| |
Nuts and bolts about this year’s fair including new
events.
By Chris Fitzgerald
KP News
The 2007 Key Peninsula Fair
features a new layout providing better access to some
displays that seem to have been missed by some
fair-goers last year. Although some events and exhibits
take place behind the metro parks office and concession
stand, they will all be on the ball-field level this
year, rather than down below by the horseshoe pits.
The Davis-Cascadia Carnival Co. is
back with twice as many rides as last year, ready to
literally “lift the spirits” of riders laughing with
delight. The midway will be loaded with games and
prizes, challenging eagle-eyed players.
No cause for alarm if a giant bunch
of grapes or a banana ambles up to ask for directions to
the bathroom — don’t scan frantically for security.
Those are no “nuts” — they are the Tacoma-Pierce County
Health Department “Strolling Fruits.” The folks in these
juicy (non-edible) costumes will be promoting healthy
lifestyles, handing out information, answering questions
— as only apples can...
Bingo in the beer garden is gone
this year; however, this popular spot will be anything
but dull. In a ride category all by itself, and snorting
mean intentions next to the garden, a mechanical bull
waits to test the mettle of any cowhand. Listen to live
music until midnight, played throughout the weekend at
the beer garden, while watching friends and neighbors
attempt to transform themselves into bull-riders, or at
least stay upright for the entire buck-and-pitch ride.
Antique tractors will be on display
individually, monuments to a bygone time, at various
locations throughout the fairgrounds. This year, they
have been retired and “the big kids” will not compete in
a tractor pull, in favor of a different kind of tractor
event featuring children. The midway will be open until
midnight both Friday and Saturday nights this year. Food
and retail vendors are also extending their hours for
late-evening fair-goers with empty stomachs and dollars
left to spend.
Not returning this year is the kids
‘n’ pets costume event; fair-goers are welcome to bring
their well-behaved pets to the fair on a leash.
Strolling the fairgrounds from the
first minute of opening day Thursday evening through
Monday morning, volunteers coordinated under the
auspices of Rick Lingle, a “Citizens’ Against Crime”
fair board member, will be the eyes and ears of
fair-goers and vendors. These folks, working in two to
four-partner teams on four-hour shifts straight through
the week-end, wear orange shirts that say “Security,”
and carry two-way emergency radios. Anyone requiring
help or having a security-related concern need only look
for one of these people for immediate assistance.
Additionally, a team from Blue Knights, a professional
security company, will also be onsite. And at the
entrance to the fair, Fire District 16 is represented
throughout the weekend — ready to respond, as always,
should need arise.
Parking remains the same as last
year. Attendees can choose to pay a minimal fee to park
close behind the fairgrounds, or park free at the
adjacent KPMS parking lot.
Teen get their own special night and fun events this
year—karaoke, art showcases, food eating contests and
more!
By Chris Fitzgerald, KP News
Teens rock Thursday, July 12, at a
“pre-Key Peninsula Fair” night created by and for kids.
The evening’s logo, a black block-letter “T”
kitty-corner in a white box, is a hip take-off on the
Hollywood rating system: “Rated ‘T’ for Teen.” Kim Bauer
of the Children’s Home Society went to Peninsula High
School and assembled a “teen think tank” of four
students — Ryan Linbom, Savana Oberts, Kristina Lee, and
Amanda Morrow, who suggested many of the evening’s fun
events. Thanks to the “think tank,” for instance, a
karaoke company will be blasting the main stage with
some 2,000 song selections, and all teens are welcome to
explore their star potential.
Also in the offing since mid-May,
contests limited to middle and high school student
artists will showcase local talent. Two winners (one
each from grades 6-8 and 9-12) from each of three
categories will be chosen. The categories and their
topics are video (“A day in the life…”), photography
(“My world”), and sketching/painting (“Hero”). Entries
will be on display during the fair weekend, and video
entries will be shown on Teen Night.
In addition to the art contests,
teens can compete in another favorite frenzied contest —
food-eating. Could be pizza, or hot dogs, or some other
sloppy, gooey offering. Contestants for the pig-out are
first come, first signed, at the time of the event.
