Thurston County Fairgrounds and Event Center

09/02/2026

The Absolutely Free Sharing Market is back at the Fairgrounds this weekend!

No buying, no selling—just community, free treasures, skill-sharing, and fun!

🗓️ Dates:
• Thurs, Sept 3 | 5 PM – 9 PM
• Sat, Sept 5 | 11 AM – 6 PM
📍 Where: Thurston County Fairgrounds

Bring your family, meet your neighbors, and take home new-to-you items—all for $0!

Details & drop-off info: afsm-project.org

08/31/2026

A heartfelt thanks to the JOLT News for spreading the word about this weekend's Absolutely Free Sharing Event at the Fairgrounds! We are delighted to host and thankful to all the volunteers who make it happen!

https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/absolutely-free-sharing-market-returns-next-week,31220

Learn more about the market: https://afsm-project.org/

There is nothing for sale at the Thurston County Absolutely Free Sharing Market, and that is exactly the ...

08/29/2026

Can you believe it’s already been three weeks since the fair ended? We’re still looking back at all the incredible moments from this year's four-day event! From blue-ribbon livestock displays and giant agricultural exhibits to carnival rides, delicious fair treats, live entertainment, and endless family fun, thank you to everyone who joined us and made it so special.

📸 Fair Highlights:

4-H & Livestock Shows: Spotlighting all the hard work from our youth exhibitors showing off their cattle, goats, pigs, dogs, and small animals! 🐮🐖

Rides & Games: Thrills on the carnival midway and fun games for all ages! 🎡🎢

Fair Favorites: Mouthwatering snacks, cool drinks, local artisan crafts, and live stage shows! 🍦🎵

Community Connection: Exploring interactive booths, learning from local community groups, and celebrating everything that makes Thurston County great! 🎨

A huge thank you to our exhibitors, volunteers, vendors, staff, and visitors for making this year such a success.

Stay tuned for updates on year-round event center happenings, and mark your calendars for next year... See you in 2027! 🎉✨

08/26/2026

🎪 Reflections on the Thurston County Fair! 🌾

Huge thanks to the Thurston Chronicle and Editor Emily Fitzgerald for the wonderful coverage and photos of this year's event! 🗞️📸

We also want to give a massive CONGRATULATIONS to the Thurston County Youth Market Animal Sale! Local youth raised an incredible $302,400 across 105 animal sales—our highest total in recent memory and over $25,000 more than last year! Thank you to our amazing community for coming out to support local agriculture.

Thank you to the 20,000+ visitors, 650 exhibitors, and 92 baking contest participants who made this year so special. Mark your calendars for next year's fair (August 5–8, 2027), and be sure to check out our year-round events at the Fairgrounds & Event Center! ❤️

08/17/2026

Already dreaming of next weekend? Here's a super fun event to look forward to all week!

Join us Lady L's 6th Annual Mermaid Festival, OWCOP Reentry Car Show & Back to School Bash!

Bring the whole family out for an incredible day packed with fun, community, and excitement:

📅 Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Thurston County Fairgrounds & Event Center (3054 Carpenter Rd SE, Lacey, WA)
🎟️ Admission & Parking: FREE!

✨ Highlights Include:
🚗 OWCOP Reentry Car Show
✂️ Free Haircuts for the kids to get ready for back-to-school
🎯 Dunk Tank – Dunk a Mermaid, a local Cop, or a Politician!
🦎 Live Reptile Exhibit
🎨 Face Painting & Kid-Friendly Activities
🎧 Live DJ & Entertainment
🛍️ 100+ Vendors, Food Trucks, & Silent Auction

Mark your calendars, tag a friend, and come splash into the fun! 🌊✨

👉 Learn more https://www.facebook.com/share/1Gr2wvZ1Tu/

08/06/2026

The Fair Team is taking a quick post-fair breather!

Our Fair Office will be **CLOSED on Friday, August 7th** as we recharge after a fantastic fair.

We are running on pig power and naps, but we’ll be back in action and ready to assist you on Monday morning!

Thank you all for an incredible fair season! ❤️

08/05/2026

For generations, Heritage Hall at the Thurston County Fairgrounds has been far more than just a building—it has been the heart of shared memories, summer traditions, and community connections.

Originally built in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) using timber harvested directly from the site, this historic log structure has served as a gathering place for over eight decades. From its beginnings as the Long Lake Recreation Hall to becoming the official home of the Thurston County Fair in the 1950s, Heritage Hall stands as a testament to local craftsmanship, history, and community spirit.

It was wonderful to see Heritage Hall officially recognized with a new monument cementing its status as a Thurston County Heritage Site! A huge thank you to longtime Fair Board member and volunteer Ann Shipley, Historic Commission Chair Rob Kirkwood, and the Thurston County Commissioners for honoring this irreplaceable piece of our local history.

A very special thank you to Emily Fitzgerald and the Nisqually Valley News for bringing us this great story and continuing to highlight the places and traditions that make our community so special.

https://yelmonline.com/stories/thurston-county-unveils-monument-honoring-fairgrounds-heritage-hall,406265

08/04/2026

That’s a wrap on another incredible Thurston County Fair!

We want to send a huge THANK YOU to all of our amazing volunteers, vendors, exhibitors, superintendents, 4-H & FFA members, and community supporters. You truly helped our fair earn its stripes this year!

From sunrise barn chores to late-night cleanup, your hard work, dedication, and all-American spirit made this year’s fair an unforgettable success. We couldn't have done it without every single one of you!

Drop your favorite fair memories or photo highlights in the comments below!

08/04/2026

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but even a full camera roll can’t capture everything that goes into putting on the Fair!

From late-night prep, livestock shows, and stage performances to giant quilts, competitive baking, and endless smiling faces—these snapshots from the Fair Manager's camera roll only scratch the surface of all the magic, hard work, and community spirit that made Fair 2026 so special.

For every photo shown here, there are a hundred more moments, volunteers, exhibitors, and memories that made it all happen. Thank you to everyone who joined us, participated, and helped bring the fairgrounds to life this year!

What was your favorite moment from Fair 2026? Drop your photos in the comments below—we’d love to see the fair through your lens!