Summer’s Best Party will kick off Friday

The Clark County Fair is going to be blinded by science.

When “Summer’s Best Party,” kicks off Friday for the 148th year, it will include all the usual favorites, as well as all-new, interactive displays in the Fun Science Experience.

Jason Greeley-Roberts, the builder of the displays, grew up at OMSI, where his father built museum displays and his mother taught classes.

“All the grand experiments I grew up with will now be available once again for people to enjoy,” he said.

Traditional standbys such as carnival rides, the midway, animals, fair food and exhibits will also be plentiful.

Two of the returning favorites include Dock Dogs and the Racing Pigs.

“It’s been a few years since we’ve had both at the fair, and people just love watching the dogs leap off the deck into the pool for their long distance competition,” said Jim Beriault, Clark County Fair public relations manager. “Those little porkers are back, racing around the mini-track and to the cheer of the crowds watching.”

He added, “We will of course have all the standards that everyone expects, like carnival rides, fair food, great grandstand entertainment, concerts and Monster Trucks.”

The fair will open at 8 a.m. Friday. A free Fred Meyer pancake breakfast will be served until 11 a.m., with free entry until noon. Vouchers must be obtained beforehand at area Fred Meyer stores, while supplies last.

Beriault described the Fun Science Experience as a feature designed and built from the ground up.

“It features experiments, stage shows, imaginative and mind bending puzzles, and of course plenty of noise and fun for the whole family,” he said.

Another new feature is Cowboy BootCamp.

“Kids can dress up, enter the miniature town, learn to rope, pan for gold, try out a game of horseshoes and so much more,” Beriault said. “One of our newest strolling acts is Vikki Gasko Green, a ventriloquist based right here in Washington. She has been entertaining live audiences with singing, dancing and acting since the age of 5 and is an award-winning ventriloquist. We are so excited to have her on board.”

This year’s musical acts will feature groups ranging from Queensryche to Trace Adkins.

“Every year, we strive to get a wonderful mix of entertainment from classic rock to boot-kicking country, and this year we have some really great fan favorites,” Beriault said.

In addition to the performers mentioned above, musical acts include Los Lonely Boys, Foghat and Chris Janson, all at the grandstands. People can buy VIP tickets for rows up front, or sit for free in the grandstands.

“Either way, we will have some great nights of music ahead,” Beriault said.

Motorsports at the Excavator Rental Service Free Grandstand and the Comcast Kids Park will round out the action with activities and contests, plus The Columbian Community Stage will feature free, round-the-clock entertainment.

Some of the grandstand entertainment will include Mutton Bustin’, bull riding, Moto X Thrills, the demolition derby, Tuff Trucks and Monster Trucks.

On the community stage, watermelon, hot dog, pie and cheeseburger eating contests will be held.

FairCon, described as a pop culture experience, will also return with video game tournaments, cosplay contests and Magic: The Gathering card game.

Beriault suggests that those who want to save money on parking and avoid dealing with traffic, take C-Tran.

“There are several transfer points, and we have package holding services, courtesy of People’s Community Credit Union, in the front of the main exhibition hall,” he said. “Lastly, remember to plan for sun and hot weather. The Clark County Fair website is a great resource for schedules, events, stage shows and more, so we always encourage people to visit it and plan out their day accordingly.”