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Recreation
Both Spring and Fall Versions of Puyallup Fair Delights Visitors
Sharing once-in-a-lifetime memories with someone special makes the Puyallup Fair a favorite for all ages.
Got a desperate need to see pigs race? Then don’t miss the spring version of the Puyallup Fair‚ set for April 17-20‚ 2008.
Begun in 1990 as a shortened version of September’s Puyallup Fair‚ the Spring Fair in Puyallup now draws close to 100‚000 people. Its condensed timetable doesn’t allow for all the activities of the larger event‚ but it does have its own special flair‚ says Karen LaFlamme‚ spokesperson for the fairs.
“At that time of year people are tired of being in the house; springtime has come‚” LaFlamme says. “Plus you’ve got lots of baby animals at that time of year‚ so we’re able to have a junior livestock show. We used those excuses and a few more to start the event‚ plus we’ve got the pig races. They’re extremely popular‚ and we don’t have them at the regular fair.”
Plenty does happen at the main event‚ however – enough to draw 1.1 million guests in 2006. And the fairgrounds’ new 122‚000-square-foot ShowPlex Exhibition Center is bringing people in throughout the rest of the year. Since it opened in 2005‚ the bookings have been climbing steadily‚ LaFlamme says.
“The response we’ve received has been phenomenal‚ and we’re renting the facility for a variety of different trade shows‚ events and activities‚” LaFlamme says. “The promoters absolutely love it‚ in that it’s all one level and very high-tech. Everyone says it’s very easy to work with‚ so it’s meeting the needs of a lot of groups and organizations.”
The venue can seat up to 3‚700 people in its various configurations and already is being utilized for conferences‚ music and other performance events‚ seminars and private functions. ShowPlex hosted 133 non-fair events in 2006 over 232 days‚ bringing in more than 500‚000 people to the grounds‚ LaFlamme says.
Story by Joe Morris
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