I missed the Salmon Bake this year to see large lit-up salmon lanterns at the Fair.
For years I have heard the commercials on the T.V. and radio say, "Do the Puyallup!" I had planned to go three years ago, then two years ago. Finally, this year, I got to go! Except, it is not called the Puyallup Fair anymore (pronounced Pew-Al-Lupp), it is called The Washington State Fair. I guess I understand that. So many people pronounce the name wrong that are not familiar with the town. It is just the slogan was so catchy, it is sad to see it go.
After buying the tickets, I found out I would be missing the Annual Salmon Bake for our church. I always look forward to that, but since I already made a commitment with my friend, and the weather seemed decent enough, I decided I would go to the fair instead.
I wound up driving part way to my friend's house before I realized I had left the tickets at my place. I then waited a whole hour in a two-mile back-up on the highway before I could get turned around. Thank goodness my mom was in town to bring me the tickets closer by.
Anyway... I have been to fairs before. I used to go to The Grant County Fair all the time, enter my art in exhibits, win ribbons and things like that. Once I won a silver plate for some cookies I entered in the Girl Scout section! That was pretty cool. The exhibits have gone down considerably in the last few years, which is kind of sad. The food is very delicious at The Grant County Fair. My personal favorites are the
Spaceburgers by the Lioness's booth. The hamburgers at the Ephrata Lion's Booth, and the Lion's Ears and ice cream waffle cones with strawberry ice cream at guess where? The Moses Lake Lion's booth. There are other groups that have also have awesome food, but the Lion/Lioness booths are the most competitive contenders, in my book.
I guess I got the wrong things at The Washington State Fair. I bought a slushy, which was good, but the sign said, "$3.84, and they charged me $4.25." When I asked why, they told me "food tax." So when I bought a hamburger at another booth, why did they not charge a food tax there? The hamburger itself was disappointing. Advertised as "World Famous," it was a huge disappointment compared to most burgers I have had in my lifetime. Later, I noticed a BBQ place I think I would have liked, and a friend at work mentioned a place that has foot-long corn dogs! I missed that? I should have talked to him first! I did see a place that had huge hamburgers, but I was not hungry enough to pay close to 8-9 dollars just to see if I would like it. One of my friends on Facebook thought for sure I would have bought an Elephant Ear. Sadly, no. I wish I had. It would have been better than the disappointing burger.
The exhibits we saw were pretty cool, though we did not get to see many of them, and that is one of my favorite things to look at. I love looking at other people's work, and see how amazingly talented they are.
This was one of my favorite exhibits I got to see at the fair. It won a nice ribbon, too.
My friend wanted to visit the commercial building. I am not a big fan of that place. I go to the fair to look at stuff, not to buy it (unless it is to eat, while visiting the fair). It took a good hour of our time. She bought an over-priced curling iron.
We also looked at some animals, which as always, is fun. I saw baby turkeys for the first time! They look so cute, sleeping, but the photo I took makes them look dead. I assure you, they were not.
Baby turkeys sleeping. Shh... don't wake them up!
A regular-sized Blue Slate Turkey.
We also saw some baby piglets. The one below looks most like Wilbur from "Charlotte's Web" to me.
Wilbur? Where is Charlotte?
As well as some pretty dogs. I wanted to see cats, but I guess they are during the first week of the fair, and a sign was posted, saying, "Wait till next year!"
I bet these dogs are tired after the long day.
The entrance sign to Luminasia.
My favorite part of the fair, which is EXTREMELY popular is Luminasia! It is a beautiful area covered by several over-sized lanterns, showing icons of Seattle and China. The exhibit is outside, so you have to wait until it is dark to get the full effect. It was a little difficult to find the place, too, the fair being so big and crowded, but eventually we made it in. It was totally worth it. My photos do not do the place justice. It also makes it difficult when every time you line up a shot, someone walks in front of you. I had a wolf lantern in a perfect camera shot, only to find when I got home, someone was taking a photo with a cell-phone and their hand and cell are in that shot. I had to crop it to make it look nice, but it isn't the full effect I was going for. Thanks, cell-phone person! Anyway, it is pretty spectacular to see. Maybe just go and enjoy it for what it is. Leave the camera at home.
A beautiful wolf lantern, under an apple tree lantern.
The (Puyallup) Washington State Fair goes until the end of this week, so you still have a chance to see some cool exhibits, eat a foot-long corn dog, see the lantern exhibit, or just go and buy stuff! I am tempted to go back before it ends. We shall see.
Breath-taking lanterns, near, and on the water.
