Ten years ago today, psychotic Islamic extremists flew hijacked jets into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, killing roughly 3,000 people. This will always be horrible. But if you do not enjoy your life on September 11, the terrorists have won. The huge, annual Puyallup Fair is an amazing place to enjoy life. There is something for everyone, from animal lovers (4-H livestock exhibits!) to thrill-seekers (the flash-plummeting Extreme Scream!) to music fans (the Flaming Lips! Miranda Lambert! “Weird” Al Yankovic!). Also, deep-fried Twinkies and those crazy blocks of french fries. Go. (Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave SW, Puyallup, www.thefair.com, 10 am–10 pm, $11)
David Schmader—former weed columnist and Stranger associate editor—is the author of the solo plays Straight and Letter to Axl, which he’s performed in Seattle and across the US. His latest... More by David Schmader
seriously, The Stranger wants us to do the Puyallup? Wow, Seattle really doesn’t have an alternative weekly.
Aw come on. The latest arms escalation of the Cold War in Fried Things, onion burgers, fancy chickens, rides operated by dubious looking carnies, some great people watchin’, AND Weird Al? Fun on a bun!
Put down your morning-tini, don your hipster shades, and get your butts off Cap Hill!
I can never explain to you the sheer disappointment at the realization a few years back that the puyallup fair is DRY!!!!! As wonderful, relaxed and progressive as WA can be, I’m glad to be back in CA where I can drink at my county fair like a grown up.
Scones!
I’m with @1. We just don’t “do'” the Puyallup. I tried once when I was 16. Some corn-fed husker called me a fag. And you have to pay for each ride. Fuck it. I’ll bike around the city and drink whiskey like the caricature I am.
shoot… if i wadn’t here at work, i’d do all up in the puyallup..yummm… 4h’ers and demolays in they ripped flannels tending their prize winning sows with that yearning searching look in their farm weary eyes. and me in my summer bright yellow headwrap and hoop earring, macklemore in my earbuds, and a flask of tequila ready to spice up that mountain dew they be drinkin…
… shoot…
I grew up near The Fair, I don’t know if it was a state wide thing, but I remember getting 1 free admission ticket AND a half day off school to make sure we had time to go to The Fair. Went every year from ages 0-18 and it was fantastic.
But now bracelet days are only on certain days? WFT?
I went last year after sitting things out for a few, everything was still set up in the same locations as I remember from when I was a kid. I’m glad I got to enjoy it as a child.
My friends went yesterday, they didn’t grow up ’round here. They brought back a shit ton of scones. I am going to make scone ice cream.
1: Not only do we encourage you to do the Puyallup, a small cadre of Stranger employees actually followed our own advice and went and it was AWESOME. HOBBY HALL!!!!!