The Evergreen State Fairgrounds — Hotel in Monroe

My oldest son and I went there on Thursday and it was a perfect day for it. If we got too hot there were misting canopies to stand under, which we took advantage of. We had a shredded pork sandwich wrap at a food vendor's stand and it was very good. We are not game players nor were we interested in rides. We went to see the youth 4-H horses and were able to judge and vote for our favorite horse and rider in the costume competition! It was all good fun! My favorite was the only young man in the competition who had his pony decked out in a costume/shawl that had all the icecream and popsicle treats on it. Like what you would see on an icecream truck! He was the vendor. The pony also had baskets hanging out on both sides the held real looking icecream cones in different colors! He won second place! I went and admired Mount Baker Clydesdales, there were 8 there and one you could pet. The thrill of being able to look into the gentle and intelligent sentient beings eyes and touch the velvet soft nose and face was an incredible achievement. I had a horrible experience with a horse once but continued to ride, but never got over my fear until the other day. That gentle giant just slowly turned its head and looked down at me as if to say, "See? I won't hurt you." Beautiful, just beautiful. We walked a couple miles looking at 4-H and other displays of flowers, plants, all things sewn and crocheted, baked goods, vinagers, syrups, photographs, antique farm equipment, old and new tractors, fruits and vegetable displays by individuals and Granges, then we went to the other animals. There we saw cows, steer, a baby pig, and his mama, chickens, roosters, pullets, goats, sheep, and bunny babbys. (Oops, sorry for the pet tourette's syndrome). We also saw a few dogs but most had already competed so there were only a few there, a couple of barking collies and a black dog that was being petted by children. I'm sure we missed some exhibition buildings, but you know, I could have still been looking at all the GORGEOUS quilts! Just that area alone WAS DYNAMITE. The electronics and space age 4-H was there but by then I was too tired to ask questions, just took pictures and left. Oh, did I mention that there eere 4-H cakes that were judged too? Those would be the little figures on the black velvet in a display case! Parking, well, just remember what isle your in. Finding the ENTRANCE to parking did not go smoothly. There were no sign saying entrance so we turned around. We saw MANY PEOPLE doing this. Unfortunately. Not permitted: DOGS!! Don't take your dogs. There is a Security check in, no guns, knives or pepper spray allowed either. We enjoyed ourselves! The fair runs through Labor...

Fair bit of fun wrapped in a thick layer of Washington charm, soaking up all the evergreen goodness!

The fairgrounds are like your favorite pair of worn-in jeans—classic, reliable, and maybe a little frayed around the edges. The grounds are vast, like someone took a slice of the Pacific Northwest and decided to sprinkle it with ferris wheels, food stands, and that unmistakable scent of livestock. It’s rustic meets festivity, with a side of let’s get muddy. Be warned, it reeks!

Expect to be dazzled by the dizzying array of rides, though fair warning, if you’re looking for Six Flags-level thrills, you might want to dial back those expectations a notch. The rides here are more woo! than wheee! perfect for the family or for keeping your fair food exactly where you left it.

The animal barns are a real hoot or should I say, moo-t? Giving city slickers a chance to rub shoulders with some of the state’s finest four-legged residents. Pro tip: Wash hands after petting livestock!

The culinary offerings are classic fair fare, fried, sugary and possibly heart-stopping in the best way. Whether you’re craving a corn dog the size of your forearm or some deep-fried confection that defies all logic, you’re in the right place. Just be sure to balance it out with something green...you know, like the pickles on that burger.

Evergreen State Fairgrounds is like that quirky aunt who’s still stuck in the ’90s charmingly retro with a bit of a rebellious streak. The crowds are a mix of local families, teens looking for a night out and that one guy who’s way too into his tractor-pulling stats.

There was a stand that offers unlimited Iced Tea for $10 that is perfect for hot weather! Location is close to the blue gate across Snohomish County tent.

Parking is $15. There are free shuttles/golf carts to get you to the nearest gate.

If you’re searching for a slice of quintessential Washington fun, this is it. Just remember to bring your sense of humor and a sturdy pair of boots. It’s not the State Fair for nothing because it’s as...

We went on opening day late in the afternoon. Not a large crowd by any means. The park was clean with hand washing stations everywhere. The prices for food range from $8-11 on corn dogs. Burgers were 12-18. Most of the grilled food items are cooked onsite. Anything like a full meal was $18 and up. The scone place makes a good strawberry scone-cake for $7. Scones are $3 each or $28 for a bakers dozen. We bought a hot dog and fries with 1 large pepsi at the red & white consession stand at $30. The H-dog was all beef and huge with good flavor. Fries were crunchy and soft we ate them all! The draft horse show was good. Sit west for a better view of these beautiful horses. Lumber jack show is as good as you remember. My husband and I really enjoyed the PUD arcing show at 8pm. (A shout out to all the PUD workers for a great and wonderful service you provide the masses). Lots of animals (newborn piglets 8 days old). I would suggest seeing the milking cows in action the whole process is amasing! There is plenty of stuff for the kids to see and do for free. Rides and games might be 10 tickets at $1 each ticket. It might be prudent to buy the wrist band for unlimited use. Our night ended with a fire work show that I thought was very impressive considering this smaller fair. All the seating is wood or concrete. Take a sitting pad if you plan on viewing all the shows. Parking is $10-15. Free shuttle from car to...