The Central Washington State Fair surveyed fair-goers after last year’s Yakima Fair and heard a lot of feedback.
Fair officials said they have listened to the feedback and have made changes to this year’s fair accordingly.
This year’s attendees will see significant changes to the entertainment lineup and schedule. The most notable change is that fair admission will provide free admission to the Toyota Concert Series. The concert schedule will be scaled back to weekend performances instead of nightly shows.
Weekday opening hours vary, with gates opening at 2pm Monday through Thursday.
This year’s fair’s theme is “Joyful Harvest,” putting the spotlight on one of the Yakima Valley’s greatest products: apples. The fair, which runs Sept. 20-29, takes place during apple harvest season, and the fair’s agricultural exhibits will showcase the history of the valley’s apple industry, the varieties grown here and how Yakima Valley apples supply the world.
Changes in entertainment
This year’s Toyota Concert Series will feature tribute bands both weekends of the fair. Concerts are free with fair admission and open to all ages.
“For the past two years, we have listened to community members who want more free entertainment at the fair. That demand has grown due to a combination of rising touring artists and production costs, as well as limitations on the number of artists we can accommodate in our markets,” fair CEO Cathy Kramer said in a news release.
The 2024 Toyota Concert Series will feature Queen Nation (Queen tribute band) on Friday, September 20th, Dirt Road: The Jason Aldean Experience and American Soldier: A Tribute to Toby Keith on Saturday, September 21st, Red Corvette: The Ultimate Prince Tribute Act on Sunday, September 22nd, Noise Pollution (AC/DC tribute) on Friday, September 27th, Keith as Kenny – The Kenny Chesney Experience and Eric Church Tribute on Saturday, September 28th, and Papa Doo Run Run (Beach Boys tribute) on Sunday, September 29th.
“These are some of the best tribute bands in the country,” Kramer said. “Once the local community understands the new layout areas and how to use them, they’ll be able to move around and hang out with their friends” to create a more festival-like atmosphere.
Entertainment at the Toyota Main Stage begins with opening bands at 5 p.m. and the main act at 7 p.m. Opening bands are Huckleberry Road Sept. 20-22 and Copper Mountain Band Sept. 27-29.
Toyota’s main stage will be located in a separate area on the south lawn of the Modern Living Building and will feature a family section and the Corona Corral and Bar exclusively for those 21 and older. There will also be a VIP ticket package available for sale for $35, which includes fair admission, covered seating and private restrooms.
Small and medium-sized enterprises
The fair will continue its support of local small businesses with the third year of the Hometown Marketplace at the SunDome. The market is an opportunity for local small businesses to sell their goods and services at discounted prices over a reduced number of days to encourage participation at the fair.
Hometown Marketplace is set to expand this year, making it a very exciting program, Kramer said.
“The whole idea is to use it as a mechanism to bring the fair audience to small businesses and allow them to grow from there,” Kramer said.
Vendor spaces are still available for businesses that manufacture their own products. For more information about Home Town Market Place, contact the State Fair Park office at 509-248-7160.
Time Change
This year’s fair will also feature several other changes and new features.
The fair has different hours this year, opening at 2pm Monday through Thursday and noon Friday through Sunday.
The 2pm start time reflects input from vendors, fair partners and fair attendees.
“As the fair approaches, schools start up and people start working,” Kramer said in an interview. “We started analysing the numbers from previous years and we saw that people often come in later in the afternoon. People who used to sell things at the Sun Dome, food vendors, are saying, ‘We’re not selling as much right now.'”
During in-depth discussions with fair officials, vendors and food sellers said traffic slows down significantly on weekdays between noon and 2 p.m.
Other Activities
Fun Ville is a new outdoor family area located at the south end of State Fair Park that will center around the popular All Alaska Pig Races, as well as a live butterfly exhibit, petting zoo, pony rides and a variety of outdoor games and activities.
“This area is really going to be focused on families,” Kramer said. “It’s going to have tables and chairs and areas where families can do things and have a place to rest.”
Every child who visits Fun Ville receives a free apple.
There will also be VIP parking in the South Parking Lot at the corner of Nob Hill Boulevard and S. Fair Avenue. VIP parking is $20 per day and is first come, first served.
A separate ticket is required for events at the Coca-Cola Grandstand and is included with admission to the fair.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, the Rough Stock Round-up presented by Aces Wild Pro Rodeo Productions will be held at 2 and 6 p.m. Both performances will include bareback riding, ranch and saddleback riding, the SunSation Rodeo Flag Team, rodeo clowning and bull riding.
Insanity Fest will take place at the Grandstand on Saturday and Sunday, September 28th and 29th, with two performances each day, at 2pm and 6pm.
Motorsport fans can enjoy Monster Truck Battles, Truck Towing Competitions, a Full Boogie Tilt with Entertainers, and a Blast from the Past Jet Truck.