Fair taps flower power for fun in the sun

After last year’s near washout, the 2005 Spokane County Interstate Fair is ready for a little sunshine.

“Find the Sun” is this year’s fair theme, and sunflowers will be the highlight of the Sept. 9-18 event.

To help reverse the trend of declining attendance, many admission fees are being lowered.

Senior and youth ticket prices will be $5 at the gate, down from $5.50 last year. Buy them ahead of time and save even more. The preseason senior/youth ticket price this year is $2.50, compared with $4 in 2004.

Adult tickets will remain $8 at the gate, but the adult advance ticket price is being lowered from $6 last year to $5.

“That’s so people can plan ahead and buy their tickets and have more money, if they want to, to spend at the fair,” said Spokane County Fair and Expo Center Director Dolly Hughes.

Preseason ticket sales also improve the event’s cash flow and help ensure against attendance issues from inclement weather. In 2004, it rained on all but two days of the fair.

Fair attendance last year was 189,000 – the first time it dropped below 200,000 since 1968.

“I classify it as a successful year, considering the weather we had to contend with,” said County Commissioner Phil Harris.

Attendance in 2003 was 211,000.

The sunflower focus is a departure from past animal themes. Each day a different sunflower variety will be featured. There will be an increased emphasis on the sunflower competition. And if you can’t grow them, try the sunflower coloring contest or seed-spitting event.

The floral theme is appropriate because this year’s fair will feature a new floral building.

Other fairgrounds improvements include a new entry silo and plaza.

Also on tap this year are several entertainment competitions, including the “Do You Want to Be a Cat Country/Comcast Star,” with the prize of a Nashville recording session, and the “Spokane Idol” competition.