San Juan County Fair
Friday Harbor, San Juan County, Washington. Mid-August (County Fair week).
Details
- Where
- 849 A Argyle Ave, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Directions
- When
- Last held August 13–16, 2026; next year’s date not yet stated.
- Fees
- Adult daily pass $20, adult season pass $30, exhibitor pass $25; youth (6-17) daily pass $15, season pass $20, youth exhibitor and under 6 free; seniors, active-duty military and disabled daily pass $15, season pass $20.
- Hours
- Exhibits 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM; entertainment 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM daily; carnival opens at noon daily and closes by 11:00 pm or before.
- Access
- Fairgrounds RV sites are not available during County Fair week in mid-August; ferry reservations strongly encouraged.
- Walk-in or reserve
- 2026 fair tickets now on sale, online in advance.
- Phone
- 360-378-4310
- Website
- sanjuancountywa.gov
- Managed by
- San Juan County Parks & Fair Department.
A county fair showcasing agriculture, the community and youth in an educational and entertaining environment.
Notable Events
- 1921The fair returned in the San Juan Canning Company's warehouse; organizers reinforced the floor for cattle, earning it the nickname Bull Fair, and its success began the fair's annual run. tickets.sanjuancountywa.gov
- 1923Volunteers cleared and leveled the site, using 10 or 12 teams of horses, and community members erected the main building, stock buildings, and Pioneer Log Cabin. tickets.sanjuancountywa.gov
- 1924The first fair at the present grounds opened October 8, less than a year after work began, and drew 1,200 people. tickets.sanjuancountywa.gov
- 2005The Fair Board bought 3.78 acres next to the horse barn in December. tickets.sanjuancountywa.gov
- 2006The fair celebrated its official centennial. tickets.sanjuancountywa.gov
- 2017The fairgrounds horse barn was partially torn down to make way for a safer, year-round horse stable and event-rental facility. sanjuanjournal.com
- 2020COVID-19 forced the first virtual San Juan County Fair. tickets.sanjuancountywa.gov
- 2021Because of COVID-19, the fair remained virtual with small outdoor events spread across the summer. tickets.sanjuancountywa.gov
People
- Dona Wuthnow, San Juan County Parks, Recreation and Fair director (2017).
- Lorena Stankevich, horse superintendent (six years).
- Dr. Capron, judge of the fair's baby beauty contest (1921).
- Florence May Madden, winner of the fair's baby beauty contest (1921).
- P. Bostian, Orcas Island farmer who exhibited experimental tobacco at the first fair (1906).