Sept. 9, 2009 For more information contact:
For Immediate Release Greg Stewart @ 248-7160
CENTRAL WASHINGTON STATE FAIR SET TO OPEN SEPTEMBER 25TH IN YAKIMA
Set on the beautiful grounds of the original State Fair of Washington, the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima is gearing up for 116th version of the annual 10 day event when it opens on September 25th.
Over 300,000 visitors from all over the Northwest come to Yakima in late September to enjoy the perfect Indian Summer weather and take in what has become the single largest family entertainment event in Eastern Washington. With all kinds of free entertainment, great food, a carnival and several historic buildings filled with everything from apples to quilts, the Fair offers something for everyone of every age.
The free entertainment line-up at this year’s Fair offers a real variety from country to blues to punk Christian rock. Plus, there will be rodeo, dirt track sprint car racing action, and a whole lot more.
This year’s line-up includes an unprecedented schedule that highlights entertainment on the Budweiser Stage at South Park on nine of the ten days of the Fair. Some of those scheduled to appear at this year’s Fair include REO Speedwagon, Phil Vassar, Boyz II Men and more.
“We’ve had some great comments on our entertainment line-up this year,” said Fair president and general manager Greg Stewart. “We spent a little more money and now have something on the Budweiser Stage almost every day. It is a line-up that we think offers something for everyone.”
On opening Friday, up and comer in the country music world, Jamie Lee Thurston will perform on the Budweiser Stage. His concert will be at 7:30 on September 25th.
On the first Saturday of the Fair, September 26, country star Phil Vassar will be performing. With a number of top 5 hits including “Just Another Day in Paradise” and “Love is a Beautiful Thing”, Vasser will perform at the Budweiser Stage at 7:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, September 29, well known country singer Billy Ray Cyrus will perform at the Fair. Cyrus will be performing his famous “Achy Breaky Heart” along with many other songs he has recorded
over the years.
Then, on Wednesday, September 30 the Grammy Award winning pop group Boyz II Men will be performing on the Budweiser Stage. The popular 90’s group will be singing hits like “Motownphilly” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” among others at 7 p.m.
Rock band REO Speedwagon, will be at the Fair performing on Thursday, October 1 at the Fair. With a number of number one hits to their credit like “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Keep On Loving You,” among others, REO Speedwagon will play at 7 p.m.
Blues artists Curtis Salgado, with special guest Too Slim and the Taildraggers will perform at the Fair on Friday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m. Last year the Fair presented a “blues night” and it was a huge success. Salgado, well known Northwest blues musician performed last year to a near capacity crowd, and this year he will be joined by Tim “Too Slim” Langford, and his band “the Taildraggers.”
On the final Saturday, the Fair will present Little River Band. The 1980’s pop band from Australia had top ten singles in the US for six consecutive years. Among those hits are “Lady” and “Reminiscing.” Little River Band will perform at the Fair on Saturday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m.
On the final Sunday, the Fair features two big names from the Latino music world. Performing in one big show beginning at 4 p.m. singers Laura Flores and Sergio Goyri will perform
At the Coca Cola Grandstand, motor sports, a Mexican music festival, rodeo and a demolition derby will be back and entertaining fairgoers during the Fair. On the opening Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26, the American Sprint Car Northwest Regionals will hit the dirt for some wild racing action on the clay racing oval at the Fair Grandstand. Racing action will begin at 6:00 each evening.
Then, on opening Sunday, September 27, the Gran Festival will be the featured entertainment at the Coca Cola Grandstand. This year’s show will feature music from Mexican singers and bands including Yolando Del Rio, Vennus, Los Hermanos Gonzales and more, beginning at 2 p.m.
The Pro West Finals Rodeo takes over the Grandstand arena on Friday, October 2 at 7:00 and Saturday October 3 at 2 p.m. This is the second year in a row that the Pro West Finals will be held during the Fair. The Finals will again attract the top 10 pro cowboys and cowgirls in each of the rodeo events from all over the Northwest to compete
On the final Sunday of the Fair, October 4, the grandstand will be the venue for the always- popular Demolition Derby, with all the car-crashing action starting at 2 p.m.
As it is at the Budweiser Stage, the Grandstand shows are all free with Fair admission.
A number of new free attractions will be featured at this year’s Central Washington State Fair including one building full of candy. Called Candy Nation, this will be the largest candy exhibit in all of the Northwest and will show how different candies are made. The exhibit will also show the history of candy and will allow fairgoers to sample different kinds of candies from Sees, Jelly Belly, Pez, Wrigley and more.
Other new attractions to the Fair this year include Walking with Lions—an exhibit that features a number of live lions, including one rare white lion, and Hunters of the Sky—a live show featuring a number of different birds of prey.
Admission prices for this year’s Fair are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors (65 plus) and $7 for youths aged 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are free.
For more information on the Central Washington State Fair, the entertainment line-up and other attractions, go to the Fair’s website at www.fairfun.com. Or call, 509-248-7160.
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