The Jefferson County Fair seems to be on a year-to-year upswing, and its festivities from Aug. 9-11 even attracted at least one notably unexpected guest.
“We had a …
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The Jefferson County Fair seems to be on a year-to-year upswing, and its festivities from Aug. 9-11 even attracted at least one notably unexpected guest.
“We had a great fair this year!” Fair Assistant Alissa Gubelman said. “We don’t have exact numbers yet, but overall fair attendance and ticket sales were up from last year.”
According to Gubelman, the Jefferson County Fair drew around 70 vendors, which was also up from last year.
“But the most impressive numbers so far are the entry numbers,” Gubelnan said. “We had approximately 2,000 open entries in 2023, and this year, we had around 2,500.”
Gubelman added that the entries for 4-H also increased, from 549 in 2023 to an estimated 829 this year.
“There was amazing feedback from attendees about the entertainment, exhibits and atmosphere this year,” Gubelman said.
Gubelman said that the Jefferson County Fair’s Premier Exhibitors this year, in both its Floral and its Agricultural departments, were Neil Howe and Isabel Dubois, of the Salish Coast Garden in the Port Townsend School District.
“They are also our overall Premier Exhibitor, with a total of 150 entries,” Gubelman said. Premier exhibitors are those with the most number of entries in a given category. “Our Premier Exhibitor in the Home Arts department was Theresa Chedoen, with 46 entries, while Johanna Perkins completed the ‘Daring 15’ challenge, which requires entering in 15 separate categories.”
There was apparently enough commotion on the Jefferson County Fairgrounds that weekend to draw notice from a farm just down the road, near North Beach, where one resident decided to attend on the spur of the moment.
“We had a little surprise Sunday morning, when a friendly mule decided to take an early morning stroll around the fairgrounds, before the gates even opened!” Gubelman said. “Our amazing 4-H participants were quick on their feet, and safely guided our unexpected guest into a comfy stall.”
Fair organizers posted the mule’s photo online, and “thanks to the power of the community,” the mule was identified as “Ranger,” and his owners came to pick him up within the hour.
“This sweet mule quickly became the star of the morning, charming everyone with his gentle and friendly nature,” Gubelman said. “We all loved giving him a little pet, and saying hello. It’s little moments like these that make fair memories so special!”
