The Puyallup Fair is the largest single attraction held annually in the state of Washington. The fair

Fair

A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...

 continually ranks in the top ten largest fairs in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The Western Washington Fair Association hosts two annual events: the 17-day Puyallup Fair every September, and the four-day Puyallup Spring Fair every April.

Situated in Puyallup

Puyallup, Washington

Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...

, 35 miles (56.3 km) south of Seattle and 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Tacoma in the shadow of Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...

, the fairgrounds comprise 160 acre (0.6474976 km²), with buildings and land valued at more than $54 million. The facilities are available for rent during the year, making the grounds a valuable community resource. A staff of 55 works year-round. Over 7,500 employees are hired each September during the Fair.

The fairgrounds were known as Camp Harmony

Camp Harmony

Camp Harmony was the unofficial name of the Puyallup Assembly Center, a temporary facility within the system of internment camps set up for Japanese Americans during World War II...

, an internment camp

Japanese American internment

Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...

 for Japanese Americans, during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

.

Until 2006, the fair was officially known as the "Western Washington Fair." At that time, the former name was dropped and changed to match the more common usage. The name of the fairgrounds was changed to "The Puyallup Fair and Events Center." It is now a facility that is opened year round covering various seasonal festivals (such as the Victorian Country Christmas), races, concerts, car shows, and sporting expositions (such as the International Sportsman's Exposition).

Attendance

Attendance has grown significantly since the fair's October 4, 1900 opening, drawing more than one million people each year. Selected dates:

2011: 1,059,182

2010: 1,065,208

2009: 1,183,035

2008: 1,163,969

2007: 1,182,937

2006: 1,131,276

2005: 1,117,707

2004: 1,073,581

2003: About 1,160,000

2002: About 1,180,000

2000: About 1,300,000

1999: 1,238,029

1993: 1,420,037 (highest attendance ever)

1991: 1,414,487

1989: About 1,300,000

1980-1988: Between 1,100,000 and 1,200,000

Late 1930s: About 400,000

1922: About 130,000

1900: About 5,500 families