Enumclaw agrees to run King County Fair at least one more year

The state's oldest fair will open its gates again this summer.

Thursday, the city of Enumclaw agreed to run the 146-year-old King County Fair for one more year — using about $311,000 in county funds, roughly the county's annual subsidy for the fair.

The agreement, which still must be approved by the Metropolitan King County Council, moved the county a bit closer to getting out of the fair business, which King County Executive Ron Sims has wanted.

Declining attendance and the county budget, which must be cut by $93 million in November, prompted the county to consider shutting down the fair.

The fair bills itself as the oldest county fair west of the Mississippi and ran through the Civil War and World War I and II.

While the council is now agreeing to restore the fair funding to the 2008 level for one more year, it also has called for a joint task force from the county and city to look at a long-term solution.

Enumclaw took over the property where the fair is held several years ago, but the county continued fair operations. The event is a folksy summer affair known for its 4-H exhibits, logging events, racing pigs and magic shows.

"The city is interested and capable of running major events like the fair," said City Administrator Mark Bauer. "But it becomes a question of funding."

Should the city take over the fair entirely, it could not afford to lose money and would likely still need some sort of subsidy, he said.

Fairs traditionally are either privately operated or have some sort of public funding.

Bauer said Enumclaw is interested in developing an equestrian center at the fairgrounds, but a study indicated that it would be used only 50 percent of the time. Other uses for the fairgrounds would have to be found to fill the remaining time, he said.

The County Council is expected to take action on the plan in February.

Nancy Bartley: 206-464-8522 or nbartley@seattletimes.com