LopezRocks - News and Views

SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. July 31, 2025 - The countdown has begun for this year’s San Juan County Fair! With the theme “Into the Future, True to Our Roots,” this year is an exciting blend of age-old favorites and new additions. This year’s food court welcomes back favorite fare alongside new nibbles and both stages showcase local talent and alongside fresh tunes. Head to the San Juan County Fair to celebrate all that makes the islands so special from Thursday, August 14 through Sunday, August 17.

Check Out the Food Court
Folks wait all year to taste what the San Juan County Fair is cooking up. This year’s menu will have you wanting to bring elastic pants! The food court includes classics like elephant ears, banh mi, and pies, as well as new favorites that will be serving up sushi, fresh squeezed lemonade, and more. There's something delicious for everyone in your group!

Enjoy a Wide Array of Music
Featuring a variety of musical styles including Country, Jazz, Soul, Funk, Rock, and Latin, Indie Pop sounds, and more -- the Fair ensures there is something for everyone to enjoy.

This year the mainstage will feature a local band each night in addition to touring artists. Look for San Juan Island’s Desolation Sound headlining Thursday night, the San Juan Jazz Experiment on Friday, MUDBATH! on Saturday, and Orcas Island’s Lilo Sanchez and The Small Things on Sunday night. The party on Sunday evening will start with the iconic Trashion Fashion Show and finish with an evening of Latin artists sure to get you out of your seat and dancing into the new week!

The Community Stage has a long-standing tradition of highlighting the talent the islands have to offer - and this year is no different. Artists from across the county will grace our stage alongside a juggler, community movies, and BINGO.

What’s New?
This year, the Fair is introducing two new offerings to help make everyone feel more welcome: a “calm down” tent and a “sensory-friendly” morning. By decreasing sounds, motion, or lights to create a calmer environment, this programming can help provide an environment for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or sensory processing disorder to join in on all the fair fun!
The Calm Down Tent will provide a quiet space for those seeking to escape the sensory overload of Fair throughout the week. It is located between the Food Court and the Jr. Arts & Crafts department and will be staffed and available from 10:30am to 8:30pm daily. Inside, visitors will have access to a comfortable space to sit or lie down, complete with fidgets, stuffies to snuggle, headphones, and handheld fans. A limited number of headphones will be available to check out and use around the grounds as well.

In addition, the Parks & Fair Department is introducing a Sensory Friendly Morning on Sunday, August 17th from 8am to 10:30am. During this time the Fair will invite visitors to enjoy the Fair free from sensory overload. This offering is for any fairgoer who finds the bright lights and loud noises overwhelming, but who still wishes to take in all the exhibits and visit the animal barns.

Get Your Exhibits In!
It’s not a Fair without YOU! Show off what you’ve been working on this year by entering an exhibit in the Fair! This year, it’s easier than ever to participate because for the first time, Fair staff will be on Shaw, Lopez, and Orcas Islands to pick-up non-perishable entries and transport them to the Fair. This means if you live on these ferry-served islands, we’ll save you the drop-off and pick-up trips to San Juan Island!
OFF-ISLAND PICK-UP & DROP-OFF DETAILS
•Pick-Up: Saturday, August 9th, 10:00AM - 6:00PM
•Locations:
oLopez Island Grange (452 Richardson Rd.)
oOrcas Island Grange (3252 Orcas Rd)
oShaw County Park Office (218 Shaw Park Rd)
•Drop-off up day will be Saturday, August 23 at the same places and times.
In addition, online entry continues to save exhibitors time on Entry Days. Simply create your account and register your item ahead of time through Fair Entry (https://fairentry.com/Fair/SignIn/20138), show up with your item on entry day, pick-up your entry tags, and skip the paperwork altogether.
•Registration is open and available until August 11.
•Any entries not registered online will be accepted onsite from 9am to 6pm on Wednesday, August 13.
•Non-perishable entries will be accepted on Monday and Tuesday, August 11 and 12 from 3-6 pm.

If you pre-register your item by 11:59pm on Sunday, August 10, you will earn a raffle ticket to win a Fair-themed swag bag!

Contact: Amanda Smith, Events Coordinator (Parks & Fair Dept.), [email protected], 360-378-4310

About San Juan County’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Fair
San Juan County’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Fair oversees public parks on all four ferry-served islands, manages camping, and hosts the San Juan County Fair. The department offices are located at 849 Argyle Avenue, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Fair, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/430/Parks-Recreation-Fair.

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