PORT ANGELES — Round up the kids today.
It’s the first day of the Clallam County Fair, and children 12 and younger enter free until 6 p.m. The four-day fair, celebrating “Poultry in Motion,” runs through Sunday at the Port Angeles fairgrounds, 1608 W. 16th St.
Last year, 1,786 kids came for a good time — and carnival rides, food and horses deliver just that, according to a survey distributed at the 2016 Kids’ Day. A total of 83 returned forms revealed kids’ favorite part of the fair was the rides, followed by food and horses/horse barns.
Yesterday marked the last day to purchase carnival tickets online and at area stores. Carnival tickets will not be sold at the fair.
Food for purchase varies from “everything deep-fried” to the more refined smoked salmon meal. Take your pick from than 150 food and commercial vendors.
Tonight’s dinner special at the Gourmet Grub Kitchen is meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables and a roll.
Kids’ Day is always very popular, fair manager Shari Ioffrida said.
“Families take off work to go,” she said.
Kids’ events
Be certain to pick up a kids’ booklet to guide you through the various things to see and do at the fair. The first 350 children to return the booklet with all the questions answered will receive a goodie bag with treats and toys such as plush animals, Hot Wheels, Play-Doh, emoji fans, lollipops and more.
A completed booklet also enters you into a drawing to win one of four bikes and bike helmets.
Some of the attractions aimed for younger audiences will include:
• Free kids’ craft activities in the Home Arts Barn will be available from noon to 3 p.m.
• Cap’n Arr, the funny pirate, will perform free interactive comedy performances in the KidsZone at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• You can meet the 2017 fair royalty in the KidsZone at 6 p.m.
• The Port Angeles Fire Department’s fire safety trailer will be set up all day.
• Home Depot will host free birdhouse building crafts.
• Kids can ride a pony or climb a wall for a charge.
• Pirate Pete from Peninsula College will stand ready for photo ops.
Other events
Other events going on today:
• The Draft Horse Show, where horses demonstrate their pulling skills, will hit the arena at 2 p.m.
• Jet City Extreme Moto-X will perform awe-inspiring motorcycle tricks at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• The 4-H Dog Drill Team shows off training techniques through choreographed routines at 6 p.m. in the dog arena.
• Other 4-H shows throughout the day feature cats, dogs, steers, poultry, rabbits, goats, swine and horses. For the animal show schedule, visit www.clallam.net/Fair/animalshows.html.
Entertainment
Here is the schedule for today’s entertainment at Sunny Farms Center Stage:
• 10 a.m. — Opening ceremony and Sequim City Band.
• 1 p.m. — Old Sidekicks.
• 2 p.m. — Dancing Grandmas.
• 3 p.m. — Luck of the Draw.
• 5 p.m. — Chantilly Lace.
The lineup at Wilder Auto Community Stage features:
• Noon — Crocs.
• 2 p.m. — Rocklyn Road.
• 4 p.m. — Rocklyn Road.
• 6 p.m. — Aaron Crawford.
• 8 p.m. — Aaron Crawford.
For more information about the fair, visit www.clallam.net/Fair.
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Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsuladailynews.com.
Meg Walton of Port Angeles and her children, Taylor, 2, and Miles, 4, look at a young piglet born in the swine barn at the 2016 Clallam County Fair in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
