Submitted by Northwest Washington Fair
Popular new attractions, longtime agricultural favorites and good weather contributed to a 3-percent increase in attendance at this year’s Northwest Washington Fair, which concluded Saturday in Lynden.
The six-day fair, which was held August 17 – 22, drew 189,154 people and created many happy family experiences, which fair manager Jim Baron attributed to extensive community support.
“This event would not be possible without an incredible amount of effort by so many people,” Baron said. “I am so appreciative of the opportunity I have to work with a great board of directors, a dedicated group of superintendents and hundreds of volunteers.”
One of the Northwest Washington Fair’s highlights this year was a 45-percent increase in attendance at the Lynden PRCA Rodeo with more than 5,500 fans watching some of the country’s top professionals. Last year was the first time the rodeo was made a part of the fair and scheduled as a mid-week event.
“As a result, the number of top contestants that we are able to draw has increased dramatically and the audience has responded,” Baron said.
This year’s fair marked the debut of its hand-washing initiative, which featured ambassadors who encouraged safe hygiene practices.
“The handwashing initiative exceeded our expectations in every respect,” Baron said. “The incentive of prizes for children going through the process with our handwashing ambassadors was exceptionally well received with far more participation than we anticipated. The program was designed to educate the public on the importance of washing hands after interacting with animals and we feel we were successful in accomplishing our goal.”
Other important contributors to public safety at the fair are local law-enforcement agencies and the Lynden Fire Department, Baron said.
“I cannot adequately express my appreciation for the job our local law enforcement agencies do in identifying troublemakers before they cause a problem at the fair,” Baron said. “The Lynden Police Department and Whatcom County Sheriff Department cooperate with our event staff and private security firm to provide a very safe environment for our attendees. Again this year, the incidence of any type of crime or disturbance was minimal given the number of people attending the fair. The Lynden Fire Department reported fewer than average injuries and visits to the first-aid stations.”
