‘Summer’s best party’ back for 151st year

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The Clark County Fair is finally here, running Aug. 2 – 12. 

This year, new events and old favorites will be featured in the grandstands and around the fairgrounds. According to Fair Manager and CEO Mickey Webb, not much is going away but many things are being added.  

One new event is the Brewfest at the fairgrounds, which will feature at least nine Clark County Breweries. Webb explained that since it’s the Clark County Fair, he felt it was important to only have local breweries represented in the Brewfest. 

Admission to the brewfest is $25 and includes entrance to the fair and eight sample tickets. “Along with that, we also have a fair-themed beer this year,” Webb said. “As you know, our ongoing motto is ‘we are summer’s best party’ so this is ‘Summer’s Best Lager.” 

54°40’ Brewing in Washougal as well as Trap Door and Loowit Brewing from Vancouver, teamed up to create this German-style pilsner for the beer garden and Brewfest this year. Webb later mentioned that the lager may go on sale off-site in select locations but the beer is primarily for the fair and goes on sale August 2 in the beer garden. 

While the Brewfest at the fair is only for two days, Aug. 6 and 7, the beer garden will be available outside of the grandstands all 10 days of the fair. According to Webb, tickets for the beer garden are currently presale only. You can purchase tickets for the fest at clarkcofair.com/brew-fest.html.

Other new events at the fair include the motorsports event “Moto Tuff Extreme,” which takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8. 

“We’ve changed the ‘high fly bikes’ into an enduro-style motorcycle race,” Webb said, explaining how the new event will be a obstacle-course style motorcycle competition. The Moto Tuff Extreme bikes will be doing qualifying rounds throughout the day Thursday starting at 1 p.m. with the main event taking place at 7 p.m.

The new event is American Motorcyclist Association sanctioned and the winner receives a $3,000 purse and will feature obstacles such as large tires, massive jumps and a mud pit. Admission to the event is free with admission to the fair. 

Fair Favorites such as Mutton Bustin’, Demolition Derby and Monster Trucks are sticking around this year. Webb explained that both weeks of the fair “bring out different people” because the first weekend is concerts and the second is motorsports. As for the first week of concerts, here is the lineup:



Musical Acts at the Grandstands 

Friday, August 2 - Carly Pearce featuring Matt Stell

Carly Pearce, a country singer from Nashville, Tennessee is hitting the grandstand stage first with accompanying country artist, Matt Stell. Pearce’s album, Every Little Thing, reached number 4 on the U.S. Country charts in 2017. Stell, a newer artist, released the song “Prayed for You” in January. 

Saturday, August 3 - KC and the Sunshine Band

KC and the Sunshine Band has been playing funky beats and shaking bootys since they were founded in 1973. With hits such as “That’s the Way (I Like It),” and “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty.” The band has 13 studio albums and has had five number one singles throughout its lifetime.

Sunday, August 4 - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has been playing country tunes since 1966 when they were founded in Long Beach, California. The band won the 1989 Country Music Association Awards “Album of the Year” for their album “Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two.” The group has also had four number one singles and topped the U.S. Bluegrass charts with their CD/DVD “Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Years.”

Monday, August 5 - Randy Houser

Randy Houser, a country music singer born in Lake, Mississippi is the last nighttime music act to hit the grandstands. He was nominated for the CMA Awards “Artist of the Year” in 2015. His song “Boots On” became his first top five hit in 2012. Prior to being his own artist, Houser co-wrote singles such as “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” by Trace Adkins.