Thursday’s teens will be the first to check out
exhibits, play games on the midway, take in the rides,
and will also be able to participate in old-fashioned
field-style events such as potato-sack and three-legged
racing. And new this year, a mechanical bull tempts
adventurous cowboys/cowgirls to a bucking good time —
yeeha!
Admission is free Thursday night;
fair hours are from 6 to 10 p.m. with free karaoke
continuing all through the evening, culminating in an
elimination round of “best” performances (voted by teen
peers) for prizes. If a savvy kid gets ride tickets
beforehand at one of the spots around town, even those
are discounted — leaving more resources for another teen
favorite — fair food. Of course, parents and families
are welcome, but hey — this is Teen Night, dude…
Just for younger
kids
Sherman Family Farm, sponsors of the petting
zoo, offers a new interactive Agrivision
children’s exhibit this year called “Show
what you can grow,” for ages 1 to 13. Kris
Sherman hopes to encourage children’s
interest in gardening by giving them an
opportunity to show off some of their
favorite plants. This event is for “children
too young for teen night on Thursday,” says
Sherman, chairperson. “They can bring
fruits, vegetables or flowers that they grew
to show.” The exhibit will change daily
because “entries are accepted every fair
morning at 10 a.m.,” Sherman says. “All
children (no form required; no fee) will
receive a certificate of participation, and
a photograph of themselves with their entry.
Bring a daisy, green beans or a cherry.” For
information contact Kris Sherman at
884-4097. |
A new contest calls out for wine makers to showcase
their talents.
By Danna Webster, KP News
The Agrivision program recognizes
the age-old art of wine-making at the KP fair this year.
It is no secret that Trillium Creek Winery has become a
popular destination point for the Home community, but
the whereabouts of all the amateur wine-makers on the
Key Peninsula is a secret. “I want to know as many of
the wine-makers as I can,” says Mike Salatino, chair of
the amateur wine-makers Agrivision committee. Salatino
is hoping for as many as a 100 contestants. He wants to
give amateur wine-makers “an understanding that they are
not alone as ‘winers’ out there. We don’t have any
organized group,” he says. This is the chance to “show
off their work; put their product out there, and test
it, and hopefully get a ribbon.”
This is a free event for
contestants, with all expenses paid by the sponsors: The
Farm, Trillium Creek Winery, and the Puget Sound Amateur
Beer and Wine Club. The owners of The Farm, Salatino,
and Trillium Creek, Claude Gahard, will not participate
in the competition. The PSABWC will provide judges
using a numerical standard for evaluation. It will not
be a contest of one wine-maker against another. There
will be first, second and third place awards for each
variety of wine and one “Best of Show” award.
“Dandelion, rhubarb, berries — we want them all to
enter. Anybody who can find an application and get it
back to us,” Salatino says.
The wine-makers must bring two
bottles of the variety to be judged and can enter many
varieties. One bottle should be a presentation bottle
with an attractive label. The second bottle of the same
variety does not need a label and will be identified by
a number for the judging.
An application form must be filled
out and turned into the committee prior to the Fair. The
deadline for KP residents is July 7 and for
non-residents is July 3. Application forms are available
at Sunnycrest Nursery in Key Center and Trillium Creek
Winery in Home (253-884-5746).
Wine entries should be brought to
the fair between 7:30 and 10 a.m. on Friday morning,
July 13. After the judging, the wines and their ribbons
will be on exhibit throughout the weekend. The exhibit
booth will inform visitors about the state of the art of
viniculture and wine-making around the Key Peninsula.
Also on site will be a wine-making display, which will
include a cloned vine, a year-old plant, a grape
presser, and a grape crusher. A simple primer on
wine-making steps will be available as a handout.
“It’s a little education program
for amateur wine-makers. If it works good, we’ll expand
it for next year,” Salatino says.
©Copyright 2005-2008, Key Peninsula
News, all rights reserved.
|
|
