The Northwest Washington Fair Wraps Up Another Successful Year with Animals, Fair Food, Entertainment, and More

LYNDEN, WASHINGTON – The Northwest Washington Fair once again wrapped up a successful 10-day run from August 13-22, 2026. With ideal weather throughout the Fair, Whatcom County residents and visitors from near and far came together to enjoy all-star entertainment, Fair food, adorable animals, carnival rides, shopping, community connections, and so much more. From the employees and volunteers who worked behind the scenes to the exhibitors, vendors, sponsors, performers, and fairgoers who filled the grounds, this year’s Fair was a true celebration of the community and another memorable year of Fair fun.

On August 13 at 11:17 AM, just minutes after the Fair opened, Marv and Linda Tjoelker’s
donkey, Jelly, gave birth at the Fair. This adorable baby quickly captivated the hearts of fairgoers
and social media followers alike, and the naming process ultimately became a Fair affair. After
thousands of in-person submissions and hundreds of comments on social media, Lucy was the
agreed-upon name, lovingly named after Lucy Shagren, who frequently visited the donkey and
her baby. Jelly and Lucy easily became some of the biggest stars of this year’s Fair.

Speaking of stars, the exhibitors brought their A-game. Record-breaking numbers of livestock
and still life exhibits lined the barns of this year’s Fair, ranging from 4-H, FFA, and Open Class.
Each day’s schedule was packed full of demonstrations and shows, giving exhibitors the chance
to show off the skills they had been preparing for. The Livestock Exhibit and FFA Competitive
Exhibits & Shows are sponsored by EPL Feed. The 4-H Competitive Exhibits & Shows are
sponsored by Scholten’s Equipment Inc. The Open Class Competitive Exhibits & Shows are
sponsored by Exact Scientific Services.

Free and reduced gate admission days continued to generate positive participation. Seven days
provided fairgoers the opportunity to save on gate admission, with some of those providing ways
to give back to the community.

Community Education Day returned for its second year on Thursday, August 13. This gave all
Whatcom County public, private, and tribal school employees complimentary gate admission,
while general fairgoers had the opportunity to donate items from a Back-to-School Essentials list
in return for free admission. Donations more than doubled from last year and will be distributed
by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County. Made possible by Trucordia.

Food Drive Friday was on August 14. Guests who donated four non-perishable food items
received free gate admission. Again, fairgoers outdid themselves with donations, which will
benefit the Whatcom County Food Bank Network. Made possible by Brown & Brown.
The additional Free and Reduced Gate Admission Days also saw a massive turnout. Those
included:

• Worship at the Fair/Free Morning Admission on August 16, which gave everyone
free admission from 9 AM – 11 AM, allowing fairgoers to attend Worship at the Fair or
start their day enjoying Fair activities. Free morning admission made possible by Peoples
Bank.
• First Responders Day on August 17, which gave all law enforcement officers, EMTs,
and firefighters complimentary gate admission, along with their spouse and children.
Made possible by Puget Sound Energy.
• Military Appreciation Day on August 18, which gave all active duty, retired, and
veteran military personnel complimentary gate admission, along with their spouse and
children. Made possible by Victory Legal Services PLLC.
• Kids Day on August 19, which gave all children 12 and under complimentary gate
admission. Made possible by WRS.
• Western Washington University Day on August 20, which gave WWU students,
alumni, faculty, and staff $2 off gate admission.

Plenty of Fair food was also devoured. Iconic favorites like the Moo-Wich from the Whatcom
County Dairy Women and poffertjes from the Lynden Dutch Bakery satisfied many fairgoers.
New vendors also made their appearance. Local bistro, Graze and Gather, set up shop in the
WECU Expo Building complete with a special menu for the 10-day event. Dirties Soda Pop
Shop also made its debut, offering a massive array of soda and flavor combinations. These were
just a few of the delicious food vendors featured at this year’s Fair.

The Fair Food Value Menu also made a return, offering fairgoers food options that were $10 or
less. 12 vendors participated, and 18 food items were listed, providing budget-friendly options
for everyone.

Each evening, the Bank of the Pacific Grandstand Entertainment Series ended the night with an
incredible live show, six of which were SOLD OUT. August 13 and 14 brought the crashing
vehicles of the Demolition Derby in the Scholten’s Equipment Arena, presented by Manna
Insurance Group. On August 15, legendary rock band Stone Temple Pilots sold out the
grandstands, presented by The Inn at Lynden and Rübus Events + Gatherings. August 16, Maoli
brought his unique blend of island-reggae and country-soul, presented by Moku’āina A
Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club.

The second half brought with it just as much excitement. The Lynden PRCA Rodeo rolled into
the Scholten’s Equipment Arena on August 17 and 18, bringing with it some of the biggest
names in pro-rodeo and featuring a tribute to America’s 250th anniversary. The Lynden PRCA
Rodeo is presented by Northwest Ford Dealers. Christian artist TobyMac had the grandstands
filled on August 19, presented by Manna Insurance Group. Then, hip-hop legends Ja Rule and
Fat Joe took the stage on August 20, presented by Rhema Electric LLC. Multi-Platinum-selling
country artist Brantley Gilbert kicked off the weekend on August 21, presented by Manna
Insurance Group. Finally, CRUSH: The Bon Jovi Concert Experience and Hell’s Belles wrapped
up the series on August 22, presented by Chad Chambers Auto Sales and HomeSmart One
Realty.

It wasn’t just the big stage that brought the heat. The small stages located around the fairgrounds
had entertainment that was adored by visitors of all ages. The All American High Dive show
featured daring acts on the Ziply Fiber Action Stage, while The Flying Royals brought grace and
precision to the sky with their unique trapeze act on the Silver Reef Casino Resort Stage. The All
Creatures Barnyard Races in The Barnyard, and The Barnyard itself, gave fairgoers an up-close
look at the adorable barnyard animals people know and love. The Barnyard was presented by
Everson Farm & Hardware.

The Grandstand Horse Show also amazed fairgoers. Majestic draft horse hitches, remarkable
riding by the Nooksack Valley Riders, and impressive trick riding by Ruia Merritt, daughter of
renowned rodeo entertainer Matt Merritt, had fans engaged from beginning to end. Presented by
Northwest Propane.

The Banner Bank Festival Stage also featured a stacked lineup. Fan-favorite hypnotist Tammy
Harris Barton featured her mesmerizing act, and the talented B2Wins returned to adoring fans,
amongst many other acts. Also featured on this stage was an exclusive performance by Los
Armados and Aporto Versado on Saturday, August 22, presented by Everson Farm & Hardware.
The iconic Clock Tower transformed into a lively demonstration as well. The Alta Gas | ALA
Energy Clock Tower Stage featured unique performances at 4 PM daily, from the dance
presentations of Danza Latina to a touching Military Tribute. This offered fairgoers even more
entertainment that was free with gate admission.

Also introduced this year were bag checks. This new change in policy was positively received by fairgoers and is part of the Fair’s ongoing efforts to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all who attend.

The Northwest Washington Fair would like to extend its deepest gratitude to everyone who helped make this year’s Fair possible. The continued support is what makes the Fair a beloved Whatcom County tradition and a celebration of the community year after year. The Northwest Washington Fair will return August 12-21, 2027, and organizers look forward to welcoming fairgoers back for another 10 days of summer fun.

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