Evergreen State Fair in Monroe - Greater Seattle on the Cheap

The Evergreen State Fair is a family-friendly celebration of all things Washington, showcasing the state’s rich livestock and agriculture heritage. Held in Snohomish County north of Seattle, it the county’s largest event.

Activities for visitors include free entertainment on the courtyard stage as well as roving entertainers, daily Aztec Indian Dancers and Lumberjack shows, petting zoo, Grange and agricultural displays; and fun contests like pie eating, balloon tossing, and belching (we’re not kidding). There is also plenty of fair food choices, carnival rides, headliner concerts, a rodeo, and speedway events.

Grange Displays are a “must-see” highlight for many fair visitors each year in the Display Hall. Originally an organization of farming families, the Grange now embraces both rural and urban members and still retains a strong rural and agriculture interest.

Washington State has the largest number of Grange members in the nation. Snohomish County hosts 15 active Granges. Read more about national Grange history below.

Find another state and county fair in Washington State.

Love our cheap ideas? Get our FREE email newsletters.
Choose from daily, weekly, and monthly lists:

Click here to subscribe

Skagit Valley farm iStock by Getty Images photo by 4nadia

How Granges got started

The term “grange” comes from the Latin word for “grain” and was used in England to describe a farm and its buildings.

In 1867, Oliver Hudson Kelley (1826-1913), a Minnesota farmer, who was also a Mason and occasional journalist, founded the National Grange along with six associates. The organization established the importance of a viable agriculture and strong family units as the cornerstones of the organization.

The first local Grange was started in Washington, D.C., in 1868, and the organization spread rapidly from there. Within five years there were approximately 9,000 local chapters across the country and almost 700,000 Grangers, as members came to be called.

From the beginning, women had equal representation which has proven to be of great benefit to the Grange’s success. It was the first organization to give women an equal vote with men in 1867, as well as full and equal recognition.

About Evergreen State Fair

In 1874, Monroe pioneer Salem Woods, then vice-president of the Snohomish Agricultural Society, held the first agriculture display in Snohomish County, which makes the Snohomish Country fair one of the oldest in Washington State.

Over the next 75 years, the Snohomish County Fair was held alternately in Monroe and Granite Falls. Activities included exhibitions of livestock, farm and dairy produce, ladies “useful and fancy work”, arts, and sciences. There was also horse racing, baseball, and a Grand Ball with a queen and her six maids of honor presiding.

In September 1949, the Snohomish County Fair became the Evergreen State Fair. During its run that year, US highway route 2 opened to link Monroe and Snohomish.

The Evergreen State Fair now runs for twelve days ending on Labor Day and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the Pacific Northwest.

In 2008, The Evergreen Fair Foundation was established to sustain the Fairgrounds as a valuable community asset. The Fairgrounds are active year-round with events such as horse shows, motorcycle races, and quilt shows.

Ferris wheel at sunset – depositphotos.com

2022 Evergreen State Fair

Here are the regular prices and ways to save money with discount admission tickets, carnival rides, and more.

When: August 25-30 and September 1-5, 2022 from 10am to 10pm every day (closes at 7pm on the last day). CLOSED Wednesday, August 31. Carnival Hours: 11am to 11pm daily (closes at 7pm on the last day).

Where: Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th AVE SE Monroe, WA 98272 (About 30 miles northeast of Seattle)

Regular gate admission (Weekday/Weekend/Labor Day): Adults (13-61) $16/$18/$15. Seniors (62-89), Kids (6-12), and Active Military/dependents with ID $12/$12/$10. Children Under 5 and Seniors 90+ are FREE.

Discount tickets:

Save on early bird admission and parking tickets and carnival ride wristbands before opening day (August 25).
Senior (62-89 yrs) half price day August 29.
Weekday Roundup Package: 4 weekday gate admission tickets and parking for $50.
Note: No Special Admission Days in 2022.
Get free admission when you buy a concert ticket or speedway ticket.

More info: Ticket Information (evergreenfair.org)

Parking: Weekday $10. Weekend $15. Disabled parking is available in all Fairgrounds parking lots. These spaces are located closest to the entrances in all the official parking lots.

Food: To keep you going, there are plenty of fair food choices at a range of prices.

Carnival rides: Be sure to read the important ride information, including ride restrictions, rules, and carnival hours. Unlimited Ride Wristbands $37

Rodeo: September 3-5, 2022. Tickets $5-$10, does not include fair gate admission.

Concert tickets include fair admission. More info: 2022 Grandstand Concerts (evergreenfair.org)

Speedway tickets include fair admission. More info: Evergreen Speedway (evergreenfair.org)

More info: The Evergreen State Fair | Official Website (evergreenfair.org)

Evergreen State Fair Special Needs “Morning of Dreams” is August 30 from 9:00-10:30 am

Nationally recognized as an award winner for removing barriers in Parks, “Evergreen Morning of Dreams” is a morning event for children and adults with special needs to experience the fun of the fair in a calmer setting. With all of the lights, activities, and sounds, a state fair can create sensory overload for some people. To increase accessibility for all, this special morning experience allows those with special needs to access the carnival, animals, exhibits, and selected vendors with fewer distractions and with fewer people.

During “Morning of Dreams” the Fair Park is open to people with special needs and their guests. Food vendors, roving entertainment, and animal barns are open. Look for these special events:

9:00: Farmer for a Day will open at 9:00am. Learn to milk a cow, pick an apple, dig potato’s, and gather eggs.
9:00-10:30 am: Snohomish County 4H will be hosting a scavenger hunt in the 4H building.
10:00-11:00 am: Kiddieland Carnival (north of the Event Center #604) is open without lights or music.
Enjoy yard games behind the Courtyard Stage (available all day).

More info: Evergreen Morning of Dreams | Evergreen State Fairgroundsand Special Events | Evergreen State Fairgrounds (evergreenfair.org)