A Theme Makes the Fair Go Round

Polk County Fair 2010
Garden Club Exhibit

When I was a kid going to the Polk County Fair, it seemed like the entire fair was based on a theme. This theme would extend to the categories for submission. It would determine the displays from the garden clubs, the judging for flower arrangements and photography. A Whole Lotta Fun! A Family Affair! How the West was Fun! Being in the western U.S., the theme often had a pioneer or frontier bent. I never paid too much attention to the theme, as it never really changed the fair on the whole. There was still the same rides, the elephant ear booth,  the same pie flavors, the cookies to make, the 4-H aprons and quilts to see.

I recently wondered who decides on the theme every year. Is it a fair board? How do they think about it? Do they have several years planned out ahead of time. I contacted the folks at both The Clackamas County Fair and the Clark County Fair and found out that they have different ways to decide on a fair theme.

The Clark County Fair typically has a feature exhibit for their annual county fair, so they pick their theme based on this. For example, in 2006 the exhibit was on dinosaurs, so their theme was Jurassic Journey. In 2011 the exhibit was historical fire engines, so The Old Firehouse became the theme. And this past summer, the wild west was on display, so the theme was Summer's Best Goes West. Having a theme that ties into an exhibit is a great way to show off and promote the fair each year.

Clackamas County Fair 2012

The Clackams County Fair does it differently. They have a contest. This past summer the theme--Fair Sights,  Rodeo Nights, Midway Lights--was submitted by a family in Canby. The previous two years a family in Wilsonville won. According to Jennifer Sampson, the Clackamas County Event Center Administrative Assistant, "The theme contest is always exciting for us here in the office because you just never know what is going to be submitted."

If you are interested in submitting a theme for summer 2013's Clackamas County fair now is the time. Submissions will be accepted until October 31st! And you don't have to be a Clackamas County resident to submit your idea. At the end of November, the fair board will narrow all the submissions down to 3 to 10 finalists and the public will be able to vote for the winning theme online in the first two weeks of December. 

Just go to http://www.clackamas.us/fair/theme.html.

Old West themed flower arrangement