial Day weekend.  

Fairgrounds officials hired extra security in the wake of a 2024 shooting that left two people injured. McKiernan said 10 people were hired for 2026 through a firm that uses retired and off-duty law enforcement officers, as well as unarmed security personnel. Some provided extra security at the entrances, while others patrolled the grounds.  

“Most of those guys love coming here. We treat them pretty well,” McKiernan said. 

Additional security personnel worked the Moses Lake Roundup and the beer garden, Foreman said. There was a juvenile officer on site throughout the fair. 

The extra security seems to have paid off in increased attendance.  

“We did notice our crowds were significantly bigger than last year,” McKiernan said. 

Attendance in 2025 may have been affected by the memory of the 2024 shooting, he said. 

Most nights featured music performances from artists ranging from country to Tejano to tribute bands, and those also drew good crowds, he said. Concessionaires also reported increased business, although the final attendance and concession numbers won’t be available for a few days. 

“It was a great fair,” McKiernan said. 

    Children fly through the air on a carnival ride at the 2026 Grant County Fair. Increased security around the fairgrounds helped keep incidents to a minimum, said Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan.