By Polly Keary, Editor
A new event has been planned for the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in late April, to include a carnival, a beer garden, a barbecue competition and live music.
The event, called the Evergreen State Spring Festival, is intended to be more oriented to activities and fun than other events that have been held at the fairgrounds in the spring in recent years, which have been primarily trade shows for the recreation industry.
The expo events, which were held for the last three years, were not as successful as the fair had hoped because they coincided with the opening weekend of fishing and because they were not able to schedule them earlier in the year.
The new event will simply be a weekend of fun.
"We will have the carnival, like we do at the fair," said Troy Kliene, marketing director at the fairgrounds. "There will be food and commercial vendors, like we have at the fair."
The event will feature the return of the Washington State Spring BBQ Championship, which last year drew nearly 40 barbecue teams from around the state to kick off the competition season.
The purse is up to $5,000 this year from $3,500 last year, and this year visitors will be able to sample the work of the pit masters.
The two-day event will also include a beer garden featuring local craft beers, as well as live music all day, probably in the new events center at the fairgrounds.
And one unusual feature of the festival will be a root beer garden where those either too young or not inclined to drink alcohol can get a snack or a drink and listen to music.
The fair is still accepting applications for vendors.
"This might be a good opportunity for Sky Valley businesses to promote themselves," said Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Copple.
The event will be free, although parking will be paid.
The Spring Festival will take place Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The carnival will open at 11 a.m. both days, and will also be open Friday, April 26, from 4-10 p.m.
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