Dunn, Council provide King County Fair stability

September 16, 2015

Summary

The King County Council has approved a budgetary proviso which will grant fiscal stability to the King County Fair. Held this summer for the 152nd year in a row, the Fair has struggled in recent years, though saw marked improvement this year under the oversight of a local nonprofit.

Story

The King County Council has approved a budgetary proviso which will grant fiscal stability to the King County Fair. Held this summer for the 152nd year in a row, the Fair has struggled in recent years, though saw marked improvement this year under the oversight of a local nonprofit.

The proviso, which allows for up to $25,000 a year in funding from King County, will allow planners, vendors, and local businesses the certainty they need to build on the successes of 2015, a year in which attendance doubled from the year prior.

“The King County Fair is part of what makes my district a special place to call home,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn, who represents a large rural block of King County, including Enumclaw. “Having county support and the strong leadership of a local nonprofit is a crucial step in returning the fair to greatness.”

The nonprofit, Enumclaw Expo and Events, first partnered with the city of Enumclaw and King County in 2015 to begin revitalization efforts. In 2014, fair attendance dropped to 7,600. The total number of fairgoers this summer was 15,700, a 200-percent increase.

“Enumclaw appreciates the support of Councilmember Reagan Dunn and the entire King County Council to maintain this great tradition,” stated Enumclaw Mayor Liz Reynolds. “It warms my heart to see the youth involved in 4-H activities and so many families attending and staying in touch with our rural heritage. King County’s support for the Fair will help ensure its continued success and improvement.”

Under new leadership, this year’s revenues were five times greater than what was paid to the city in 2014 by the fair’s prior operator.