Carnival & Fair News

Running September 19th through 28th, the Central Washington Fair had a 2025 theme designed to celebrate the Yakima Valley's strong dairy industry: “Cowabunga – It's Fair Time.” The event was held in Yakima's State Fair Park.

The fair fully embraced its dairy theme at the fair: there was the costumed cow mascot Mootilda, along with cow statues, a giant inflatable “Cash Cow,” and of course, cattle in the livestock stalls.

According to Kathy Kramer, the fair's CEO, there was a little bit of everything at the fair to keep attendees “moo-ving,” including the carnival by Butler Amusements, food vendors, and competitions such as apple pie, home brewed beer and wine, and salsa making. Also at the fair were exhibitions from quilts to photography, Legos to floriculture. And there were plenty of attractions throughout the fairgrounds as well, such as roaming stilt walkers, musical entertainment, and magicians.

Regular gate admission was priced at $14.50 for those ages 12 and up on weekdays, and $16 Friday-Sunday. Kids aged 6-12 paid $9.50, and seniors over 65 paid $11.50. Kids ages 5 and under were admitted free. The fair also offered discounts for military and first responders, priced at $9-$10.

Of course, there were special discounted days as well, with a $5 gate fee for everyone on the fair's opening Friday from noon to 4 p.m.; and on September 22nd, it was “Pay One Price” day with all fairgoers paying just $36 for both admission and carnival rides, sponsored by Franz Bread. On the 23rd it was senior and military appreciation day with gate admission for attendees in those categories priced at $9. Pet lovers received free admission on the 24th between 2, 5:00 p.m. with the donation of 3 new, unopened pet supplies. And on the 25th, between the hours of 2-5 p.m., gate admission was just $5, and $5 food bites were on offer as well.

Once inside the gates, the Sea Lion Splash delighted fairgoers, as did the draft horse barn, with its draft horses, mules, and miniature horses. There was also a Draft Horse Show presented in the fairgrounds arena daily. Brad's World Reptiles, and the Water's Extreme Journey Exhibit, were also among the attractions. Young fairgoers enjoyed Funville, which featured more than 500 jumpers, piñatas, the All Smiles Petting Zoo, coloring activities, and small animal races. There were also educational exhibits from Yakima Nation, the Asian Pacific Island Coalition, and Tieton Arts & Humanities among others.



Kramer described the fair as 80% tradition and 20% innovation, fitting for an event that began in 1892.

On the innovative side, the carnival brought a new ride to the fair this year, Free Fall, a 90-foot-tall drop tower. Butler Amusements' Dean Mcarter described the ride as creating intense G-forces during a drop that took place in a rapid 50-feet per second. Other popular rides included Typhoon, the Zipper, Ring of Fire, the YoYo, and not one, but two Ferris Wheels. Carnival ride wristbands cost $40 Monday-Thursday, and $45 Friday through Sunday.



The fair offered an impressive variety of food choices, including Winston's Fish n' Chips served in the traditional UK style with a side of curry. The vendor also gave guests a chance to try bread and butter pudding. Another new vendor, Salt Spring Concessions, served Korean corn dogs with crunchy panko batter, mozzarella cheese, and an all-beef hot dog.



Another new vendor was Western Delight Old-Fashioned soda, served in a chuckwagon-styled booth. The vendor served up organic sodas, including the Huckleberry Cream Soda, designed to represent the Yakima region, and a diet root beer sweetened with monk fruit.

And, fair attendees could sample a new craft beer, the Cowa-Bunga Beer, available only at the fair. Wine lovers could enjoy sips of the fair's featured winery, Rider Cellars, at the wine garden.

Classic food and beverage vendors also returned: Youngs Live barbecue sandwiches celebrated 50 years, and The Washington State Wool Growers' Auxiliary marked 100 years of selling a fair tradition of lamb burgers with special relish. Other classic eats were also popular: elephant ears, candy apples, and corn on the cob, deep-fried mega donuts, a giant blooming onion, deep-fried ravioli, and an appropriately named Moo-Wich giant ice cream sandwich were some of the examples. On Thursday the 25th, the fair offered a $5 food graze between 2 and 5 p.m., allowing fairgoers to taste many of the fair treats.

Live music and entertainment were plentiful as well this year, with music at four different fairgrounds venues, including The Cantina, The Gazebo, The Back Porch Beer Garden, and the Pacific Power Community Stage. Performers included hypnotist Michael Mezner, American Honey, the Junebugs, and Banda La Palmera.

Motocross excitement, the Fire, Quads & Thrills Show, Demolition Derby, Truck & Trailer Figure 8 Racing, and Motorhome Demo Derby wowed crowds at the Coca Cola Grandstand.



Livestock exhibits were also popular, including a swine barn with 30 adorable piglets, horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, goats, sheep, rabbits, and poultry. A dairy milking demo took place in the livestock area's Milking Parlor, while in The Farmers Garden, fairgoers could learn about the history of Yakima Valley dairy farming.

The fair is already planning for 2026, focusing on four major renovation projects on the fairgrounds, including $2.7 million RV campground makeover, and expansion of the RV park to include more than 100 additional RV spots, Kramer said. Attendance numbers were not yet in at press time, but are thought to be in the range of 300,000 visitors which was the case in 2024.