Island County Fair starts Thursday with homespun fun at its best. The fair’s roots are as deep as longtime South Whidbey family trees like that belonging to the Gabelein family.
Frank and Emmett Kramer are an example of this longstanding fair tradition. They haven’t missed a fair since 1934 and this year they are the parade’s grand marshals.
New also abounds at the fair. The fair’s food booths have received a revamping to make it more convenient for fairgoers to grub on burgers, corn dogs, Chinese food, Greek food, corn on the cob, pizza and other fair food faire.
Looking to be entertained? From local favorites to Grand Ole Opre stars, the music and dancing will keep your toes tapping and ears happy. Whidbey Children’s Theater will bring youthful fun to the Pole Building stage in their “Song of America.” And if music, song or dance isn’t your priority, there’s the acres of animals displayed proudly by our hard working Island County 4-H kids.
Things are getting rolling in the new log show area. Added this year is a log rolling competition in a newly dug pond. Competitors in this competition had better be good swimmers or good log rollers.
Be sure to stop by the vibrant display of greens at the living plant display by Island County Master Gardeners, Beach Watchers, Waste Wise Volunteers and the Noxious Weed Control program at WSU Extension booth.
Also, expect to be entertained and possibly compete in this year’s arm wrestling competition.
Guys and girls sweat it out in three weight categories: 150 pounds and under, 150-199 pounds and heavyweight. In addition, the unofficial challenge matches featured on the midway stage throughout the fair will bring an element of surprise to the sport or armwrestling.
“Last year we had a boyfriend and girlfriend challenge each other and he ended up proposing to her,” said fair emcee Jim Freeman said. “She ended up winning and saying yes.”
Obviously, this isn’t just a burly-man sport.
“You can’t judge strength by someone’s size,” Freeman said. “There’s a technique to it, and if they know that technique they can beat just about anybody.”
This years competition is dedicated to longtime competitor and South Whidbey resident who never lost a match, Steve Hull, who died this year.
Saturday is the most packed day of the fair with so many things your head will spin faster than if you were on the Gravitron.
All of the 4-H competitions get hot and heavy. Expect horse drills competitions, cooking contests, goat fitting and showing, and all sorts of critters getting into the action. Kids will have fun on the Fiddle Faddle Farm with dart tosses and cake decorating. The little ones can also have their try at mutton busting and greased pig grabbing.
There is also the parade, which starts at 10:15 a.m.
“It’s just about the best parade you’ll ever see. It’s so homey, and just as homespun as the Maxwelton parade only bigger,” Freeman said,
Apparently it’s addicting too. Freeman is videotaping the parade for a former Whidbey couple who recently moved to Spain and called Freeman because they were distraught over missing it.
Whidbey residents from Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, Langley, Clinton and everything in between will be in the parade.
Sure to please will be the bounding canines of all the dog groups, the ugly trucks, and all the fire trucks.
